Resource id #75
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Billy Byrd

William Lewis Byrd (17 February 1920 – 7 August 2001) was an American country lead guitarist (with some jazz leanings) and studio musician who performed with Ernest Tubb, the Oak Ridge Quartet, Tex Ritter, George Hamilton IV, Jimmy Dickens and others. He helped to popularize the role of the electric lead guitarist in country music and, with fellow guitarist Hank Garland, was responsible for input into the design of the Gibson Byrdland guitar, named after parts of the names of both players.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 17, 1920 (Nashville), Died August 7, 2001 (Nashville)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1970

Roles Represented in DAHR: electric guitar, guitar, lead guitar

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 208 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-027749 10-in. 9/27/1938 I've had a big time today Dixieliners ; Arthur Smith Male vocal solo, with string band and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-027750 10-in. 9/27/1938 The farmer's daughter Dixieliners ; Arthur Smith Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-027751 10-in. 9/27/1938 Gypsy's warning Dixieliners ; Arthur Smith Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-027752 10-in. 9/27/1938 In the pines Dixieliners ; Arthur Smith Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-027753 10-in. 9/27/1938 Why should I wonder? Dixieliners ; Arthur Smith Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-027754 10-in. 9/27/1938 When the roses grow around the cabin door Dixieliners ; Arthur Smith Male vocal solo, with string band and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-027755 10-in. 9/27/1938 I'm lonesome, I guess Dixieliners ; Arthur Smith Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-027756 10-in. 9/27/1938 Hesitating blues Dixieliners ; Arthur Smith Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-027757 10-in. 9/27/1938 Girl of my dreams Dixieliners ; Arthur Smith Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-027758 10-in. 9/27/1938 Give me old-time music Dixieliners ; Arthur Smith Male vocal solo, with string band and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia CO40406 10-in. 1/16/1949 Take an old cold 'tater (and wait) Little Jimmy Dickens Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, electric guitar  
Columbia CO40407 10-in. 1/16/1949 Pennies for Papa Little Jimmy Dickens Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, electric guitar  
Decca 82985 6/16/1952 Fortune in memories Ernest Tubb and his Texas Troubadours instrumentalist, electric guitar  
Decca NA 166 5/1/1949 I'm biting my fingernails and thinking of you-2 Earl Cross instrumentalist, lead guitar  
Decca NA 167 5/1/1949 Lovesick blues-1 Eddie Crosby instrumentalist, lead guitar  
Decca NA 168 5/1/1949 Sugarfoot boogie Billy Byrd ; Don Davis ; Walter "Hank" "Sugarfoot" Garland ; Elbert "Eggy" McEwan ; Jimmy Selph instrumentalist, lead guitar  
Decca NA 169 5/1/1949 Have you ever been lonely-2 Earl Cross instrumentalist, lead guitar  
Decca NA 2041 11/8/1949 Tennessee border No.2 Red Foley ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, electric guitar  
Decca NA 2042 11/9/1949 Letters have no arms The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, electric guitar  
Decca NA 2043 11/9/1949 I'll take a back seat for you The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, electric guitar  
Decca NA 2044 11/9/1949 Throw your love my way The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, electric guitar  
Decca NA 2050 11/10/1949 Stand by me The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, electric guitar  
Decca NA 2051 11/10/1949 The old rugged cross The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, electric guitar  
Decca NA 2052 11/10/1949 What a friend we have in Jesus The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, electric guitar  
Decca NA 2053 11/10/1949 The wonderful city The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, electric guitar  
(Results 1-25 of 208 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Byrd, Billy," accessed March 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110929.

Byrd, Billy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110929.

"Byrd, Billy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110929

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