Rickie Lee Reynolds Of Black Oak Arkansas Passed Away At 72

RIP

Rickie Lee Reynolds, guitarist for rock band Black Oak Arkansas, passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 72. His daughter, Amber Lee, confirmed the news on social media. (leankitchenco.com) He was reportedly hospitalized because of Covid-19 before he suffered from kidney failure and cardiac arrest.

“Unfortunately, this morning he suffered another cardiac arrest, which they were unable to resuscitate him from,” Lee wrote. “We are all heartbroken by this massive loss, and the whole world feels colder and more empty without his presence among us.”

“Please take a moment of silence today to remember all of the love he gave to the world,” she continued, “and take some time to give back some of those wonderful feelings that he gave us all in our times of need.”

Reynolds was a founding member of Black Oak Arkansas along with original singer Ronnie Smith, guitarists Stanley Knight and Harvey Jett, bassist Pat Daugherty and drummer Wayne Evans. Smith stepped back and became their stage manager instead, while Jim Mangrum became their new frontman.

The band achieved success in the 1960s and 1970s. They were also a stellar live act, and they performed at sold-out shows in the ’70s. In a 2008 interview with Classic Rock magazine, Reynolds said that “no other group [was] doing that kind of music” when they formed.

“We were the first ones to have the three guitars, the first to mix up rock, country, and rhythm and blues,” he added.