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Charlie Byrd

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Charlie Byrd (1925 to 1999) was an American jazz guitarist who played a classical guitar with his fingers. He was born in Suffolk, Virginia, and as a child was given guitar lessons by his father. In the war he served in the American army and played in an army band in Paris. There he saw Django Reinhardt, who would remain his greatest influence. After the war he studied composition and jazz theory in New York, moved to Washington in 1950 and became a pupil of the classical guitarist Andrés Segovia. In 1957 he met the bassist Keter Betts, with whom he played for years. In 1959 they toured Europe with Woody Herman's band.

Music and breakthrough

Byrd became best known for his band playing Brazilian music. Through his friend Felix Grant, a radio presenter, he got to know that music. In 1962 he recorded the album Jazz Samba with the saxophonist Stan Getz, which brought the bossa nova to a large audience in North America. He also made albums himself such as Latin Impressions and Charlie Byrd's Bossa Nova Once More! in 1963, and later Brazilian Byrd in 1966.

Influence

His sound is soft and intimate: a nylon-string guitar, a light bass and a supple rhythm. Byrd linked the classical guitar school with jazz and with Brazilian rhythms. In doing so he helped to spread a musical style from Rio in the United States, where the bossa nova became a fashion in 1962 and 1963.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a track from Jazz Samba and notice the nylon-string guitar alongside Stan Getz's saxophone. Try to hear how the rhythm of the guitar carries the song, without the music becoming loud.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists