''Flying Start'' is the second album by the American band

the Blackbyrds The Blackbyrds are an American rhythm and blues and jazz-funk fusion group, formed in Washington, D.C., in 1973 and reformed in 2012 by Keith Killgo. History The group was inspired by trumpeter Donald Byrd and featured some of his Howard Unive ...

. Produced by

Donald Byrd Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II (December 9, 1932 – February 4, 2013) was an American jazz and rhythm & blues trumpeter, composer and vocalist. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd was one of the few h ...

, the album includes the top ten hit single "

Walking in Rhythm "Walking in Rhythm" is a smooth rhythm and blues and jazz song by the Blackbyrds. It tells the tale of a man who is passionate about getting back home to his female companion. The song charted in March 1975 and reached number six on the US ''Bil ...

Track listing

Credits taken from original LP liner notes.

Personnel

;The Blackbyrds *

Allan Barnes Allan Curtis Barnes (September 27, 1949 – July 25, 2016) was an American jazz musician, based in Detroit for the majority of his career. Early life Barnes was born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 27, 1949. He received his first musica ...

– flute, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, vocals on tracks 4 and 5 *

Kevin Toney Kevin Kraig Toney (April 23, 1953 – March 18, 2024) was an American jazz pianist and composer who was a member of The Blackbyrds. Biography A native of Detroit, he graduated from Cass Technical High School. In his teens he listened to the musi ...

– acoustic and electric piano, clavinet,

ARP synthesizer ARP Instruments, Inc. was a Lexington, Massachusetts manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, founded by Alan R. Pearlman, Alan Robert Pearlman in 1969. It created a popular and commercially successful range of synthesizers throughout the ...

, vocals on tracks 4 and 5 *Barney Perry – guitar, vocals on tracks 4 and 5 *Joe Hall – bass, vocals on tracks 4 and 5 *Keith Killgo – drums, lead vocals on track 1, vocals on tracks 4 and 5 *Perk Jacobs – percussion, vocals on tracks 4 and 5 ;Additional Personnel *Bobby Bryant – trumpet *Oscar Brashear – trumpet *Alexander Thomas – trombone *George Bohanon – trombone *Jackie Kelso – baritone saxophone *Ernie Watts – tenor saxophone on track 1 *Sigidi – vocals on tracks 4 and 5 *Bruce Fisher – vocals on track 4 *

Keith Barbour Keith Barbour (born January 21, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and actor who was a member of the Jabberwocks and New Christy Minstrels. Career He was a member of the Jabberwocks, Brown University's oldest male a cappella group, wh ...

– lead vocals on track 7

Charts

Album

Single

References

External links

The Blackbyrds-Flying Start at Discogs
{{Authority control 1974 albums Fantasy Records albums The Blackbyrds albums