Aired on Treasure Island Oldies – Oct 19, 2025
She didn’t come up through the back door of smoky juke joints or get discovered in the glitz of Hollywood. No, her journey to fame was long, winding… and gloriously late.
Born in 1947 in Illinois and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, this American blues singer wasn’t some shy girl waiting for a spotlight. No, she had a voice that was deep, sultry, and soulful. But for decades, she sang in the background. Literally. Raising four children as a single mom, she lent her powerhouse pipes to the likes of Etta James, Delbert McClinton, and Willie Nelson.
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But the real magic started when she connected with a young blues-rock guitarist from Georgia … Lyle Lovett.
Yes, Lyle Lovett – the quirky crooner with the towering hair and Grammy-winning sensibility. He heard something in this blues singer’s voice that wasn’t meant to stay in the background. And he brought her forward. Their duets, including *“Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues,”* gave her a new title: the Queen of Blues Sass.
And then, in 1996, something happened. Something beachy. Sounding as if it came from the 70s or 80s, she released a tune that fell into the category of Beach Boogie, a soulful offshoot of Carolina Beach Music.
The track became a favorite along the Atlantic coast, with dancers sliding into shag dance routines while she belted out the bluesy refrain of a woman who’d seen it all, felt it all, and came out swinging. Her voice, part bourbon, part brass, told a story older than the sand on the shore: love, loss, and learning not to fall for the same sweet lies twice. It wasn’t just a song. It was the story of her life.
Critics praised the song’s groove, its grit, and her unmistakable resolve. It never topped any of the Billboard charts, but it topped hearts of her fans – from shag dance clubs in Myrtle Beach to blues festivals in Austin.
She went on to record multiple solo albums, earning W.C. Handy Award nominations, performing with Lovett for decades, and even being inducted into the Arizona Music Hall of Fame.
According to Scott Freeman, Senior Editor of Atlanta Magazine:
“Francine Reed has a unique ability to convey a sweet conviction that makes every song seem as if you’re eavesdropping on a private, intimate conversation. Meet Francine Reed and you’ve just met your new best friend.”
She’s a lady who has “Been There, Done That,” this week’s Tom Locke moment in time and yet another first play on Treasure Island Oldies.
YouTube listing of the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBHfsDVU0ao
This “Moments In Time” story is yet another example of a “golden oldie” or forgotten favorite that earned its place in the evolution of Rock & Roll.
