Opa released only two albums before disbanding in the early 1980s. While neither of their albums found commercial success during their initial releases (despite the high-profile personalities involved ...

He was more than an NEA Jazz Master, although that in itself was quite an honor. The legendary jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd was also an educator and a visionary, with a desire to teach others what he ...

Basketball and Blaxploitation collide courtside in the film Cornbread, Earl and Me a mid-70s urban blockbuster with a soundtrack scored by Donald Byrd, which comprises the first part of this recent ...

Some people believe “Rock Creek Park” is the official song of Washington, D.C.—-or, at least, that it should be. The Blackbyrds, who co-wrote the 1976 hit, were pushed out the Howard University ...

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Blackbyrds’ City Life and Johnny Lytle’s first-ever reissue of People & Love, both now available on 180-gram vinyl. Two recent releases from Craft Recordings‘ ...

Detroit-born saxophonist and flutist Allan Barnes, best known for his soulful contributions to the best-selling jazz-fusion band the Blackbyrds in the mid-1970s, died Monday. He was 66. Barnes, who in ...

The Blackbyrds are one of the most accomplished music bands ever from the DC area. They came together almost 50 years ago as Howard University students under the guidance of their music professor, the ...

Kevin Toney in Los Angeles, CA. “We sued him to get out of our agreement,” Toney reveals. “We do an audit, and the audit had some questions to be answered. Essentially, Donald would never face us in ...

On November 9, rapper and Live From The Front Porch creator Noochie hosted a live version of his performance series at Washington, DC's venerable Kennedy Center. The event showcased acts like Noochie, ...

We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Life & Arts news every morning. The Blackbyrds’ first flush was in the early 1970s, when dancers demanded instrumental virtuosity ...