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.