Reed, 71, had been suffering from emphysema.

Before he became “The Snowman” sidekick in “Smokey & The Bandit,” he was already regarded as an accomplished musician, known for his syncopated guitar work and for his hits “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot,” “Amos Moses,” and “Lord Mr. Ford.”

He wrote songs for Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Porter Wagoner, Brenda Lee and others, according to the paper.