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Oakland, United States
Born and raised on the musical mecca of 47th street in Chicago, Byrd grew up listening to all the greats like Lou Rawls, Jackie Wilson, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations and BB King, to name a few, who played at the Regal Theater, where his uncle, Red Saunders was the drummer and bandleader. On the same block of 47th and Drexel Blvd. where he lived, jazz greats like Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons played at the Southerland hotel and Byrd went to the jam sessions that were hosted by Sonny Stitt at the Grass Hut on 79th street, He enrolled in Chicago State University to study under the great Bunky Green. Jazz heroes like,Eddie Jefferson, Gil Scott Heron and Oscar Brown Jr,(who lived down the street on Drexel Blvd) also sources of inspiration. Specializing in a jazz vocal tradition called "vocalese" which originated with Eddie Jefferson who he met at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago shortly before his untimely death, he has carved out a unique musical niche with the combination of jazz and reggae.