THE EARLY DAYS. FROM OKLAHOMA, coast to coast, 1967-1974
- Starting out as teenagers in the heartland of Oklahoma, with the influences of such legendary "Okie" artists as J.J. Cale, Elvin Bishop, Jimmy Webb and Leon Russell helping to shape our musical backgrounds, we knew that our roots were solid. My earliest performing show band from 1967-69 was, "The Knightmares" (pictured left). Followed by "Canyon" and the "Hand Made Band", 1970-1974. We spent those years in bars and nightclubs across the country. It gave us the opportunity to perform nightly while honing our skills. These experiences were also preparing me for more successful future touring bands and for my eventual songwriter / artist endeavors.
"krackers" 1975-1976
- Having spent the past two years touring the Midwest, a local nightclub gig sounded very attractive. Joining three of my best and most talented, musical friends to form a band that was a perfect fit for our shared musical tastes (pop, funk & jazz), "Krackers" was born. Micki Roemer, Dewain Manek, Jerry Hamilton & I were just what the doctor ordered and we had a great run through that year. It was such a pleasure to go to work every night, loving what we were doing and having a solid following to appreciate and enjoy our music. (Photo at right is from our 20 year reunion gig photo from 1995)
"the byrd brothers" 1980-1983
- In 1979, after three years of touring with my show band, "Hollywood" in the the top hotel circuits on the East Coast, I made the decision to move to LA and pursue a song-writing career. Arriving in Los Angeles the first week of 1980, I once again joined my brother David to form a nightclub duo that was truly an instant success. Appearing in the previous location of a landmark Hollywood getaway, "The Sportsman's Tavern", the marquis now read: "The Way It Was Restaurant and Lounge" proudly presents:"The Byrd Brothers". Performing there five nights a week to packed houses and landing on the cover of the Valley's top entertainment magazines that very first year, brought in the LA-area crowds. That gave us the opportunity to earn a good living while pursuing individual Los Angeles-based recording projects and careers. David moved back to Oklahoma in 1983 to work on solo projects, but I remained, with talented guest artists on the stage until the very last, and closing night in the nearly sixty years of the venerable, historic roadside tavern in 1987.
"Partners in crime" 1986-1987
- In 1986, while still performing nightly at "The Way It Was", I began a year-long recording project with Jeffrey Boydstun and Hugh Ferguson we called "Partners In Crime". Now with me as the vocalist/ bassist/ saxophonist of a techno/rock trio, we recorded one album and performed and showcased in Hollywood, before Ferguson and Boydstun left in 1987 to tour with the "Graham Nash Band" with David Crosby. Ferguson went on to perform for LA and record with his own "Hugh Ferguson Band", but he tragically died in his sleep, of cardiac arrest in 2012, at the age of just 53. Boydstun passed away, of natural causes at age 72, while hard at work at his recording studio console, in 2021.
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My Life In Music
My Never-Ending Musical Journey
My musical journey began on a Saturday morning in the summer of 1963. My Dad had suddenly asked me if I planned to continue playing the violin when I began Jr. High in the Fall. I replied that I had, telling him I was doing well on it and fearful that he might suggest sports or wood shop instead. Then he uttered these magical words: "How about another instrument..., like the saxophone"? I was filled with excitement as I eagerly replied, "Yes"!
He loaded the family in the car and we headed from pawn shops to music stores, to downtown Tulsa, Okla, in search, of my very first saxophone, a gently-used Olds Ambassador alto. It unlocked who I was, who I wanted to be and essentially, who I have "been" in the sixty years that followed. From that point on, I knew that playing my sax, performing, writing and recording music was what I wanted to spend my life doing.
Working with my lifelong best friend, mentor, and song-writing partner, Pat Kelley, has been the most important collaboration of my
sixty-year journey. We have traveled thousands of miles together in the pursuit of the joy of sharing music with each other, our website viewers and supporters, and those folks, burros and cows we met along the way.
My 2021 solo release, "Hundred Dollar Hat" is the culmination of over 25 years of my original material, as well as creative renditions of some of my favorite jazz, soul and pop classics. With Pat's contributions on the Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals, Drums & Percussion, as well as his world-class production skills and the contributions of some amazing musicians, our songs come alive with an energy and artistry that I am very proud of and happy to share.
Musical Artists Who Inspired Me
I have drawn inspiration from a wide range of musical genres, including rock, pop, jazz, soul and classical. Growing up in the 60's, after the years of the 50's Rock & Roll dominance of Elvis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Little Richard, The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Beach Boys sat atop the pop world and their songwriting innovations were inspirational to me. Some of my biggest lifelong music and songwriting influences have always been: Bob Dylan, Lennon /McCartney /Harrison, Jimmy Webb, Carole King, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Smokey Robinson, Otis Redding and Stevie Wonder.
Inspirational Saxophonists: Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, Joe Henderson, King Curtis, Grover Washington Jr., Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker, David Sandborn and John Klemmer are among my enduring favorites.
Songwriter/ Artists closest to my heart and my musical style are: Todd Rundgren, Daryll Hall, Bobby Caldwell and Bill Champlin (photo at right).
Musicians Who Influenced Me
Over the years, I've had the privilege of working, performing and writing with many amazing musicians, artists and songwriters. Those musicians influenced me in the development my own sound and helped nurture my artistic approach in my continuing musical endeavors. My earliest musical and artistic collaborators included my brother and best friends: David Byrd, Alex Greenhaw, Pat Kelley, David Brown, Joe Byford, Dave Melton, Doug Price, Herb Conley, Kenny Phillips, Jim Duncan, Bob Cornelison, Altice Moore, Paul Brewer, Larry Moore, Moqui Graham, Art Rodriguez, Jamie Hilboldt, Rocky Poole, Bobby Johnson, Sandford Hayes, Barry Davis, Greg Rex, Mick Roemer, Wes Holland, Don Juntenen, Kent Blessing, Lloyd Owens, Barnaby Finch, Rob & Amber Whitlock, Paul Gormley, Paul Kreibich, The Reverend Dave Boruff, John Ferraro, Jeff Olson, Mark Leggett, Warren Hartman, Chuck Sabitino, Ron Kobyashi, Baba Elephante, Rich Thomas, Christina Martin, "Melanie" Safka, Byron Fry, John Elliot, Nick Garret-Powell, Sean,Theresa & Patti McCoy, Pam Mark Hall, Roman Morykit, Cilette Swann, Jeffrey Boydstun, and the late guitar virtuoso, my frequent collaborator and forever friend, Hugh Ferguson. (Photo of Hugh from 1979 at left).