Associated acts KOJO | ||
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Years active 1973–1981, 2012-present Past members Allan BarnesDonald ByrdBarney PerryKevin ToneyJay JonesRay ArmandoOscar BrashearPerk JacobsDavid WilliamsStephen Johnson Members Donald Byrd, Kevin Toney, Keith Killgo, Orville Saunders, Barney Perry, Joe Hall, Stephen Johnson Albums Flying Start, The Blackbyrds, City Life, City Life / Unfinished Business, Walking in Rhythum: The Esse Similar Mizell Brothers , Charles Earland , Allan Barnes Profiles | ||
The blackbyrds rock creek park
The Blackbyrds is an American rhythm and blues and jazz-funk fusion group, formed in Washington, D.C., in 1973 and reformed in 2012 by Keith Killgo.
Contents
History
The group was inspired by trumpeter Donald Byrd 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. They signed to Fantasy Records in 1973 and are best known for their 1975 hit "Walking in Rhythm", which received a Grammy nomination, sold over one million copies by May 1975, and was awarded a gold disc.
With eight albums released for Fantasy from 1974 to 1980, The Blackbyrds became an inspiration to late 1970s and early 1980s British jazz-funk acts such as Light of the World and Hi-Tension.
More recently, they have made a significant impact on the hip-hop generation with Gang Starr, Da Lench Mobb, and Full Force sampling their music. 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 and Wiz Khalifa.
Founding member Allan Barnes died on July 25, 2016, aged 66.
Studio albums
Compilations
Singles
All singles released on the Fantasy label.
Songs
Walking in RhythmThe Blackbyrds · 1974
Happy MusicCity Life · 1975
Do It FluidThe Blackbyrds · 1974