Lloyd A. Reading

Bakersfield Country Music lost a true pioneer on Thursday, December 11, 2014 with the passing of Lloyd Arthur Reading. Lloyd was born on June 2, 1919 in Drumwright, Oklahoma to Elmer and Della (McDonald) Reading. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jean Merrill; brothers, Howard and Harold Reading. Lloyd is survived by his daughter, Anna Marie Reading, his son, Donald Lloyd Reading ; both of Bakersfield, 7 grandchildren; Walker Murrell, James Murrell, Tim Murrell, Diana Murrell, and Mike Martin all of Bakersfield; Cristina Reading and Donald W.M. Reading both of San Francisco, CA; 21 great-grandchildren,

and 2 great great grandchildren.

Lloyd, while the member of his duo, "Pals of the West", and " The Bob Manning Trio" were the first to play country music at the legendary Blackboard Cafe, also playing weekly at the Pumpkin Center Barn dance and The Rainbow Gardens dance hall from 1938 to 1940. He moved from Bakersfield to Visalia and joined the "Rocky Mt. Cowboys" for ten years , He then left them to form his own band, "Lloyd Reading and his California Playboys", for the next 40 years he played the Central Valley. Bob Wills' fiddle player, Joe Holley was a member of his band for 7 years. He performed with Jelly Sanders for 2 years, Buck Owens, Maddox Brothers and Rose, Frankie Lane, Red Simpson, Homer Joy, Norm Hamlett, Gene Breeden, Bobby Durham, Smiley Maxedon , Roy Nichols, Roy Rodgers, and many others.

He won his first singing contest in 1934 in Joplin, MO at the age of 14, singing a song that he wrote, " Call of the Pines". Moving to Bakersfield in 1938, Lloyd performed live music radio shows in Bakersfield and Visalia. These programs were recorded and still exist," Clear Channel all the way to the east coast", as he would say.

Returning to Bakersfield in 2006, he was soon recognized as a legend in the Bakersfield Country music family. Lloyd was inducted into the Bakersfield Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

Amassing a huge number of friends he continued to astonish everyone with his pure voice and exceptional guitar playing During his 80 year career he played fine steel, bass, and lead guitar; as an exceptional song writer we are blessed to have many recordings of his music from the 1940's to present time , along with a fantastic legacy of music. We have a storybook of his life to read and enjoy. As Lloyd was fond of saying ; " Happy Trails to you", Lloyd we'll love you always.

There will be a public viewing Wednesday, December 17, 2014 between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 9101 Kern Canyon Road.