Biography

She owned and operated a handicraft shop in Nyack, Rockland County, New York in her retirement.

She was raised in Columbia, South Carolina and New York City.

She was a successful folk musician and a soprano singer. She played the zither, a harp, and a lute from the late forties until 1971. She sang old Irish, English, Appalachian ballads, and accompanied herself on the zither or the Irish harp.

Mother of son, Reed Karen, with actor, James Karen. She has two grandchildren.

Daughter of film director Daniel Reed and theatre publicist Isadora Reed. Her family was friends with Carl Sandburg.

This is a zither. -- Her opening line at each performance.

I was singing at the Palmer House in Chicago when I thought, "This is a rotten business." And I just turned off. -- Explaining why she stopped performing at age 23.

Everyone with an organization who wants to put over brotherhood and peace, they just call old Sue. -- Explaining her occasional performances later in life.

Black, black, black is the color of my true love's hair.

On beginning her show: This is a zither.