Formed 1973

The Blackbyrds were conceived by trumpeter and Howard University jazz studies head Donald Byrd as a vehicle to give his students comprehensive experience in the music industry. The original band, Kevin Toney on keyboards, Keith Killgo on drums and vocals, Joe Hall on bass, Allan Barnes on saxophone and clarinet, and Barney Perry on guitar, was assembled in Washington D.C. in 1973 and signed to Fantasy Records with Byrd himself on trumpet and flugelhorn. Their self-titled debut (1974), produced by Larry Mizell and Byrd with production supervision by Orrin Keepnews, reached the pop, R&B and jazz charts, with the single "Do It, Fluid" crossing into the Hot 100. "Flying Start" (1974), their second album, contained "Walking in Rhythm," written by Barney Perry, which reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and placed in the top ten on the R&B, disco and adult contemporary charts. The Blackbyrds' records were later sampled extensively by hip-hop artists in the 1990s. The band recorded the 1975 film soundtrack "Cornbread, Earl and Me" and released further Fantasy albums through to 1981 before disbanding. Original members Keith Killgo and Joe Hall reformed the band in 2012 and continue to tour.