posted by all-musicrecords
Gary Byrd was a radio talk-show host in the '80s and '90s, appearing weekdays on radio station WLIB in New York City.
Byrd's musical roots extend to the '60s, when he met Stevie Wonder and wrote the lyrics for his songs "Black Man" and "Village Ghetto Land" both of which appear on "Songs In The Key Of Life".
Having been a close collaborator with Stevie Wonder for years, 1972's Gary Byrd Experience represents the talented musician's opportunity to step into the spotlight with his own group.
Best known as a DJ working at New York station WWRL, Byrd's relationship with Wonder
began in the '60s and continued through Wonder's prolific years in the next decade, when he helped co-write “Black Man” and “Ghetto Village Land.”
Stepping out on his own with this album, Byrd's work sparkles with funky R&B flavors and early hip-hop influences. With a message of black empowerment, Byrd created slick, catchy songs like “Black is So Beautiful” and “Shining Black Prince” that featured him delivering spoken-word raps over the music a la Gil Scott-Heron and The Last Poets. Record collectors and hip-hop heads will also recognize the two-part track
“Soul Traveling,” an ode to Byrd's contemporaries like Curtis Mayfield and Al Green, which was famously sampled by Large Professor for Nas' debut single “Halftime” in 1992.
Gary Byrd precedes all the Sugar Hill lightweight stuff with this serious, political and intelligent pre-rap album. A more listenable style than the Last Poets disturbing approach, but none the worse for it. A really superb album.
Track listing
A1. Introduction - How Long My People - 2:43
A2. Little Black Baby - 2:35
A3. To You Beautiful Black Sister - 3:33
A4. If The People Only Knew (The Power Of The People) - 3:05
A5. Black Is So Beautiful - 2:57
B1. Where Were You - 4:32
B2. Country Preacher - 4:56
B3. Shining Black Prince - 4:35
Companies, etc.
- Arranged By, Conductor – Chico O'Farrill
- Producer – Buddy Scott
- Voice – Gary Byrd
- Written-By – Byrd
Notes
Released: 1972
Genre: Funk / Soul, Non-Music
Style: Spoken Word, Funk, Soul
Runtime: 28:52
Label - RCA Victor Records
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