The Blackbyrds Announces New East Coast Tour | Kicks off Feb. 14th, 2026
GRAMMY® – NOMINATED JAZZ FUSION/R&B/FUNK
GREATS THE BLACKBYRDS SET FOR SELECT
EAST COAST HEADLINING DATES NEXT MONTH
BAND IS ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY SAMPLED GROUPS
IN HIP-HOP HISTORY
(New York, NY) – Grammy-nominated® jazz fusion/R&B/funk greats The Blackbyrds are set for select east coast headlining dates beginning next month in February. Of the upcoming shows, The Blackbyrds’ Keith Killgo commented, “This is an exciting next step in The Blackbyrds storybook. I feel blessed to have seen so many peaks and valleys and have never been discouraged or disappointed. These upcoming engagements offer an exciting opportunity to try some new things! Can’t wait!” Tickets for the shows can be purchased here and here. More tour dates for 2026 will be announced shortly.
The Blackbyrds’ signature sound combines jazz techniques with R&B, funk, gospel and classical and has heavily influenced hip-hop. The band has been sampled by countless hip-hop artists over the decades, including Grandmaster Flash, Tupac, De La Soul, NWA, Eric B. & Rakim, Heavy D, Gang Starr, MF Doom, Wiz Khalifa, Nas, Ice Cube, and most recently, Jeezy.
The Blackbyrds were at the cutting edge of jazz fusion, R&B and funk in the 1970s, pushing the boundaries of Black popular music forward in one of the most musically fertile decades of the past century. Established by legendary jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd in 1973, the band’s success includes several highly touted albums, film scores (1975’s “Cornbread,” “Earl and Me”), as well as supporting such iconic artists as B.B. King. Herbie Hancock, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Roberta Flack and more.
The Blackbyrds’ self-titled debut album put the group on the map with “Do It, Fluid,” a funky laid-back party anthem. The group followed that initial success with a string of albums over the next five years, including FLYING START (1974), which yielded their biggest hit, the Grammy-nominated “Walking in Rhythm,” and CITY LIFE (1975), which contained the hit “Happy Music” and the iconic “Rock Creek Park,” which remains one of the most sampled jazz-funk tracks to this day, as well as such hits as “Supernatural Feeling,” Grammy-nominated “Unfinished Business,” “Time is Movin’,” “Dreaming About You” and “Flyin’ High,” among many others.
Under the leadership of original drummer and vocalist, Keith Killgo, the band continues to record, tour and perform globally. The Blackbyrds current lineup includes original founding members Keith Killgo (drums and vocals) and Joe Hall (bass), Paul Spires (vocals), Dominique Toney (vocals), daughter of original band keyboardist Kevin Toney, Roberto Villeda (keyboards), Charles Wright (guitar), Thad Wilson (trumpet), Marshall Keys (saxophone) and Sean Anthony (percussion).
The Blackbyrds February, 2026 tour dates:
FEBRUARY
14 Bethesda, MD Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival
15 Philadelphia, PA City Winery
18 New York, NY Sony Hall
19 Boston, MA City Winery
Photo courtesy of The Blackbyrds
Photo ID left to right, back row:
Paul Spires (vocals)
Sean Anthony (percussion)
Thad Wilson (trumpet)
Charles Wright (guitar)
Dominique Toney (vocals)
Marshall Keys (saxophone)
Joe Hall (bass)
Roberto Villeda (keyboards)
Front row:
Keith Killgo (drums and vocals)
To experience The Blackbyrds, please visit:
www.blackbyrdsmusic.com
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