The Blackbyrds

Toolsband

EST1973 -- Washington, D.C.

The LPThe Blackbyrds (1974)

VIBES Jazz-Funk Soul r&b B.B. King Stevie Wonder The Temptations The Supremes Smokey Robinson The Four Tops Etta James Big Mama Thornton Ray Charles Sam Cooke Jackie Wilson Aretha Franklin Marvin Gaye Al Green Curtis Mayfield Wilson Pickett Bill Withers Isaac Hayes Booker T. & the M.G.'s The Staple Singers Prince Michael Jackson Whitney Houston Erykah Badu D'Angelo Lauryn Hill Mary J. Blige Janet Jackson Luther Vandross Beyonce Sade Tina Turner Sister Rosetta Tharpe Solomon Burke Ben E. King Sam & Dave Fats Domino Little Richard Chuck Berry Louis Jordan Dinah Washington Patti LaBelle The Delfonics Donny Hathaway Roberta Flack Lionel Richie Diana Ross Martha Reeves The Jackson 5 Alicia Keys Usher Anita Baker Maxwell Jill Scott TLC Destiny's Child Gladys Knight Mavis Staples Big Joe Turner Johnny Otis Teddy Pendergrass Bobby Womack Lou Rawls Rick James Ruth Brown LaVern Baker R. Kelly Earth Wind & Fire Kool & The Gang The Isley Brothers War Rufus & Chaka Khan Chaka Khan Barry White The O'Jays Gladys Knight & The Pips Quincy Jones The Meters Ohio Players Tower of Power Maurice White The Neville Brothers Cameo The Gap Band The Commodores Slave Lakeside Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes The Stylistics The Spinners The Whispers The Chi-Lites The Dramatics Blue Magic The Manhattans The Main Ingredient Maze featuring Frankie Beverly The Dells Dazz Band Midnight Star The SOS Band Billy Preston The Brothers Johnson Con Funk Shun Rose Royce Patrice Rushen Pleasure Harold Melvin Eddie Levert Eddie Kendricks David Ruffin Dennis Edwards William Hart Russell Thompkins Jr.Candi Staton Tyrone Davis Clarence Carter Betty Wright Millie Jackson Melba Moore Deniece Williams Angela Bofill Stephanie Mills Randy Crawford Regina Belle Peabo Bryson Freddie Jackson Alexander O'Neal Cherrelle Rufus Angie Stone Raphael Saadiq Mint Condition Tony! Toni! Toné!Jodeci Boyz II Men New Edition Bell Biv DeVoe En Vogue SWV Xscape Sade Adu Toni Braxton Babyface Eugene Record Johnnie Taylor Edwin Starr Tammi Terrell Mary Wells Junior Walker Little Willie John Joe Tex Arthur Conley Maxine Brown Tommy Hunt Dobie Gray Johnny Moore Lloyd Price Big Maybelle Teena Marie Jackie Moore Brenda Holloway Kim Weston Betty Everett Timmy Thomas Billy Paul Jean Carn Phyllis Hyman Evelyn Champagne King Shalamar Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.Ashford & Simpson Nickolas Ashford Valerie Simpson Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Gamble & Huff John Oates Daryl Hall Hall & Oates Pointer Sisters Sister Sledge The Emotions The Three Degrees Floetry Musiq Soulchild Ginuwine Aaliyah Brandy Monica Faith Evans India Arie Goapele Ledisi Lalah Hathaway Dianne Reeves George Benson Al Jarreau Cannonball Adderley Johnny "Guitar" Watson Betty Davis Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell Lyn Collins Professor Longhair The Contours The Intruders McFadden & Whitehead Denise LaSalle Latimore Dyke & the Blazers The Blackbyrds Marva Whitney Loose Ends Soul II Soul Mica Paris Lisa Stansfield Bilal Dwele Van Hunt The Sweet Inspirations Cissy Houston Dee Dee Warwick Bobby Caldwell The Jones Girls Bobbi Humphrey Labi Siffre Archie Bell & the Drells Mel & Tim The 8th Day John Legend Amy Winehouse BeBe Winans

The Blackbyrds. Donald Byrd taught a bunch of Howard University students how to play jazz, and they turned around and taught him how to make hits. Walking in Rhythm. Rock Creek Park. Happy Music. Jazz chops applied to the funk -- horns that could actually play over grooves that wouldn't quit. A student band that outsold the teacher.

Played With

Donald ByrdHoward University

Essential Listening

1Walking in Rhythm. Rock Creek Park. Donald Byrd's student band turned jazz-funk hitmakers.