Toni Byrd is a new face to the Atlanta music scene. This singer/songwriter quickly draws fans wherever she performs. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Byrd has made Georgia her home since the year 2000. If you ask how long she has been singing her answer is, "I have been asked that question many times and honestly I can not recall what age I was when I started singing. I was born with this gift and believe I have been singing since I was in my mother's womb, and discovered it once I was born and could understand what music was all about." Byrd grew up listening to all types of music and loved the age when the movie musicals were popular. "I love all the Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly , Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland, and Doris Day movies. These were a major part of my musical influence as the music really moved me and the dancing was wonderful". Byrd's influences span singers such as Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, Roberta Flack, Ella Fitzgerald, Karen Carpenter, Nina Simone, Kellye Gray, Esther Phillips, Billie Holiday, Barbara Streisand, Doris Day, Rene Marie, Gladys Knight, Johnny Mathis, Anita Baker, Bill Withers, Natalie Cole and Patsy Cline. Some have said that they hear some of these influences when she performs. "I appreciate it very much when someone compare me to these great icons. They set the bar and I feel they can never be replaced or duplicated....they have inspired me greatly". Due to Byrd's extraordinary talent, she has drawn the attention of many of Georgia's talented musicians, vocalists and bands. One of her longest musical involvements is with The Peachtree Jazz Edition under the direction of David Gaissert. Byrd has been the vocalist for this popular Atlanta big band since 2003.
In addition to singer/songwriter, add actress to Byrd's status. Byrd was cast in a primary role in the movie, "Lawless" aka "The Wettest County", about a family of Virginia-born brothers who take to distributing booze during prohibition. The movie is directed by John Hillcoat and is based on the novel, "The Wettest County in the World", by Matt Bondurant. It stars, Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, Guy Pierce, Mia Wasikowska, Gary Oldman, and Jessica Chastain. The movie, made from a script by writer/musician, Nick Cave, began shooting on February 28, 2011 and is scheduled to be in theaters August 31, 2012. "I am very excited about being a part of this movie project. It will be very humbling to see myself on the big screen. I have certainly been bitten by the acting bug and would love to do more in the movie industry."
Byrd has performed in and around the Atlanta area including performances at the grand opening of the Villa Ricca Amphitheater in Villa Ricca, Georgia and at the Capital City Club in downtown Atlanta. Byrd has also performed at the Ritz Carlton-Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia, The Atlanta Policemen Ball (two years consecutively), The Georgian Terrace in downtown Atlanta, Big Canoe Mountain Resort in Big Canoe, Georgia, The Egyptian Room at the Fox Theater in downtown Atlanta, The Georgia Aquarium, Druid Hills Country Club, Fred Brown Amphitheater in Peachtree City, Georgia, St. Simons Island, The Villages Amphitheater in Fayetteville, Georgia, Marriott Marquis, The Ritz Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta, Ventanna's, The Ritz Carlton Downtown Atlanta, Cafe 290 in Sandy Springs, Georgia and Churchill Grounds in downtown Atlanta. Byrd has opened for music artists, Kenny G, Take 6 and Wycliffe Gordon and has performed after parties for Norman Brown, Eric Darius, Pieces of A Dream, Richard Elliot and George Benson.
Byrd's first recording experience was on a church project in Memphis, Tennessee and again with Billy Rivers and The Angelic Voices of Faith album, "Gotta Lift Him". "Those were very surreal experiences for me and I was hooked...I knew I wanted to be a singer. What made it even more special was that I got some very good microphone techniques from Stax songwriter, David Porter, on my first recording experience and working with Billy Rivers on the second recording was wonderful." Byrd used what she learned from those early experiences when she recorded her first CD, with partner, Neal Wauchope, entitled "No Greater Love....Remembering Billie Holiday". Released in November of 2010, the CD covers 17 songs recorded by Billie Holiday. "It was very exciting working on this CD project. I worked with some phenomenally talented musicians and studio engineers and enjoyed every moment of it. Billie Holiday is one of my favorite jazz icons and I feel very honored to pay tribute to her with this project." Byrd's next CD project will feature original songs she has written and a Christmas CD project is also in the works.
Byrd currently performs every week at The Georgia Shrimp Company in Peachtree City, Georgia, Founder's Restaurant and Bar in Senoia, Georgia and Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta.
In addition to singer/songwriter, add actress to Byrd's status. Byrd was cast in a primary role in the movie, "Lawless" aka "The Wettest County", about a family of Virginia-born brothers who take to distributing booze during prohibition. The movie is directed by John Hillcoat and is based on the novel, "The Wettest County in the World", by Matt Bondurant. It stars, Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, Guy Pierce, Mia Wasikowska, Gary Oldman, and Jessica Chastain. The movie, made from a script by writer/musician, Nick Cave, began shooting on February 28, 2011 and is scheduled to be in theaters August 31, 2012. "I am very excited about being a part of this movie project. It will be very humbling to see myself on the big screen. I have certainly been bitten by the acting bug and would love to do more in the movie industry."
Byrd has performed in and around the Atlanta area including performances at the grand opening of the Villa Ricca Amphitheater in Villa Ricca, Georgia and at the Capital City Club in downtown Atlanta. Byrd has also performed at the Ritz Carlton-Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia, The Atlanta Policemen Ball (two years consecutively), The Georgian Terrace in downtown Atlanta, Big Canoe Mountain Resort in Big Canoe, Georgia, The Egyptian Room at the Fox Theater in downtown Atlanta, The Georgia Aquarium, Druid Hills Country Club, Fred Brown Amphitheater in Peachtree City, Georgia, St. Simons Island, The Villages Amphitheater in Fayetteville, Georgia, Marriott Marquis, The Ritz Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta, Ventanna's, The Ritz Carlton Downtown Atlanta, Cafe 290 in Sandy Springs, Georgia and Churchill Grounds in downtown Atlanta. Byrd has opened for music artists, Kenny G, Take 6 and Wycliffe Gordon and has performed after parties for Norman Brown, Eric Darius, Pieces of A Dream, Richard Elliot and George Benson.
Byrd's first recording experience was on a church project in Memphis, Tennessee and again with Billy Rivers and The Angelic Voices of Faith album, "Gotta Lift Him". "Those were very surreal experiences for me and I was hooked...I knew I wanted to be a singer. What made it even more special was that I got some very good microphone techniques from Stax songwriter, David Porter, on my first recording experience and working with Billy Rivers on the second recording was wonderful." Byrd used what she learned from those early experiences when she recorded her first CD, with partner, Neal Wauchope, entitled "No Greater Love....Remembering Billie Holiday". Released in November of 2010, the CD covers 17 songs recorded by Billie Holiday. "It was very exciting working on this CD project. I worked with some phenomenally talented musicians and studio engineers and enjoyed every moment of it. Billie Holiday is one of my favorite jazz icons and I feel very honored to pay tribute to her with this project." Byrd's next CD project will feature original songs she has written and a Christmas CD project is also in the works.
Byrd currently performs every week at The Georgia Shrimp Company in Peachtree City, Georgia, Founder's Restaurant and Bar in Senoia, Georgia and Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta.
Photo by Dan McCauley
Photo by Librity Neal
