The Blackbyrds

The Blackbyrds were a jazz-funk group with thick R&B streaks running down their backs. Constructed by Donald Byrd in 1974, the group’s first people — percussionist Pericles “Benefit” Jacobs, Jr., drummer Keith Killgo, keyboardist Kevin Toney, reeds participant Allan Barnes, bassist Joe Hall, guitarist Barney Perry — had been mined from Howard University’s music section, where in fact the doctor and jazz tale was an trainer. (Other essential players included guitarist Orville Saunders and saxophonist/flautist Steve Johnson.) Through the Blackbyrds’ almost decade-long lifestyle, the group lower a small number of LPs (1973’s The Blackbyrds, 1974’s Traveling Start, 1975’s Town Lifestyle, 1976’s Unfinished Business, 1977’s Actions, 1980’s Better Times); scored movies (1975’s Cornbread, Earl and Me); and backed performers like B.B. Ruler, Mandrill, and Roberta Flack. “Strolling in Tempo,” “Rock and roll Creek Recreation area,” and “Content Music” are their three best-known slashes; they have continued to be underground membership classics, plus they have been held alive, partly, through sampling. The group’s catalog continues to be overhauled and reissued several moments; multiple best-ofs have already been released (Fantasy’s Greatest Hits may be the strongest & most thorough), & most from the group’s full-length result continues to be released on Compact disc through two-fers. So far as outside actions were regarded as, Barney Perry released a single album beneath the name Blair in 1978 (through his personal Solar Audio imprint). The rest of the users’ involvements are much too considerable to list.