American bluegrass and country musician (banjo, guitar, tenor vocals). Born February 21, 1927 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Died October 16, 1984 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Father of Don Wayne Reno, Ronnie Reno and Dale Reno.
In 1939, then 13-year-old Reno joined the Morris Brothers in performing at a local radio station. He left one year later to join Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith, with whom he would later record “Feudin Banjos”. He also played guitar on the hit instrumental “Guitar Boogie” with Arthur Smith and Roy Lear under the name the The Rambler Trio in 1945.
By 1946, Reno was regularly performing on the WSPA-FM station out of Spartanburg, South Carolina as a lead guitarist with different groups.
In 1948, Reno became a member of the Blue Grass Boys.
In 1950, Reno formed a partnership with Red Smiley that lasted fourteen years as Reno And Smiley.
In 1951, Reno and Smiley came to Cincinnati as members of Tommy Magness & His Tennessee Buddies, and cut four songs on King Records’ subsidiary Federal Records. In 1952, Reno and Smiley came back to King and cut sixteen sides as Reno and Smiley and The Tennessee Cut-Ups.
In 1964, after the retirement of Red Smiley, Reno and guitarist Bill Harrell formed Reno & Harrell. In 1969, Red Smiley joined Reno & Harrell, remaining with them until his death in 1972.
From 1964 until 1971, Reno also performed with Benny Martin.
In the 1970s, Reno played with The Good Old Boys.
In later years, Don Reno began performing and touring with his sons Ronnie, Don Wayne and Dale.
In 1992, along with partner Red Smiley, Don Reno was elected to the IBMA Bluegrass Hall of Fame.