The Blackbyrds is a former rhythm & blues and jazz-funk fusion group, formed in Washington, D.C. in 1973. The group was led by trumpeter Donald Byrd and featured some of his Howard University students: Kevin Toney (keyboard), Keith Killgo (vocals, drums), Joe Hall (bass guitar), Allan Barnes (saxophone, clarinet), and Barney Perry (guitar). Orville Saunders (guitar), and Jay Jones (flute, saxophone) were later members of the group. They signed to Fantasy Records in 1973. They are best known for their 1975 hit "Walking in Rhythm", which received a Grammy nomination. Their 1975 song "Rock Creek Park" from the City Life album became a staple "break" in the pre-record days of Hip-Hop park DJs. It's stature as a break stretched to a younger generation when Breakbeat Lenny compiled it on his Ultimate Breaks and Beats compilation series in the mid-1980s. This caused it to later be sampled regularly by groups as diverse as De La Soul, Boys from the Bottom,

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