Priscilla Hubbard

Born Priscilla Mitchell in 1941, this is the name she used professionally as a singer. In her teens, she sang as a member of several groups. It was at this time that she met her future husband, Jerry Reed (Hubbard), also a young musician. The two worked together at Capitol Records in Atlanta, where Jerry Reed had a record contract, as session performers. They married in 1959, Jerry beginning his two years' service in the army shortly afterwards. Their first daughter was born in 1960. While serving, he supported the family by selling his own songs, one recorded by Brenda Lee and another by Porter Wagoner. When he left the army, he resumed his previous work as a tour and session guitarist, selling more of his songs, his brilliance as a guitar player and composer for the instrument coming to the attention of legendary guitarist and record producer Chet Atkins. Mr. Atkins, recognizing the young musician's potential, eventually persuaded him to move the family to Nashville in order to broaden the opportunities available to him. Once there, Priscilla also resumed her own session work. Jerry was signed to Columbia Records, sometimes recording with a group called "The Hully Girlies", but met with little success while he was with the label. During this time, he worked extensively on the session circuit, gaining a sizable reputation as one of the best session guitarists in town, playing on the records of such diverse stars as Robert Mitchum and Dean Martin. In the mid-60s, Priscilla was signed by Mercury Records, topping the charts in 1965 when she joined forces with Roy Drusky for their #1 "Yes, Mr Peters". The song was included on their album, that year, entitled "Love's Eternal Triangle". In 1967, her husband's recording career began to take off, having at last been signed by Chet Atkins to RCA, two years earlier. His song "Guitar Man" attracted the listeners' attention, as well as that of Elvis Presley, on whose version of the record Jerry was drafted in to play, when no other guitarist could duplicate the unique sound of Jerry Reed's record. Priscilla continued recording, though not as prolifically as her husband, into the late '60s. One song "Natch-illy Ain't No Good" was written by her husband, and covered by Connie Smith. Both husband and wife are credited session personnel on Ms. Smith's recording (he on guitar and she as backing vocalist). Her recording career did not continue far beyond that second album with Roy Drusky, her husband's career in records taking off, particularly after his 1970 crossover hit "Amos Moses", and then his 1971 Grammy winner "When You're Hot, You're Hot". Their second daughter was born shortly after this. Priscilla appeared in his 1985 movie "What Comes Around". After his RCA contract ended in the mid-80s, Jerry Reed concentrated more on touring and, in the early 90s, began taking Priscilla on the road with him. She served as backing vocalist and keyboard player, and can be heard as backing vocalist on his 1995 album for Capitol Records entitled "Flyin' High", and as keyboard player on his 2005 album entitled "Jerry Reed, Live - Still!"