Billy Ray Reynolds - "I'd Rather Be Your Fool" (Epic #5-10360), 1968
Country music guitarist and songwriter Billy Ray Reynolds is probably best remembered as a guitarist in Waylon Jennings' band, the Waylors, in the 1970s. Though, he left his mark in many different fields of the entertainment business.
Reynolds was born on October 6, 1940, in Saratoga near Mount Olive, Mississippi. His parents were farmers and Reynolds grew up singing church hymns. He became fascinated with country music when he and his parents watched a Grand Ole Opry package tour and Hank Williams was on the bill. Reynolds was nine years old and soon after, picked up the guitar.
He started his career in the 1960s and played bass with folk-rock band "Yankee Dollar" for a short time. The group recorded one album in 1968 for Dot Records. The same year, Reynolds started recording solo for Epic but none of his singles charted. His "I'd Rather Be Your Fool" is featured today and the first of those three records, released in 1968 with "A Real Good Year for Wine" on the flip side. Two more records followed, produced by Glenn Sutton, but success eluded him.
In 1966, Reynolds had first met country singer Waylon Jennings, who was making a name for himself in the Nashville scene at that time. Reynolds joined Jennings' band, the Waylors, and first took part in a session on December 7, 1970, as a rhythm guitarist. Among the songs recorded that day was Kris Kristofferson's "Loving Her Was Easier". Reynolds became an integral part of Jennings' sound and the outlaw country movement.
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| Waylon Jennings with Billy Ray Reynolds in the background, ca. 1973 |
Reynolds wrote several songs that were recorded by different artists. "Atlanta's Burning Down" was originally recorded by Jennings, although it remained unreleased, and then by Dickey Betts & Great South (Betts was a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band). Other hit songs written by Reynolds included "Working Man" (John Conlee, 1985), "Don't Believe My Heart Can Stand Another You" (Tanya Tucker, 1975), or "It'll Be Me" (Tompall Glaser, 1982).
In 1976, Reynolds left the Waylors and continued to work behind the scenes as a songwriter. In the 1980s and 1990s, Reynolds worked as an actor, too, and released his first album in 2002. He moved back to Mount Olive, Mississippi, in 2006, where he continued to record albums. Billy Ray Reynolds passed away on November 29, 2019, at the age of 79 years. After his death, the "Billy Ray Reynolds Country Music Museum" opened in Mount Olive, displaying countless items and memorabilia from his decades-long career.
Waylon Jennings (Billy Ray Reynolds on rhythm guitar): Medley (Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line / Brown Eyed Handsome Man / Loving Her Was Easier) (TV show "That Good Ole Nashville Music", August 1971)
Waylon Jennings (Billy Ray Reynolds on rhythm guitar): "Me and Bobbie McGee" (TV show "Hee Haw", 1972)
Waylon Jennings (Billy Ray Reynolds on rhythm guitar): Medley (Loving Her Was Easier / Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues / Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line) (TV show, 1973)
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