Local indie artist wins Florida Artist of the Year

Jason Futch  Reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com David Reed, Jr., recalled a simple gift West Suwannee Elementary School teacher Cheryl Mae Brinson gave him that changed the course of his life. "It was a pen," he said. "She told me, one day, I'm going to take this pen and do something special with it." Looking back on the experience, he said it was a prophetic testament to what he has been able to do now, as he has gone on to win Artist of the Year at the 2025 Southern Independent Radio Music Awards on Saturday, May 17.  Reed, whose stage name is J Reed, also recently earned the Music Matters nomination at the Yo ATL Raps event in Atlanta, Ga. His accomplishments in music have allow