The Blackbyrds

Best known for the 1974 hit single “Walking in Rhythm,” The Blackbyrds is a jazz / funk fusion band founded in Washington, D.C. in 1973. Drawing comparisons with the likes of Sly & the Family Stone, Parliament and Earth, Wind & Fire, The Blackbyrds created some of the smoothest, most soulful funk of the 1970s, and were later sampled by scores of 1990s hip hop acts. At the time of their formation, iconic jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd headed the jazz studies department at Howard University, and he encouraged some of his students to form a band. Calling themselves The Blackbyrds and led by pianist Kevin Toney, this band of young musicians also originally featured Joe Hall (bass), Barney Perry (guitar), Allan Barnes (saxophone / clarinet), and Keith Killgo (drums / vocals) alongside Donald Byrd on trumpet and flugelhorn. The Blackbyrds signed with Fantasy Records in 1973 and released their self-titled debut album in 1974. They also supported artists such as Roberta Flack, B.B. King and The Temptations. In late ’74, The Blackbyrds released their second album, Flying Start, which featured the hit single “Walking in Rhythm.” The song reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100, R&B Singles, and Disco singles charts and became their best-known track. The Blackbyrds released a total of seven albums between 1974 and 1980 and several more charting singles – including “City Life” (1975), “Happy Music” (1976), “Time is Movin’” (1976), and “Supernatural Feeling” (1977) – before splitting up in 1981. The Blackbyrds’ track “Rock Creek Park” (from their 1975 album City Life) went on to be widely sampled by De La Soul, Massive Attack, Nas, NWA, and Ice Cube. In 2012, drummer Keith Killgo formed a new version of The Blackbyrds along with original bassist Joe Hall and later guitarist Orville Saunders. Donald Byrd died on February 4, 2013, at the age of 80. Founding member Allan Barnes died on July 25, 2016. Pianist Kevin Toney died on March 18, 2024, at the age of 75.