Formed in 1973 by legendary trumpeter Donald Byrd, The Blackbyrds helped define jazz-funk, R&B and soul in the 70s. Assembled from the most talented students at Howard University, the band struck gold with their eponymous debut and classics like Do It Fluid, Walking in Rhythm, Happy Music and the iconic Rock Creek Park. Their Grammy-nominated sound has influenced generations, from 1980s Brit-funk to hip hop icons like Tupac, De La Soul, MF Doom, and Nas, who have all sampled their music extensively.

Marshall Keys

Events

Past events

Aug 4, 2026

The Blackbyrds · Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club

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