John Byrd's lyrics & chords

John Byrd was born in Mississippi in the 1890's, or possibly earlier. After an early career spent mostly in Mississippi, Byrd moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in the 1920's and 1930's, and made much of his living playing 12-string guitar in a band led by Walter Taylor (who may also have worked as "Washboard Walter"). He recorded blues under his own name and also cut gospel music as the Rev. George Jones during the late 1920's and the beginning of the 1930's. Byrd's voice could be rough and raspy, somewhere midway between Louis Armstrong and Howli...read more