Vernon Reid

Grammy Award-winning guitarist, songwriter, and producer Vernon Reid first gained recognition as a pivotal member of Ronald Shannon Jackson’s avant-jazz-rock band, The Decoding Society, contributing to six studio and three live albums (1980-1986). During this period, Reid released the duo album Smash & Scatteration with guitarist Bill Frisell in 1984. A foundational moment was co-founding the Black Rock Coalition in 1985 with journalist Greg Tate and producer Konda Mason, advocating for Black rock artists. In 1984, Reid established the iconic rock band Living Colour, solidifying its lineup by 1986.

Living Colour’s debut album, Vivid (1988), achieved double Platinum status, followed by their gold-certified album Time’s Up (1990). The band earned two consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Hard Rock Performance and gained significant exposure opening for the Rolling Stones’ Steel Wheels tour (1989) and participating in the inaugural Lollapalooza tour (1991). After an initial hiatus in 1995, the band reformed in 2000, releasing Collideøscope (2003), The Chair in the Doorway (2009), and Shade (2017). Reid’s distinct guitar style led to a ranking of No.

Reid continues to perform and record, expanding into broadcast media with his semi-monthly program, ‘An Underground Railroad of the Mind,’ on Home streaming radio (2017). In 2018, he signed with Mascot Label Group, affirming his commitment to new material. Looking ahead, Reid’s highly anticipated album, Hoodoo Telemetry, is slated for release in 2025.