The first time Brinson ‘Doc’ Reed ever held a guitar in his hand he knew this is what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He received his first instrument at eleven, cost: ten dollars. Four years later (thanks to an early full beard) other musicians snuck him in to play a gig at a local watering hole and he was off and running.

Starting his singing career as a member of the church choir at the age of eight, Doc quickly learned to appreciate every genre of music. Inspired by such singers as Ray Charles and Jackie Wilson, his vocal skills allow him to perform songs from Gershwin swing melodies to Sam and Dave soul ballads to Delbert Mcclinton type rock and roll. All delivered with Doc’s extensive range, power, and unique phrasing.


Over the years Doc Reed’s guitar style has encompassed every category from jazz, and hillbilly to classic R&B and stomping Rock & Roll. Influenced chiefly by legends (and DC area residents) Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan, Doc became obsessed with improvisation. Both saxophonist Charlie Parker and trumpeter Miles Davis thoroughly saturated his personal style. Doc’s guitar picking has become a distinctive trademark, with a spectrum from hard driving to melodic.

D.C. Rockabilly legend Billy Hancock, Dave Chappell, and the late Danny Gatton are but a few of the notable musicians Doc has shared the stage with during his years in the trenches. He has also had the pleasure of playing with the dynamic rhythm section from Swingspeak consisting of Steve Wolf on bass and Barry Hart on drums. He has appeared at the Kennedy Center and is a veteran of the house bands at such local area venues as the Surf Club and Hunter’s Lodge. He regularly played piano with Whop Frazier on a weekly Monday night radio broadcast live from Tornado Alley.

Doc is a talented songwriter. You can hear his music at his gigs and on his first album that is currently under production at Gizmo Studios. To hear a sample of his music click on his Audio File page.