Paul Byrd

 

Like most great Blues artists, Paul Byrd started singing in church as a young boy. When he saw Elvis Presley on TV at the age of four, he knew what it was he wanted to be when he grew up - an entertainer. He started right away doing Elvis impersonations first in his babysitter's beauty shop and then on to bigger and better venues such as school talent shows where he won first prize trophies. At the age of 14 Byrd picked up the guitar and began teaching himself to play from books and listening to records. While attending Texas A&M University, Byrd made some friends in the guitar club - one of which introduced him to the music of Stevie Ray Vaughn. Vaughn's music was a return to the music of Elvis he grew up with. Byrd immediately immersed himself in all forms of Blues from Charley Patton to Hendrix and all in between.

Paul Byrd played his first paying gigs right there in College Station, Texas. From there his career has taken him from Alaska to Los Angeles to New York and all points in between where he opened shows for ZZ TOP, Otis Rush, Bo Diddley, the Fabulous Thunderbirds and many others. In the Fall of '02 Byrd made his first trip overseas to the United Kingdom where he played in England and Wales and was well received.

Byrd's style is his own - reminiscent of BB King and the Memphis/ Chicago sound of the '60s. A unique entertainer, Byrd seems to draw in the crowd and play his Blues for them in such a way that everyone feels he was singing just for them. He captivates the audience from the first note to the last with smooth vocals and clean guitar lines.

Byrd recorded his first self-release in Anchorage in 1998 and his second album was released March of '03 on Bluestone Records out of Los Angeles.

Byrd graced the cover of Southwest Blues Magazine in April '03 and was nominated for “Blues Artist of the Year” for the 2003 Fort Worth Weekly Awards. He was also voted  the "Best Band in 2003" by the punters at the "Blues Dragon Club" in Cardiff, Wales.

 

Played with:
Otis Rush’s Band - with Otis in the audience 
The Denise LaSalle Band
Chuck Rainey (Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan, too many to list)
Mickey Jones (Drummer for Johnny Rivers, Bob Dylan, and Kenny Rodgers and The First Edition,Hollywood Actor) 
Bill Bateman (The Blasters, The Red Devils)
Uncle John Turner (Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan)
Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets w/ Sam Myers
Kenny Neal
The Smokin’ Joe Kubek Band
Buddy Miles
Smokey Wilson
Studebaker John and the Hawks
Robert Ealey
Alan Haynes
Larry Garner
Chris Beard
Sangin' Clarence

Opened Shows For:
ZZ TOP (Rhythmeen tour '97, XXX tour '99)
Jeff Healey 
Bobby Blue Bland 
Otis Rush 
Denise LaSalle
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Bo Diddley
Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers
Guitar Shorty
Roomful of Blues
R.L. Burnside
Bugs Henderson 
Lou Ann Barton

 

Nominated for Blues Artist of the year, 2003, 2004 Fort Worth Weekly awards

 

Recording Credits:

1998 Paul Byrd & the Escalators

2001 Christmastime in Cowtown Vol. 2

2002 Christmastime in Cowtown Vol. 3

2003 Johnny Mack - Gave Myself the Blues

2003 Paul Byrd - Without Further Adieu