The Blackbyrds

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 Blackbyrds
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

History

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]

Sampling of Blackbyrds music

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]

Discography

Studio albums

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.

Compilations

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

Singles

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.