Atlanta vocalist Francine Reed, longtime member of Lyle Lovett’s band, got her start as the baby in the Reed family act, singing gospel at church, doo-wop at Kiwanis Club meetings and “Get a Job” on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour.
Family members Margo Reed, Mellody Winfield and Michael Reed will join little sister Francine at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre Saturday for a rare return of the singing siblings.
Their 88-year-old mother, who performs as Miss Girley, also plans to sit in on a few numbers. We caught up with Francine, 62, before the performance.
Q: How old were you when you started singing in public?
A: My first time onstage I was 3. My aunt was a choir director at a great church in Chicago. At rehearsal she stood me up on the piano, and I sang ‘I Want to See Jesus.’ That was my first great solo. I was good, and I knew I was good.
Q: Today do your siblings still boss you around?
A: No. They tell me to tell them what to do. Everything is reversed now. It used to be ‘You listen to what we say.’ Now it’s ‘Whatever you say baby. They do whatever I say. I love it!
Q: What do you have planned for the set list?
A: It will involve a lot of a capella singing, group-wise and individually. There will be a lot of Christmas songs because we think Christmas is every day. I’ll sing a Christmas song in the middle of June, I don’t care. Whatever touches your soul at the moment.. . . It’ll be a little sanctified, we’ll do a little stomping for you, and bring some tears to your eyes.
If you go
"An Evening with Francine Reed and Family," 8 p.m. Saturday, $20-$45; $300 for a table for four, $50 VIP supplement (includes food and drinks); Mable House Barnes Amphitheater, 5239 Floyd Rd., Mableton, GA, 30126.
Scholarship fundraiser for Thunderbird, Atlanta Chapter Alumni. Tickets: www.TBirdATL.com
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