Dissolved in 1971, local union 274 was the last of the American independent black musicians’ locals. Sam Reed remembers membership as a teenager when he and his quartet of Ted Curson, Tootie Heath, Jimmy Garrison, Bobby Timmons, joined the union. He says, “As the quartet started drawing a large crowd, the booking agent let the band know that they were moving to a larger venue.” They moved to the Cameo Room in the Reynolds Hall on north Broad street, and the band started setting up to do a gig, the union man asked for everyone’s union cards! Reed says, “We weren’t a part of the union so we showed our social security cards” and they weren’t having that. Needless to say, they had to come up with $52 to join the union. Reed recollects, “After the gig, I went home to tell my mom and she gave me the balance to pay the fee and said she knew we had to join the union eventually. I was just a regular member after that.”
During the 1950’s, musicians had a lot of encouragement and would rehearse everyday. Reed remembers, “We would all meet in homes in the Point Breeze neighborhood where I grew up. Henry Grimes, Buzzy Wilson, Kenneth Low (son of Henry Low secretary of 274 ) and I would get together at Kenny’s house practicing, we had a good time.” With Henry Low as the secretary local 274, Reed remembers knowing so many famous Jazz musicians in Philadelphia like Lee Morgan, Kenny Barron, Archie Shep and “even ones we forgot about like Owen Marshall.” Philadelphia had a lot of talented black musicians back in those days and a lot of clubs with real entertainment to play.
Fast forward to the 1960’s, Sam, a seasoned member of 274 and Uptown Theatre musical director, remembers his first rehearsal with Diana Ross and the Supremes. “My friends and I were out partying all night and when I checked the time it was 10:00 am! Rehearsal was supposed to be at 9:00 am in the morning that Friday. So I drove over to rehearsal and walked in and said hello to everybody like I wasn’t late, and I heard Diana say ‘I thought rehearsal was supposed to be at 9:00.’ I was so embarrassed that I wasn’t there on time. Later, I became good friends with Diana Ross and joked about her really getting into show business right off the bat!” Reed believes, “ When it comes to being a great musician it’s about being able to reach the public, if they think you’re great then that’s how you know. They know good talent.”
When asked about his life, Reed affirms, “I’m very satisfied with my life as a musician. I feel like the luckiest person in the world because I performed with all the famous people I can think of, Bill Cosby, Teddy Pendergrast, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Max Roach, Johnny Carson. You name it, I’ve done it. I enjoyed every minute of it.”
Reed is currently collaborating with a publisher to write a book sharing these stories and many more.