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The Blackbyrds | |
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Origin | Washington, D.C., United States |
Genres | Jazz fusion, jazz-funk, jazz, smooth jazz |
Years active | 1973–1981, 2012–present |
Labels | Fantasy |
Members | Joe Hall Keith Killgo Orville Saunders |
Past members | Allan Barnes Donald Byrd Barney Perry Kevin Toney Jay Jones Ray Armando Oscar Brashear Perk Jacobs David Williams Wesley Jackson Stephen Johnson Gary Hart |
The Blackbyrds are an American rhythm and blues and jazz-funk fusion group, formed in Washington, D.C., in 1973 [1] and reformed in 2012 by Keith Killgo. [2]
The group was inspired by trumpeter Donald Byrd [3] 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). [1] Orville Saunders (guitar), and Jay Jones (flute, saxophone) joined later. [1] Merry Clayton joined them to sing on "Rock Creek Park" and "Happy Music". [4]
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. [5] Later work became more formulaic and sales suffered as time went on. [1]
Founding member Allan Barnes died on July 25, 2016, at the age of 66. [6] Pianist Kevin Toney died from cancer on March 18, 2024, at the age of 70. [7]
The Blackbyrds work has sampled by hip-hop artists including Tupac Shakur, Gang Starr, Da Lench Mob, and Full Force. [8] 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. [9] 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. [10]
Year | Album | Chart positions | Label | Certifications | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [11] | US R&B [11] | US Jazz [11] | ||||
1974 | The Blackbyrds | 96 | 14 | 6 | Fantasy | |
Flying Start | 30 | 5 | 2 | |||
1975 | Cornbread, Earl and Me (soundtrack) | 150 | 19 | 39 | ||
City Life | 16 | 3 | 1 | US: Gold (RIAA) [12] | ||
1976 | Unfinished Business | 34 | 6 | 5 | US: Gold (RIAA) [12] | |
1977 | Action | 43 | 8 | US: Gold (RIAA) [12] | ||
1980 | Better Days | 133 | 40 | — | ||
2012 | Gotta Fly | — | — | — | K-Wes Indi Records | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [11] | US R&B [11] | US Disco [11] | US A/C [11] | UK [13] | ||
1974 | "Do It, Fluid" | 69 | 23 | ― | ― | ― |
"Gut Level" | ― | ― | 9 | ― | ― | |
1975 | "Walking in Rhythm" | 6 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 23 |
"Future Children, Future Hopes" | ― | ― | 3 | ― | ― | |
"Flyin' High" | 70 | 22 | ― | ― | ― | |
"City Life" | ― | ― | 4 | ― | ― | |
1976 | "Happy Music" | 19 | 3 | 6 | ― | ― |
"Rock Creek Park" | 93 | 37 | ― | ― | ― | |
"Unfinished Business" | ― | ― | 14 | ― | ― | |
"Time Is Movin'" | 95 | 15 | ― | ― | ― | |
"Party Land" | ― | 30 | ― | ― | ― | |
1977 | "Soft and Easy" | ― | 20 | ― | ― | ― |
"Supernatural Feeling" | ― | 19 | ― | ― | ― | |
"Street Games" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | |
1980 | "Don't Know What You Say" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― |
"What We Have Is Right" | ― | 38 | ― | ― | ― | |
"Love Don't Strike Twice" | ― | 52 | ― | ― | ― | |
"Dancin' Dancin'" | ― | ― | 59 | ― | ― | |
2002 | "Mysterious Vibes" (remix, originally released in 1977) | ― | — | ― | ― | 97 |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |