Born in Detroit, Michigan, Byrd attended Cass Technical High School. He performed with Lionel Hampton before finishing high school. After playing in a military band during a term in the United States Air Force, he obtained a bachelor's degree in music from Wayne State University and a master's degree from Manhattan School of Music.
These are photos from concerts where Donald Byrd & the blackbyrds played, so they may be of other bands that played the concert as well.
Roberta Flack / Donald Byrd & the blackbyrds Sep 8 - 14, 1975 Devon, Pennsylvania, United States Uploaded by Zimtrim