Gerald Lester Byrd (March 9, 1920 – April 11, 2005), otherwise known as Jerry Byrd, was an American musician who played the lap steel guitar in country and Hawaiian music, as well as a singer-songwriter and the head of a music publishing firm. He appeared on numerous radio programmes.
Byrd was born in Lima, Ohio, United States, one of five siblings, his interest in the instrument began after a "tent show" when he was 12 and by 15 he was playing in bars. Although his initial interest was Hawaiian music much of his work was country. In 1944/1945 he joined the Grand Ole Opry.
He was important to the early career of Dolly Parton being one of the first to sign her. He also was an educator of the steel guitar giving lessons to Jimmie Vaughan and Jerry Garcia among others. The list of artists that Byrd played or recorded with included Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, Patsy Cline and Red Foley and countless others.
With Hank Williams he played songs such as "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "Lovesick Blues" and "A Mansion on the Hill." In the early 1970s, he moved to Hawaii and worked on reviving Hawaiian steel guitar music, taking a great delight in giving lap steel lessons to the young musicians who showed interest in ensuring that the lap steel remained an important instrument in Hawaiian music. While living in Hawaii, Byrd had a regular weekly gig with his trio at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel that lasted until his death. Though Byrd often joked about pedal steel guitar players, he had nothing but the highest of praise for Buddy Emmons, saying he had taken the steel guitar to new places with his playing.
Links to Peel[]
Peel sometimes would play tracks from Jerry Byrd and on his 24 July 2003 show mentioned that the first internet record purchase he made was "Memories of Maria" by Jerry Byrd. After Peel's death, it was later found out that he had a copy of Jerry's 'Memories Of Maria / Invitation' single, co-written by Roy Orbison, in his record box.
Shows Played[]
- 1994
- 04 November 1994: 'Maui Chimes (LP-Sounds Hawaiian)' (Decca)
- 12 November 1994 (BFBS): 'Kohala March (Compilation LP-Sounds Hawaiian)'
- 21 August 2003: Memories Of Maria (7") Monument (JP: "Well you probably thought that was rubbish, but I'm very moved to hear it again, I must say. Very 1961. Very Roy Orbison really.")
- 11 September 2003: (JP: "I am very grateful to John Guthrie, who lives now in Maryland, for sending my second copy of Jerry Byrd's "Memories Of Maria," as written by Roy Orbison. And for 40 years I didn't have a copy of it at all, but yearned for one: I now have two. But the one that John has sent me actually has the classic white and gold Monument label on it, and it still sounds great.") Memories Of Maria (7") Monument
- September 2003 (FSK): Memories Of Maria (7" - Invitation (To Love)) Monument