Gerald Lester Byrd (March 9, 1920
Career
Byrd was born in Lima,
Ohio, United States,
one of five siblings, his interest in the instrument began after a "tent show" when he was 12 and by 15 he was playing in bars. Although his initial interest was Hawaiian music much of his work was country. In 1944/1945 he joined the Grand Ole Opry.
He was important to the early career of
Dolly Parton being one of the first to sign her. He also was an educator of the steel guitar giving lessons to
Jimmie Vaughan and
Jerry Garcia among others. The list of artists that Byrd played or recorded with included
Hank Williams,
Ernest Tubb,
Patsy Cline and
Red Foley and countless others.
With Hank Williams he played songs such as "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "
Lovesick Blues" and "A Mansion on the Hill."
In the early 1970s, he moved to
Hawaii and worked on reviving Hawaiian steel guitar music, taking a great delight in giving lap steel lessons to the young musicians who showed interest in ensuring that the lap steel remained an important instrument in Hawaiian music.
While living in Hawaii, Byrd had a regular weekly gig with his trio at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel that lasted until his death. Though Byrd often joked about pedal steel guitar players, he had nothing but the highest of praise for
Buddy Emmons, saying he had taken the steel guitar to new places with his playing.
Personal life and death
He published his autobiography
It Was a Trip: On The Wings of Music. On April 11, 2005, Byrd died of Parkinson's disease at 85 in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he had resided for 30 years; he was survived by wife Kaleo Wood and two daughters.
Awards and recognition
He was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1978 as its first member; his Rickenbacker lap steel is housed at the Country Music Hall of Fame
Discography
Studio albums
Compilations
-
Jerry Byrd: By Request (2002) Mountain Apple
-
Steel Guitar (2002) Mountain Apple
-
The Master of Touch and Tone (2005) Mountain Apple
-
Master of the Steel Guitar, Vol. 1 (2005) Hana Ola—Rsi
As sideman
Jerry Byrd participated as a sideman on numerous recording sessions, primarily with country and Hawaiian music artists. His contributions include recordings with
Hank Williams, such as
Lovesick Blues and with
Ernest Tubb on
Walking the Floor Over You. He also worked with
Patsy Cline on some of her early sessions and collaborated with
Marty Robbins on the album
Song of the Islands. His discography as a sideman spans multiple decades, with additional recordings alongside artists like
Red Foley and George Morgan.
Other players on Hank's recordings include Dale "Smokey" Lohman (Early recordings), also Don Davis played one or two sessions with Hank. From 1950 on it was Don Helms.
With Jack McDuff
-
Gin and Orange (Cadet, 1969)
With Don Patterson
-
Satisfaction! (Prestige, 1965)
Further reading
External links
