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Bobby Byrd

Bobby Byrd was a funk/soul/R&B/gospel musician and songwriter, best known as James Brown's longtime sideman and co-vocalist.

Bobby Byrd was born in Toccao, Georgia in 1934. As a youth he sang in church before forming various gospel-influenced vocal groups including The Swanees and The Avons.

He met James Brown in 1952 when his baseball team played the team of a Georgia youth detention facility for which Brown was pitcher. Byrd's family helped get Brown released, and in 1954 Brown joined The Avons. The group was renamed The Flames, The Famous Flames, and then James Brown and The Famous Flames, recording many hits including "Please, Please, Please", "Try Me", "Bewildered" and "I'll Go Crazy".

James Brown and The Flames were known for their powerful stage performances. Their million-selling "Live At The Apollo" was recorded at the Apollo theatre in New York, and their top-ten album "Pure Dynamite" was recorded live at the Royal theatre in Baltimore.

Bobby Byrd also recorded as a solo artist in the 1960s, including "Baby, Baby, Baby", a duet with Anna King in 1964, "We Are In Love", "Hot Pants", "I Need Help", "I Know You Got Soul" and "Keep on Doin' What You're Doin'" (1972). Bobby Byrd was the only member of the Flames to remain with James Brown when the group broke up in 1968.

Bobby Byrd was credited as co-author on several James Brown hits, but did not receive royalties for his work, and unsuccessfully sued Brown after leaving his band in 1973. He continued to tour Europe and the USA with his wife, singer Vicki Anderson (also from the James Brown band), but did not come back into prominence until hip-hoppers Eric B and Rakim sampled his work in 1987. In 1994 Bobby Byrd released a solo album "On The Move".

Bobby Byrd died in 2007 aged 73.

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