Walking In Rhythm BLACKBYRDS Video Steven Bogarat

Описание: 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]