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Billy Cole Reed

b. March 24, 1942 in West Frankfort. Billy, 69, of West Frankfort passed away at 1:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at his residence. Billy Cole was an entertainer practically his entire life. He began his music career right after high school. One of the first bands he played with was called the Boguards. They played at venues such as West Frankfort and Herrin Teen Towns. He later played with the Blue Shadows which was a rhythm-and-blues band popular in Southern Illinois in the 1960's before forming his own band "Billy Cole Reed and the Outlaws". In the late 70's and early 80's "Billy Cole Reed and the Outlaws" dominated country music in Southern Illinois and other parts of the Midwest. He mesmerized large audiences with powerful renditions of Waylon Jennings classics and his flawless Elvis Presley Tribute. In the 80's, he recorded several albums in Nashville such as "Tribute to an Outlaw", "Waltz Across Texas" and "Back to the Fifties" and toured many venues across the Midwest. In 1983 he played live at "The Cannery" in Nashville, TN.