Gene H. "Joe" Byrd, 78, died in a traffic accident March 6 near his home in Edgewater.
Jass bassist "Joe" Byrd was born Gene H. Byrd on May 21, 1933 in Chuckatuck, VA to Mary E. Holland Byrd and Newman H. Byrd. The youngest of four boys, Joe Byrd played professionally with his eldest brother Charlie Byrd for over 40 years until the elder Byrd died of cancer in 1999.
Byrd graduated from Chuckatuck High School in Chuckatuck, VA and attended the Franklin Institute in Washington, DC before being drafted into the US Army at the time of the Korean War. Byrd
served his duty in "tanks" and used his G.I. Bill to earn a music and teaching degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore (now the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University) in 1962. While he studied classical bass and flute at Peabody, he had played guitar since he was 9 years old. During his time at Peabody, Byrd played jazz bass and guitar and also sang in local jazz clubs in Baltimore and also with his brother Charlie's groups in the Washington, DC area.
In 1962, Joe Byrd played 2nd guitar with his brother Charlie and Stan Getz on saxophone in what was to become a classic jazz album entitled "Jazz Samba." Thereafter he performed on over 120 albums and CDs with the Charlie Byrd Trio, The Great Guitars (with C. Byrd, Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel) and other jazz celebrities. He performed with the Trio and Great Guitars in over 125 countries around the globe, often as a "Good Will Ambassador" for the US State Department. He performed at The White House for presidents Johnson, Ford and Carter and also performed many times at Carnegie Hall, the Newport Jazz Festival and the Kennedy Center. At one time Byrd listed over 30 major jazz guitarists with whom he had played in his long career including: Laurinda Almeda, Joe Pass, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joa Giberto, Tal Farlow, Howard Alden, Gene Bertoncini, Steve Abshire, Frank Vignola and countless other luminaries.
After Charlie Byrd's passing in 1999, Joe Byrd fronted his own small groups and played largely in the Annapolis/Baltimore/Washington area including Blues Alley, the Maryland Inn, 49 West Cafe and The Mainstay in Rock Hall. He and his wife Elana created four more CDs including, "Brazilian Nights: A Tribute to Charlie Byrd." He retired from public performances December 27, 2008 at age 75 but continued to play jazz piano at home as his evening hobby.
Byrd also enjoyed reading, gourmet cooking and was an avid gardener at his longtime home in Edgewater. Byrd and his wife have produced jazz concerts throughout the Annapolis/DC/Baltimore area for the past ten years and the "Joe Byrd Jazz" calendar of performances is filled through December 31 of this year. The Byrds have also owned and managed a rental real estate business for over three decades in Annapolis.
Mr. Byrd is survived by his wife, Elana Rhodes Byrd, a local attorney, his brother Jack R. Byrd of Suffolk, VA, a step-son Jeffrey I. House of Washington DC, and nieces and nephews: Carol Byrd Rose of Charlotte, NC, Charlotte Byrd of Annapolis, Jack Byrd of Reston, VA, David Byrd of Seal Beach CA and Josephine Byrd Laboyag, also of CA.
The Byrd family plans a musical Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, at the Unitarian Church of Annapolis. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to the Joe Byrd Jazz Scholarship Fund at the Peabody Institute, 1 East Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD 21202. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/capitalgazette/obituary.aspx?n=gene-joe-byrd&pid=156375720#sthash.w7fN8pi1.dpuf
Jass bassist "Joe" Byrd was born Gene H. Byrd on May 21, 1933 in Chuckatuck, VA to Mary E. Holland Byrd and Newman H. Byrd. The youngest of four boys, Joe Byrd played professionally with his eldest brother Charlie Byrd for over 40 years until the elder Byrd died of cancer in 1999.
Byrd graduated from Chuckatuck High School in Chuckatuck, VA and attended the Franklin Institute in Washington, DC before being drafted into the US Army at the time of the Korean War. Byrd
served his duty in "tanks" and used his G.I. Bill to earn a music and teaching degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore (now the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University) in 1962. While he studied classical bass and flute at Peabody, he had played guitar since he was 9 years old. During his time at Peabody, Byrd played jazz bass and guitar and also sang in local jazz clubs in Baltimore and also with his brother Charlie's groups in the Washington, DC area.
In 1962, Joe Byrd played 2nd guitar with his brother Charlie and Stan Getz on saxophone in what was to become a classic jazz album entitled "Jazz Samba." Thereafter he performed on over 120 albums and CDs with the Charlie Byrd Trio, The Great Guitars (with C. Byrd, Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel) and other jazz celebrities. He performed with the Trio and Great Guitars in over 125 countries around the globe, often as a "Good Will Ambassador" for the US State Department. He performed at The White House for presidents Johnson, Ford and Carter and also performed many times at Carnegie Hall, the Newport Jazz Festival and the Kennedy Center. At one time Byrd listed over 30 major jazz guitarists with whom he had played in his long career including: Laurinda Almeda, Joe Pass, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joa Giberto, Tal Farlow, Howard Alden, Gene Bertoncini, Steve Abshire, Frank Vignola and countless other luminaries.
After Charlie Byrd's passing in 1999, Joe Byrd fronted his own small groups and played largely in the Annapolis/Baltimore/Washington area including Blues Alley, the Maryland Inn, 49 West Cafe and The Mainstay in Rock Hall. He and his wife Elana created four more CDs including, "Brazilian Nights: A Tribute to Charlie Byrd." He retired from public performances December 27, 2008 at age 75 but continued to play jazz piano at home as his evening hobby.
Byrd also enjoyed reading, gourmet cooking and was an avid gardener at his longtime home in Edgewater. Byrd and his wife have produced jazz concerts throughout the Annapolis/DC/Baltimore area for the past ten years and the "Joe Byrd Jazz" calendar of performances is filled through December 31 of this year. The Byrds have also owned and managed a rental real estate business for over three decades in Annapolis.
Mr. Byrd is survived by his wife, Elana Rhodes Byrd, a local attorney, his brother Jack R. Byrd of Suffolk, VA, a step-son Jeffrey I. House of Washington DC, and nieces and nephews: Carol Byrd Rose of Charlotte, NC, Charlotte Byrd of Annapolis, Jack Byrd of Reston, VA, David Byrd of Seal Beach CA and Josephine Byrd Laboyag, also of CA.
The Byrd family plans a musical Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, at the Unitarian Church of Annapolis. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to the Joe Byrd Jazz Scholarship Fund at the Peabody Institute, 1 East Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD 21202. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/capitalgazette/obituary.aspx?n=gene-joe-byrd&pid=156375720#sthash.w7fN8pi1.dpuf
Gene H. "Joe" Byrd, 78, died in a traffic accident March 6 near his home in Edgewater.
Jass bassist "Joe" Byrd was born Gene H. Byrd on May 21, 1933 in Chuckatuck, VA to Mary E. Holland Byrd and Newman H. Byrd. The youngest of four boys, Joe Byrd played professionally with his eldest brother Charlie Byrd for over 40 years until the elder Byrd died of cancer in 1999.
Byrd graduated from Chuckatuck High School in Chuckatuck, VA and attended the Franklin Institute in Washington, DC before being drafted into the US Army at the time of the Korean War. Byrd
served his duty in "tanks" and used his G.I. Bill to earn a music and teaching degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore (now the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University) in 1962. While he studied classical bass and flute at Peabody, he had played guitar since he was 9 years old. During his time at Peabody, Byrd played jazz bass and guitar and also sang in local jazz clubs in Baltimore and also with his brother Charlie's groups in the Washington, DC area.
In 1962, Joe Byrd played 2nd guitar with his brother Charlie and Stan Getz on saxophone in what was to become a classic jazz album entitled "Jazz Samba." Thereafter he performed on over 120 albums and CDs with the Charlie Byrd Trio, The Great Guitars (with C. Byrd, Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel) and other jazz celebrities. He performed with the Trio and Great Guitars in over 125 countries around the globe, often as a "Good Will Ambassador" for the US State Department. He performed at The White House for presidents Johnson, Ford and Carter and also performed many times at Carnegie Hall, the Newport Jazz Festival and the Kennedy Center. At one time Byrd listed over 30 major jazz guitarists with whom he had played in his long career including: Laurinda Almeda, Joe Pass, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joa Giberto, Tal Farlow, Howard Alden, Gene Bertoncini, Steve Abshire, Frank Vignola and countless other luminaries.
After Charlie Byrd's passing in 1999, Joe Byrd fronted his own small groups and played largely in the Annapolis/Baltimore/Washington area including Blues Alley, the Maryland Inn, 49 West Cafe and The Mainstay in Rock Hall. He and his wife Elana created four more CDs including, "Brazilian Nights: A Tribute to Charlie Byrd." He retired from public performances December 27, 2008 at age 75 but continued to play jazz piano at home as his evening hobby.
Byrd also enjoyed reading, gourmet cooking and was an avid gardener at his longtime home in Edgewater. Byrd and his wife have produced jazz concerts throughout the Annapolis/DC/Baltimore area for the past ten years and the "Joe Byrd Jazz" calendar of performances is filled through December 31 of this year. The Byrds have also owned and managed a rental real estate business for over three decades in Annapolis.
Mr. Byrd is survived by his wife, Elana Rhodes Byrd, a local attorney, his brother Jack R. Byrd of Suffolk, VA, a step-son Jeffrey I. House of Washington DC, and nieces and nephews: Carol Byrd Rose of Charlotte, NC, Charlotte Byrd of Annapolis, Jack Byrd of Reston, VA, David Byrd of Seal Beach CA and Josephine Byrd Laboyag, also of CA.
The Byrd family plans a musical Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, at the Unitarian Church of Annapolis. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to the Joe Byrd Jazz Scholarship Fund at the Peabody Institute, 1 East Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD 21202. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/capitalgazette/obituary.aspx?n=gene-joe-byrd&pid=156375720#sthash.w7fN8pi1.dpuf
Jass bassist "Joe" Byrd was born Gene H. Byrd on May 21, 1933 in Chuckatuck, VA to Mary E. Holland Byrd and Newman H. Byrd. The youngest of four boys, Joe Byrd played professionally with his eldest brother Charlie Byrd for over 40 years until the elder Byrd died of cancer in 1999.
Byrd graduated from Chuckatuck High School in Chuckatuck, VA and attended the Franklin Institute in Washington, DC before being drafted into the US Army at the time of the Korean War. Byrd
served his duty in "tanks" and used his G.I. Bill to earn a music and teaching degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore (now the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University) in 1962. While he studied classical bass and flute at Peabody, he had played guitar since he was 9 years old. During his time at Peabody, Byrd played jazz bass and guitar and also sang in local jazz clubs in Baltimore and also with his brother Charlie's groups in the Washington, DC area.
In 1962, Joe Byrd played 2nd guitar with his brother Charlie and Stan Getz on saxophone in what was to become a classic jazz album entitled "Jazz Samba." Thereafter he performed on over 120 albums and CDs with the Charlie Byrd Trio, The Great Guitars (with C. Byrd, Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel) and other jazz celebrities. He performed with the Trio and Great Guitars in over 125 countries around the globe, often as a "Good Will Ambassador" for the US State Department. He performed at The White House for presidents Johnson, Ford and Carter and also performed many times at Carnegie Hall, the Newport Jazz Festival and the Kennedy Center. At one time Byrd listed over 30 major jazz guitarists with whom he had played in his long career including: Laurinda Almeda, Joe Pass, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joa Giberto, Tal Farlow, Howard Alden, Gene Bertoncini, Steve Abshire, Frank Vignola and countless other luminaries.
After Charlie Byrd's passing in 1999, Joe Byrd fronted his own small groups and played largely in the Annapolis/Baltimore/Washington area including Blues Alley, the Maryland Inn, 49 West Cafe and The Mainstay in Rock Hall. He and his wife Elana created four more CDs including, "Brazilian Nights: A Tribute to Charlie Byrd." He retired from public performances December 27, 2008 at age 75 but continued to play jazz piano at home as his evening hobby.
Byrd also enjoyed reading, gourmet cooking and was an avid gardener at his longtime home in Edgewater. Byrd and his wife have produced jazz concerts throughout the Annapolis/DC/Baltimore area for the past ten years and the "Joe Byrd Jazz" calendar of performances is filled through December 31 of this year. The Byrds have also owned and managed a rental real estate business for over three decades in Annapolis.
Mr. Byrd is survived by his wife, Elana Rhodes Byrd, a local attorney, his brother Jack R. Byrd of Suffolk, VA, a step-son Jeffrey I. House of Washington DC, and nieces and nephews: Carol Byrd Rose of Charlotte, NC, Charlotte Byrd of Annapolis, Jack Byrd of Reston, VA, David Byrd of Seal Beach CA and Josephine Byrd Laboyag, also of CA.
The Byrd family plans a musical Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, at the Unitarian Church of Annapolis. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to the Joe Byrd Jazz Scholarship Fund at the Peabody Institute, 1 East Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD 21202. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/capitalgazette/obituary.aspx?n=gene-joe-byrd&pid=156375720#sthash.w7fN8pi1.dpuf
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