EPISODE 141: The Blackbyrds were at the cutting edge of jazz fusion, R&B and funk in the 1970s, pushing the boundaries of Black popular music forward in one of the most musically fertile decades of the past century. Established by legendary jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd in 1973, the band's success includes several highly touted albums, film scores (1975's "Cornbread," "Earl and Me"), as well as supporting such iconic artists as B.B. King. Herbie Hancock, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Roberta Flack and more. The Blackbyrds’ self-titled debut album put the group on the map with "Do It, Fluid," a funky laid-back party anthem. The group followed that initial success with a string of albums over the next five years, including FLYING START (1974), which yielded their biggest hit, the Grammy-nominated "Walking in Rhythm," and CITY LIFE (1975), which contained the hit "Happy Music" and the iconic "Rock Creek Park," which remains one of the most sampled jazz-funk tracks to this day, as well as such hits as “Supernatural Feeling,” Grammy-nominated “Unfinished Business,” “Time is Movin’,” “Dreaming About You” and “Flyin’ High,” among many others. Under the leadership of original drummer and vocalist, Keith Killgo, the band continues to record, tour and perform globally. The Blackbyrds current lineup includes original founding members Keith Killgo (drums and vocals) and Joe Hall (bass), Paul Spires (vocals), Dominique Toney (vocals), daughter of original band keyboardist Kevin Toney, Roberto Villeda (keyboards), Charles Wright (guitar), Thad Wilson (trumpet), Marshall Keys (saxophone) and Sean Anthony (percussion). blackbyrdsmusic.com Contact us: makingsoundpodcast.com Follow on Instagram: @makingsoundpodcast Follow on Threads: @jannklose Join our Facebook Group Please support the show with a donation, thank you for listening!
