Donald Byrd
| Donald Byrd | |
|---|---|
| Byrd in 1964 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II | 
| Born | December 9, 1932 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | 
| Died | February 4, 2013 (aged 80) Dover, Delaware, U.S. | 
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, vocalist | 
| Instruments | 
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| Years active | 1954–2013 | 
| Labels | |
| Education | |
Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II (December 9, 1932 – February 4, 2013) was an American jazz and rhythm & blues trumpeter, composer and vocalist. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd was one of the few hard bop musicians who successfully explored funk and soul while remaining a jazz artist. As a bandleader, Byrd was an influence on the early career of Herbie Hancock and many others.