Sheila Horne
August 18, 2012
Gabe Gonzalez
August 19, 2012
Blackbyrd was grooved in the cradle by his father’s broad collection of jazz recordings as an infant, brainwashed by Jimi Hendrix in his teens, entered the University of Funk in his twenties, and has never stopped evolving and rocking people ever since. In the early stages of his career, Blackbyrd mainly worked with Jazz musicians, such as Charles Lloyd, Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock & the Headhunters, and more. He then redirected his path towards funk when he joined the P-Funk Camp in 1978 and has been funkin people up ever since. He was the musical director of George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic from 1980 to 2008. Other than working with P-Funk artists such as George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and Bernie Worrell, Blackbyrd has also worked with Miles Davis, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ron Wood & Bernard Fowler of the Rolling Stones, Bill Laswell, HR of Bad Brains, Macy Gray, Fishbone and Wyzard of Mothers Finest to name but a few.
6 Comments
blackbird, where u at. Do u still play wit george. miss u man.
Just saw him playing concert last night! Call me impressed! Haven’t seen Da Boys of Funk since early 80s! He wiped the Stage! Totally worth show to watch hi My!
I wish I could remain at the age when I first heard you play that solo on Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy. That time is forever frozen in my mind and in my life. I have a free mind because of that place!
You are one of the best gituar player in the world. I first saw you play in 1983 at the Gensis Center in Gary,IN. I was a senior in High School. You did this incredible 30-minute solo on the hit, (Loopzilla). It was amazing. Than you, Kid-Funkadelic, and Eddie did Maggot Brain. I love to see you play again with P.Funk. May god bless you and your family.
Fantastic playing all the way through a marvellous career. Is DeWayne coming on the UK tour in 2016 cause if so I’m there.
Saw you with P-Funk in Holyoke 8/20 and was completely blown away by your solo on Maggot Brain. unforgettable!