b. 9th December 1932, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
Donald Byrd captured the tenor of his times as did like Clifford Brown and Freddie Hubbard.
He studied music at Wayne State University, from which he received his bachelor's degree in 1954.
He went on to receive a master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music in the mid-'50's.
At the same time, he recorded for the Prestige, Riverside, and Blue Note, and Savoy labels (among others), both as a leader and as a sideman.
Following stints with the likes of Max Roach, Art Blakey, and Sonny Rollins, Byrd co-led a band with the baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams from 1958-61.
Byrd studied composition in Europe from 1962-63, then returned to the U.S., where he established himself as an academician, teaching at Rutgers, Howard University, and the Hampton Institute.
Byrd received his law degree in 1976; he subsequently taught at North Carolina Central University.
In 1982, he received his doctorate from Columbia Teachers College.
Byrd continued to perform and record, releasing a number of fine straight-ahead Blue Note albums throughout the '60's.
In the '70's, his music took a decidedly commercial turn.
During the early Seventies, Byrd put together a group of his students, forming a band whose title became based around his surname. The Blackbyrds.
They recorded a string of successful chart singles which included the song 'Walking In Rhythm', an enormous pop hit both sides of the Atlantic.
Byrd recorded a number of heavily produced, pop-oriented albums on which his horn was subjugated by disco-fied vocals and string sections.
Byrd worked alongside producers 'The Mizell Brothers' throughout this period with 'Places & Spaces' being considered his finest work at this time.
In the '80's and '90's Byrd returned to his jazz roots, recording with peers such as Joe Henderson and Bobby Hutcherson, and with younger musicians like Kenny Garrett and Mulgrew Miller.
In 2001, Donald Byrd had become unwell.
Albums:
Long Green Savoy (1955)
Byrd's Word (Savoy Jazz 1955)
Two Trumpets (Prestige 1956)
September Afternoon (Discovery 1956)
The Jazz Message Of... (Savoy 1956)
Modern Jazz Perspective [Jazz Lab, Vol. 2] (Columbia 1957)
Jazz Lab (Jubilee 1957)
Star Eyes (Savoy 1957)
Three Trumpets (Original Jazz 1958)
Byrd in Paris, Vol. 2: Parisian Thoroughfare [live] (Polydor 1958)
Byrd in Paris, Vols. 1 & 2 [live] (Polydor 1958)
Off to the Races (Blue Note 1958)
Byrd in Hand (Blue Note 1959)
Fuego (Blue Note 1959)
Byrd in Flight (Blue Note 1960)
Donald Byrd at the Half Note Cafe, Vols. 1-2 [live] (Blue Note 1960)
Donald Byrd at the Half Note Cafe, Vol. 1 [live] (Blue Note 1960)
Donald Byrd at the Half Note Cafe, Vol. 2 [live] (Blue Note 1960)
Stardust (Bethlehem 1960)
Motor City Scene (Bethlehem 1960)
Chant (Blue Note 1961)
The Cat Walk (Blue Note 1961)
Royal Flush (Blue Note 1961)
Free Form (Blue Note 1961)
Groovin' for Nat (Black Lion 1962)
A New Perspective (Blue Note 1963)
Up with Donald Byrd (Verve 1964)
I'm Tryin' to Get Home (Blue Note 1964)
Mustang! (Blue Note 1966)
Blackjack (Blue Note 1967)
Slow Drag (Blue Note 1967)
The Creeper (Blue Note 1967)
Fancy Free (Blue Note 1969)
Kofi (Blue Note 1969)
Electric Byrd (Blue Note 1970)
Ethiopian Knights (Blue Note 1971)
Black Byrd (Blue Note 1972)
Street Lady (Blue Note 1973)
Places and Spaces (Blue Note 1975)
Caricatures (Blue Note 1976)
Steppin' into Tomorrow (Blue Note 1976)
Thank You...For F.U.M.L. (Funking up My Life) (Elektra 1978)
Love Byrd: Donald Byrd and 125th St, N.Y.C. (Elektra 1981)
Words, Sounds, Colours & Shapes (Elektra 1982)
Harlem Blues (Landmark 1987)
Getting Down to Business (Landmark 1989)
A City Called Heaven (1991)
