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The Byrds Biography

source: WikiPedia

This entry is from Wikipedia, the user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. If you find the biography content factually incorrect, defamatory or highly offensive you can edit this article at Wikipedia.

The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn, a.k.a. Jim McGuinn, remaining the sole consistent member, until the group disbanded in 1973. Although they only managed to attain the huge commercial success of contemporaries like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Rolling Stones for a short period (1965–66), The Byrds are today considered by critics to be one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. As the 1960s progressed, the band was also influential in originating psychedelic rock, raga rock, and country rock. The band's signature blend of clear harmony singing and McGuinn's jangly twelve-string Rickenbacker guitar has continued to be influential on popular music up to the present day. Among the band's most enduring songs are their cover versions of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" and Pete Seeger's "Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There is a Season)", along with the self-penned originals, "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better", "Eight Miles High", "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star", "Ballad of Easy Rider" and "Chestnut Mare". The original five-piece line-up of The Byrds consisted of Jim McGuinn (lead guitar, vocals), Gene Clark (tambourine, vocals), David Crosby (rhythm guitar, vocals), Chris Hillman (bass guitar, vocals), and Michael Clarke (drums). However, this version of the band was relatively short-lived and by early 1966, Clark had left due to problems associated with anxiety and his increasing isolation within the group. The Byrds continued as a quartet until late 1967, when Crosby and Clarke also departed the band. McGuinn and Hillman decided to recruit new members, including country rock pioneer Gram Parsons, but by late 1968, Hillman and Parsons had also exited the band. The Byrds' final album was released in March 1973, with the reunited group disbanding soon afterwards. Several ex-members of the band went on to have successful careers of their own, either as solo artists or as part of groups, such as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Desert Rose Band. As a result of this, McGuinn, Crosby, and Hillman performed a series of reunion concerts as The Byrds in 1989 and 1990, and also recorded four new Byrds' songs. In January 1991, The Byrds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an occasion that saw the five original members performing together for the last time. McGuinn, Crosby, and Hillman still remain active but Gene Clark died of a heart attack in 1991, and Michael Clarke died of liver failure in 1993.

Wikipedia This entry is from Wikipedia, the user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. If you find the biography content factually incorrect, defamatory or highly offensive you can edit this article at Wikipedia.
Biography

The Byrds Albums

source: MusicBrainz

Links & information come from MusicBrainz. You can add or edit information about The Byrds.

All Time Best - Reclam Musik Edition Compilation 2013-03-01 itunes amazon
Original Singles A's & B's 1965-1971 Compilation 2012-08-05 itunes amazon
Candy Soundtrack 2011-10-11 itunes amazon
There Is a Season Compilation 2006-09-26 itunes amazon
The Very Best of the Byrds Compilation 2005 itunes amazon
The Essential Byrds Compilation 2003 itunes amazon
The Columbia Singles '65-'67 Compilation 2002-11-01 itunes amazon
The Byrds Play Dylan Compilation 2002-06-11 itunes amazon
The Preflyte Sessions Compilation 2001-11 itunes amazon
Play the Songs of Bob Dylan Compilation 2001-05-28 itunes amazon
Live at the Fillmore: February 1969 Live 2000-02-22 itunes amazon
Greatest Hits Compilation 1999-03-30 itunes amazon
Full Flyte 1965-1970 Compilation 1998-08-21 itunes amazon
Super Hits Compilation 1998-07-21 itunes amazon
The Very Best Of Compilation 1997-06-23 itunes amazon
MusicBrainzLinks & information come from MusicBrainz. You can add or edit information about The Byrds at musicbrainz.org.
Albums
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