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The Blackbyrds are an American rhythm and blues and jazz-funk fusion group, formed in Washington, D.C., in 1973 and reformed in 2012 by Keith Killgo.

History

The group was inspired by trumpeter Donald Byrd and featured some of his Howard University students: Kevin Toney (keyboards), Keith Killgo (vocals, drums), Joe Hall (bass guitar), Allan Barnes (saxophone, clarinet), and Barney Perry (guitar). Orville Saunders (guitar), and Jay Jones (flute, saxophone) joined later. Merry Clayton joined them to sing on "Rock Creek Park" and "Happy Music".

The band signed with Fantasy Records in 1973. Their 1975 hit "Walking in Rhythm" received a Grammy nomination and sold over one million copies by May 1975. It was later awarded a gold disc.

Founding member Allan Barnes died on July 25, 2016, at the age of 66. Pianist Kevin Toney died from cancer on March 18, 2024, at the age of 70.

Sampling of Blackbyrds music

The Blackbyrds have influenced the hip-hop generation, with Tupac Shakur, Gang Starr, Da Lench Mob, and Full Force sampling their music. Their song "Happy Music" was issued on 45 rpm 12-inch single as the first club mix release by Fantasy Records, in November 1975, to enable club deejays to drop sequences into a mix. In particular, their 1975 song "Rock Creek Park" from the City Life album has been sampled by groups and artists such as MF Doom, De La Soul, Da Lench Mob, Eric B. & Rakim, Massive Attack, Heavy D, Nas, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Tone Lōc, Mac Dre, and Wiz Khalifa.

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations

• 1978: Night Grooves (Fantasy)
• 1989: Greatest Hits (Fantasy)
• 2007: Happy Music: The Best of The Blackbyrds (Fantasy FCD-30194-2)

Singles

References

1. "The Blackbyrds". Discogs. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
2. "Blackbyrds walking in rhythm song". Retrieved February 19, 2024.
3. "The Blackbyrds : Rock Creek Park". Songfacts.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
4. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 354. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
5. Stryker, Mark (July 29, 2016). "Allan Barnes, soulful Detroit saxophonist, dies at 66". Detroit Free Press.
6. "Jazz and Soul great Kevin Toney dies at age 70". Soul Tracks. March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
7. "The Blackbyrds: Talking In Rhythm". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
8. Niebur, Louis (2022). Menergy: San Francisco's Gay Disco Sound. Oxford University Press. p. 49. ISBN 9780197511077.
9. Thompson, Dave (2001). Funk. Backbeat Books. p. 81. ISBN 0-87930-629-7.
10. ^ "The Blackbyrds - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
11. "BLACKBYRDS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.

External links

• The Blackbyrds at AllMusic
• The Blackbyrds discography at Discogs
• The Blackbyrds at IMDb
• D’Angelo, Enrico (June 2, 2003). "The Blackbyrds". The Harbus. Retrieved on October 27, 2007.

• Musical groups from Washington, D.C.
• American jazz ensembles
• American soul musical groups
• American funk musical groups
• Fantasy Records artists