Langdon Reid

 

One of the first songs Langdon ever wrote got recorded by one of the biggest acts in country music.  “What We Love To Do”, co-written with his cousin Wil, was an ode to country music business – writing, performing and traveling.  The song celebrated life as an entertainer so realistically that the Statler Brothers cut it, shot a video and released it as a single.  Yes, Langdon’s dad is none other than Don Reid, lead singer of the Statler Brothers and hugely successful songwriter and author, but Langdon cut his teeth on the music industry early on watching his “four” fathers do what they do best: entertain.

Langdon was born on February 23, 1975 in Staunton, Virginia and his mother is the world famous Gloria Reid.  What? You’ve never heard of her mashed ‘taters with melted cheese?  He grew up in the idyllic setting of small town America and can’t remember a time without music as part of his life.  But the disruptive influence of fame never touched his family.

Back in the late ‘70s and through the ‘80s, the Statlers were invited every year to host the Music City News Awards shows.  “I remember my mom and my brother and me fixing popcorn, sitting in the den, and watching Dad on TV.  I was five or six years old and thought everybody got to watch their dads on TV.  Nobody in town thought it was a big deal.  One night, Dad’s on TV; the next day they saw him at the hardware store.” 

Langdon was something of a hometown hero himself as the star southpaw pitcher for his high school baseball team.  “I was a huge fan at 3 years old, and I’ve played baseball all my life.  I had scholarship offers to colleges and even some Major League offers, but I never entertained those because baseball was never my first love.  That was always music.”

Langdon and his cousin, who seems more like his brother, Wil, started performing as Grandstaff in high school and soon were playing state fairs nationwide.  Grandstaff signed a record deal and released their ‘true-to-country” cd, Circles, of which he penned four of the songs.  Langdon has spoken at colleges regarding his songwriting experience, has had dozens of songs recorded and when asked which one is his favorite, honestly answers, “The one I’m writing right now.” 

Not wanting to lose time, Langdon opted to stay in Staunton for college, attending Mary Baldwin College an all-girl’s school, through its Adult Degree Program.  But he jokes that his choice wasn’t totally about dedication to music.  “There were 1200 girls and 5 guys.  I’m in a class with about 30 girls and Wil’s down the hall with another 30.  It worked out good for me ‘cause that’s where I met my wife!”

Langdon, whose laid-back and cutting sense of humor, fits the personality of Hamlet to a T.  “Oh yeah, the first time I read through MistleToe Roaster, I connected immediately with Hamlet.  Hamlet. just like me, ain’t scared to brag about the fact that we think we know just that much more than the next guy!  And if that don’t confuse you, then come see my wisdom in action!”

Langdon’s college studies in Philosophy and Religion are a clue to his engaging personality and his genuine interest in people.  He has helped his dad teach their Sunday school class for years and has teamed up with his dad and  brother, Debo, and will release a Christmas book for 2006 entitled, You Know It’s Christmas When…  After all is sung, written and done, he still looks forward to doing what he enjoys the most, and that’s hanging out with his wife, Alexis and their daughter Caroline.