Bobby Byrd facts for kids

Bobby Howard Byrd (born August 15, 1934 – died September 12, 2007) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He was very important in creating soul and funk music. He worked closely with his friend and partner, James Brown.

Bobby started his music journey in 1952 with a gospel group called the Gospel Starlighters. This group changed names a few times. They became the Avons in 1953 and the Five Royals in 1954. Finally, they settled on the name the Flames in 1955. Later, their agent changed it to The Famous Flames.

Bobby Byrd founded "The Flames" and is known for discovering James Brown. He also said he wrote many of James Brown's famous songs. Because he started the group and was a long-time member, Bobby Byrd was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, after he passed away. He also received a special award in 1998 for being a music pioneer.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Bobby Howard Byrd was born in Toccoa, Georgia. His family was very active in their church and community. Bobby began singing in his local church choir with a group called the Zioneers. Later, he became well-known as a member of the Gospel Starlighters, which included his sister Sarah.

At that time, some church leaders did not approve of singing non-religious music. So, the band members would travel to South Carolina to perform. There, they sang R&B music as the Avons, leaving gospel music behind for a while. The first group members were Bobby Byrd, who played piano, organ, and sang lead. Other members included Nafloyd Scott, Fred Pulliam, and Doyle Oglesby.

Meeting James Brown and The Famous Flames

In 1952, Bobby Byrd formed his gospel group, the Gospel Starlighters. Bobby met a young James Brown during a friendly baseball game at a youth detention center. Bobby became friends with James and helped arrange for James to be released into his family's care. This started a long friendship and music partnership that lasted until 1973.

Bobby Byrd performed as a solo artist for over twenty years. However, he is best remembered for his work with James Brown. Many people think James Brown started the group, but the group was already called the Flames when James asked to join. James first joined as a drummer.

Later, James wanted to be the lead singer because he felt lead singers got more attention. Bobby saw early on that James was special. He knew it would be hard to control James. Bobby said, "I didn't need him in competition, I needed him with me." In 1956, Clint Brantley became the group's manager. With new members Johnny Terry and Nash Knox, the group became "The Famous Flames."

They signed a deal with Federal Records, which was part of King Records, in February 1956. Their first song, "Please, Please, Please", had James Brown singing lead. Bobby Byrd said he wrote this song with Johnny Terry. The record was released as "James Brown and the Famous Flames." This billing did not make the other group members happy. After three recording sessions, the first Flames group broke up.

The Flames, without James Brown, changed their name to Byrd's Drops of Joy. But they did not find much success. When James Brown asked them to reform the Flames, they agreed. At this point, The Famous Flames became a singing group only. James Brown started using a different band for his music.

Original Flames members Bobby Byrd and Johnny Terry returned. New members Bobby Bennett and Baby Lloyd Stallworth joined. These four men, along with James Brown, formed the longest-lasting lineup of The Famous Flames. Original Flames guitarist Nafloyd Scott also rejoined the band.

With this group, they had many hit songs between 1959 and 1964. They were part of many albums that helped bring R&B music to a wider audience. This included the famous 1963 live album, Live at the Apollo, which sold over a million copies.

Bobby Byrd and The Famous Flames also performed on The Ed Sullivan Show. They made a short appearance in the movie Ski Party. They even performed better than the main act, The Rolling Stones, at the big 1964 rock concert and movie, The T.A.M.I. Show.

Bobby Byrd and fellow Famous Flame Lloyd Stallworth were credited as songwriters on the hit song "Lost Someone". However, James Brown was the only one who sang on that recording. Its success led James Brown to record more songs by himself. But most of his early hits were as a member of The Famous Flames. These songs included "Try Me", "I'll Go Crazy", "Bewildered", "Think", "Baby You're Right", "I Don't Mind", "This Old Heart", "Shout and Shimmy", "Good Good Lovin", and "Oh Baby Don't You Weep".

Sometimes, The Famous Flames were not listed on album covers, even though they sang on the songs. But on recordings where James Brown sang alone, the group was credited. This made fans wrongly believe The Famous Flames were just James Brown's backup band, not the singing group they actually were. The group kept performing together until 1968. They left because of disagreements about money. The last song released with a Famous Flames connection was "Licking Stick - Licking Stick". Bobby Byrd sang on this song, but the other members had already left that summer.

Solo Career and Working with Brown Again

After two years away, Bobby Byrd rejoined James Brown in 1970. He quickly hired Bootsy Collins, Bootsy's brother Catfish, and their band. They filled in for James Brown's previous band, who had left before a show.

When The Famous Flames were still together, Bobby Byrd and James Brown started a company called Fair Deal. This company helped share The Famous Flames' and James Brown's solo recordings with more people. This led to both Bobby and James signing solo deals with Smash Records.

In 1964, Bobby Byrd recorded his first solo hit, "Baby, Baby, Baby," with Anna King. A year later, he had a bigger R&B hit with "We Are in Love," which reached number 14 on the charts. In the late 1960s, Bobby Byrd and James Brown started making a new type of music called funk. Bobby had a funky song called "I Need Help (I Can't Do It Alone)" in 1970.

In 1971, James Brown signed with Polydor Records. He and Bobby Byrd started their own record label called People Records. They released several songs by other artists, including Bobby Byrd himself. Bobby recorded the funk hit, "I Know You Got Soul" in 1971.

Bobby Byrd performed on stage with James Brown from 1970 until 1973. He left James Brown's band again for several reasons. These included not getting credit for some songs he helped write. Also, there were issues with singer Vicki Anderson, whom Bobby later married and stayed with until he passed away. He also wanted to start a family with Vicki.

Even though he stayed in touch with James Brown after this final split, this departure ended Bobby's 21-year professional partnership with James. James Brown then became known as the "Godfather of Soul." Without Bobby's help, James Brown started having trouble producing music for People Records. He also began facing money problems. Bobby Byrd recorded the song "Back From The Dead" in 1975.

In 1993, Bobby Byrd recorded a solo album called On the Move. It was released on a German record label called Soulciety Records. After a few more live shows, Bobby decided to retire in 1996. However, he sometimes performed again with James Brown's help. In 1991, James asked Bobby to join him on stage for a concert in 1992. Bobby would sometimes perform with James at different places. They also worked together on the song "Killing Is Out, School Is In" from James Brown's last album, The Next Step, released in 2002. At James Brown's funeral in December 2006, Bobby performed with James's other band members to honor his old friend.

In 2003, a few years before he passed away, Bobby, his wife Vicki, and Famous Flames members Bobby Bennett and Lloyd Stallworth, sued James Brown and Universal Music. They claimed they did not receive money they were owed for many Famous Flames hits. They also said money for Bobby's hit "I Know You Got Soul," which many rappers used in their songs, was sent to James Brown instead. They believed James Brown kept the money. The lawsuit was dismissed because too much time had passed.

However, rapper Jay-Z used a part of Bobby Byrd's song "I'm Not to Blame" for his song "U Don't Know." This song was on his 2001 album The Blueprint, which sold millions of copies. Jay-Z paid Bobby Byrd 65% of the money from the song. This allowed Bobby and his family to get a loan for their home, which was worth about $250,000.

Personal Life

After leaving James Brown in 1973, Bobby Byrd and Vicki Anderson got married. Vicki had also left James Brown's band at the same time as Bobby. Bobby had three children with his first wife, Gail Harbin Byrd: Walda, Orrin, and Ruthie. He also had two children from another relationship. Bobby helped raise Vicki Anderson's children, including Carleen. Bobby and Vicki remained married throughout his life.

Although he had moved to Cincinnati after The Famous Flames signed with Federal/King Records, Bobby kept homes in Georgia. After leaving James Brown, he settled in Loganville for the rest of his life.

Death

Bobby Byrd passed away on September 12, 2007, from cancer. He was 73 years old.

Music Legacy and Influence

Many songs in hip hop music have used parts of Bobby Byrd's songs. These include "I Know You Got Soul", "Think (About It)", "Soul Power", "Make It Funky", and "I'm Not to Blame". Bobby Byrd's music has had a lasting impact on many soul, R&B, and hip hop artists.

On The Famous Flames' Rock and Roll Hall of Fame page, Bobby Byrd is called "one of the more important auxiliary figures in the career of a major artist in music history." This means he was a very important helper to a major music star.

In October 2004, Bobby Byrd's songs "I Know You Got Soul" and "Hot Pants" were featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. They played on a pretend radio station called Master Sounds 98.3. In September 2005, his song "Try It Again" appeared on the soundtrack of Indigo Prophecy.

Bobby Byrd was played by actor Nelsan Ellis in the 2014 movie about James Brown, Get on Up.

See also

In Spanish: Bobby Byrd para niños