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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.[1]

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The Blackbyrds
Origin	Washington, D.C., United States
Genres	R&B, jazz-funk
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

History

The group was inspired by trumpeter Donald Byrd^{[citation needed]} 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. On "Rock Creek Park" and "Happy Music", Merry Clayton joined them on vocals.[2] They signed to 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.[3]

Founding member Allan Barnes died on July 25, 2016, aged 66.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6] In particular, their 1975 song "Rock Creek Park" from the City Life album has been sampled numerous times by groups and artists such as MF Doom, De La Soul, Eric B. & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, N.W.A, Massive Attack, Ice Cube, Heavy D, Nas and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Tone Lōc, Mac Dre, and Wiz Khalifa.[7]

Discography

Studio albums

• 1974: The Blackbyrds (Fantasy)
• 1974: Flying Start (Fantasy)
• 1975: Cornbread, Earl and Me (Soundtrack) (Fantasy)
• 1975: City Life (Fantasy)
• 1976: Unfinished Business (Fantasy)
• 1977: Action (Fantasy)
• 1980: Better Days (Fantasy)
• 2012: Gotta Fly (K-Wes Indi Records)

Compilations

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

Singles

• "Do It, Fluid" (1974) - R&B #23, Pop #69
• "Walking in Rhythm" (1975) - R&B #4, Pop #6, Easy Listening #5, UK #23
• "Flyin' High" (1975) - R&B #22, Pop #70, Easy Listening #25
• "Happy Music" (1976) - R&B #3, Pop #19
• "Rock Creek Park" (1976) - R&B #37, Pop #93
• "Time Is Movin'" (1977) - R&B #15, Pop #95
• "Party Land" (1977) - R&B #30
• "Soft And Easy" (1977) - R&B #20
• "Supernatural Feeling" (1978) - R&B #19
• "What We Have Is Right" (1980) - R&B #38
• "Love Don't Strike Twice" (1981) - R&B #52
• "Dancin' Dancin" (1981) - Dance #59

All singles released on the Fantasy label.

References

External links

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

На других языках

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[de] The Blackbyrds

The Blackbyrds sind eine US-amerikanische Rhythm-and-Blues- und Jazzfunk-Band, die 1973 in Washington, D.C. (Vereinigte Staaten) gegründet und 2012 von Keith Killgo neugegründet wurde.[1]

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- [en] The Blackbyrds

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