Alto Reed, the mighty saxophonist who thrilled millions of listeners during his platinum-plus-selling career with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, died today (Dec. 30) from cancer.
“It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of our lifelong friend and band mate, Alto Reed,” Seger wrote in a news release. “Alto passed away this morning at his home with his family by his side after fighting a courageous battle with colon cancer.”
The Detroit native — born Thomas Neal Cartmell — was 72.
“Our hearts are deeply broken by this enormous loss, but also filled with gratitude as we reflect on his legacy and how incredibly lucky we‘ve been to get to call such a special guy, dad,” a statement from the family read. “He led an extraordinary life, marked by passion, determination, and dreams come true; an action packed adventure filled top to bottom with love, magic, dear friends, family, and unspeakable joys. The stuff of legends, really.”
Reed will be remembered for crafting some of the greatest sax solos in rock ‘n’ roll history, which became true highlights of such classic rock radio staples as “Old Time Rock and Roll” and, especially, “Turn the Page.”
He began working with Seger’s legendary troupe in the early ’70s, helping craft such landmark ’70s and ’80s albums as “Live Bullet,” “Night Moves,” “Stranger In Town,” “Against The Wind,” “Nine Tonight” and “Like a Rock.” He played on countless concerts dates with the band, including during Seger’s final tour in 2019.
“Alto has been a part of our musical family, on and off stage, for nearly 50 years,” Seger says. “I first starting playing with Alto in 1971. He was amazing. He could play just about anything…he was funky, could scat, and play tenor sax and alto sax at the same time.”
Seger had already been working the scene for many years by the time he joined forces with Reed, whose passionate saxophone playing would then help propel the band to the next level of popularity.
“We worked with Alto often and when we booked our first headline arena gigs at Cobo Hall (in Detroit), we asked him to be a part of those shows,” Seger says. “No doubt his iconic performance on ‘Turn the Page’ helped lift us to another level.
“He has been with us on that stage virtually every show, ever since. And whether it was ‘Turn The Page,’ ‘Mainstreet,’ or ‘Old Time Rock and Roll,’ audiences roared every time he played his part. In our band, Alto was the rock star.”
Although best known for his longtime association with Seger, Reed also performed with many other notable artists over the years, including Dave Mason, Little Feat, Foghat, Mick Fleetwood, Grand Funk Railroad, Otis Rush, Spencer Davis, Michael McDonald, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Steve Cropper, Tico Torres, the Ventures and George Thorogood
In lieu of flowers, the family says donations in Reed’s name can be made to the Detroit Symphony’s Detroit Harmony Fund, “whose goal is to put an instrument in the hands of every student in the city of Detroit.” The family also encourages “friends and fans who loved him to honor his life through regular screenings and other early prevention methods for colon cancer.”