Toni Byrd
Toni Byrd, known as "The Velvet Song Byrd," is an internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist, song stylist and recording artist. She is also a songwriter, the 2014 Black Women in Jazz award winner, and semi-finalist in the 2014 Indaba Music Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition. Her talents extend to acting, with a notable primary role as "Ida Belle" in the 2012 film "Lawless," directed by John Hillcoat, featuring a cast that includes Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Guy Pierce, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, Jason Clarke, and Gary Oldman. Based in Atlanta, the Memphis native has contributed background vocals to the TV series pilot "Still the King," starring Billy Ray Cyrus. In 2014, Byrd had the honor of being the first female vocalist to perform at the grand American opening of Pinewood Studios formerly situated in Fayetteville, Georgia. This studio is renowned for hosting a variety of productions, from blockbuster films like the James Bond, Marvel, and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises to television shows, commercials, and music videos. Her most coveted honor was performing at the White House in December 2016 under the historical President Obama Administration.
Byrd launched her professional music career in 1996 in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father, Lionel Byrd, a member of the '60s musical group, The 4 Kings in Memphis, Tennessee, encouraged her exposure to various music genres. She grew up listening to gospel, jazz, R&B, pop, American Funk, and Country music. Byrd remembers being inspired by opera singer Leontyne Price, emulating her vocal range, richness, and clarity. Her musical influences also include Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, Roberta Flack, Ella Fitzgerald, Karen Carpenter, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Anita Baker, Yolanda Adams, Andre Crouch, and The Hawkins Family, among others. "I am grateful to my father and those incredible vocal icons who shaped my early musical development and helped me discover my own unique voice."Byrd's initial recording was part of a live music project in 1979 that was produced by the legendary Stax Records songwriter and National Songwriter's Hall of Fame inductee, David Porter. She later collaborated with the Stellar Award-nominated choir, Billy Rivers and The Angelic Voices of Faith, on their 1999 album "Gotta Lift Him." Byrd co-produced her inaugural jazz project, "No Greater Love... Remembering Billie Holiday," in 2010. Her first Gospel Jazz project, "Forever You're My God," was released in 2017 and garnered four nominations from The Rhythm of Gospel Awards that year, including EP/Digital Album of the Year, Praise/Worship Song of the Year, Best Performance by
a Female Artist, and Inspirational Song of the Year. In 2021, Byrd shared the stage with Grammy Award-winning artist Peabo Bryson, performing duets on two of his most celebrated hits: "Tonight I Celebrate My Love," originally recorded with Roberta Flack in 1983, and "A Whole New World," the iconic song Bryson performed with Regina Belle in 1992 for the Disney animated film "Aladdin." Byrd has opened for renowned artists such as Gladys Knight, Kenny G, Alex Bugnon, Wycliffe Gordon, Andre Crouch, Vickie Winans, and Take 6, and has hosted after-parties for Norman Brown, Eric Darius, Pieces of A Dream, Richard Elliot, George Benson, and Boney James. Furthermore, she was the featured artist at a tribute event preceding the legendary Dionne Warwick, earning high praise from Ms. Warwick herself.
Byrd currently performs her acclaimed big band show from the recording project "Toni Sings Natalie...A Tribute to Natalie Cole," released in 2019 to the delight of her fans. Byrd's performances have graced stages in the UK, Portugal, Berlin, the Czech Republic, The Jazz Corner in South Carolina, Tuskegee University, and various venues across Georgia, including St. Simons Island, The Good Times Jazz Bar & Restaurant, and The Jazz Loft. Additionally, she has showcased her talent at some of Atlanta's most renowned venues, such as The Mercedes-Benz Stadium, The Rialto Theater, The Fox Theater, and Churchill Grounds. The 4 Kings by Marv Goldberg Based on an interview with Lionel Byrd© 2004, 2009 by Marv Goldberg.