The Byrds is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. The group was formed in 1964, and disappeared in 1973. During its decade of existence, it has undergone many changes of membership; guitarist and singer Roger (Jim) McGuinn is the only one ever to be a part of it. The Byrds were only commercially successful at their beginnings in 1965-1966, but they are considered to be one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s, contributing to the birth of the folk rock genre with their revival of Mr. Tambourine Man (1965), then to the emergence of psychedelic rock with the single Eight Miles High (1966), before s 'orient to country rock, another genre of which they are the pioneers with the album Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1967).
The Byrds were originally composed of Roger McGuinn (vocals, guitar), Gene Clark (vocals, tambourine), David Crosby (vocals, rhythm guitar), Chris Hillman (vocals, bass) and Michael Clarke (drums). From 1966, Gene Clark leaves the group where he feels more and more isolated. The others continue the four-way adventure until Crosby and Michael Clarke depart in 1967. New members are recruited, including country musician Gram Parsons, but he leaves the following year as well as Hillman . McGuinn is then the last original member of the group. He hires new musicians, including guitarist Clarence White, and the group has some stability in the early 1970s. This late formation of the Byrds is dissolved early in 1973 to allow the meeting of the original quintet, which records a single album before separating.
Several Byrds members have been successful solo or in bands such as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young for David Crosby and The Flying Burrito Brothers for Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons. A legal quarrel broke out in the late 1980s between the original members regarding the rights to the name of the group. They meet together for the last time on the occasion of the group's debut at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in January 1991, a few months before the death of Gene Clark.
The trio consists of Jim McGuinn>, Gene Clark and David Crosby and is formed in early 1964 in Los Angeles. All three have made their way on the scene of folk cafes, solo and in various groups. McGuinn also had a songwriter experience at Brill Building, under the mentorship of Bobby Darin. Seduced by the music of the Beatles, he begins to introduce acoustic covers of their songs in his repertoire. After a concert at the Troubadour, he is contacted by another Beatles fan: Gene Clark. The two young people form a duet at Peter and Gordon, performing Beatles covers, beatlized versions of traditional folk songs, and some of their own compositions. David Crosby joins them soon after adding his vocal harmonies to their performances. The trio adopts for name "The Jet Set", inspired by McGuinn's passion for aeronautics.
