The Byrds

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The first original line-up of The Byrds included Jim McGuinn a guitarist and vocalist (his original name was James McGuinn III) who was born on July 13th 1942 in Chicago, Illinois. However, after joining a spiritual movement Subud he changed his name in 1967 to Roger McGuinn. McGuinn had previously been in many bands before The Byrds, these were folk-rock bands one of which was called ‘The Limeliters’. He also played in the Chad Mitchell Trio and with Judy Collins. In 1962-1963 he wrote songs for Bobby Darin in New York. In 1963, he moved from New York to Los Angeles he began to gig around the local clubs one of which was called ‘The Troubador’. Soon after McGuinn noticed something in the music market, he heard the most prolific band ‘The Beatles’ and he saw a space for “Lennon and Dylan mix together”.Gene Clark (his original name Harold Eugene Clark) who was also a guitarist and vocalist was born on November 17th 1941, in Tipton, Missouri, many years later he died on May 24th 1991. He had joined a band called ‘New Christy Minstrels.David Crosby who was also a guitarist and vocalist (his original name David Van Cortlandt Crosby) was born on August 14th 1941, in Los Angeles.Chris Hillman who was a bassist was born on December 4th 1942, in Los Angeles. Hillman had also been in other bands playing bluegrass mandolin these included ‘The Scotsville Squirrel Barkers’, ‘The Golden State Boys’ and ‘The Hillmen’.Michael Clarke (his original name was Michael Dick) was a drummer was born on June 3rd 1946 in New York. However, he died on December 19th 1993. Clarke was apparently hired for The Byrds due to his appearance he looked similar to Brian Jones from The Rolling Stones, rather than his drumming.The start of the band The Byrds actually came around by Gene Clark, had joined forces with McGuinn in a duo playing at The Folk Den. David Crosby soon joined afterwards. They formed a trio (Clark, McGuinn and Crosby) they called themselves ‘The Jet Set’. They recorded a few songs called “The Only Girl I Adore”, “You Movin” and “The Only Girl”. Michael Clarke the joined on drums, they became a fourth piece band called The Beefeaters.In Los Angeles they rehearsed at the World Pacific Studios as they had Jim Dickson their manager to obverse everything. Electra Records soon signed the band and they released a single “Please Let me love you” A side and “Don’t be long” B Side.In 1964 everything changed for this fourth piece, they signed in November to Columbia Records and renamed themselves from The Beefeaters to ‘The Byrds’. ‘Mr. Tambourine man’ was recorded on the 20th 1965 and reached number one. Originally a Bob Dylan song The Byrds used a 12 String Rickenbacker guitar to give it a jingly effect! The next single ‘Bells of Rhymney was also a Bob Dylan cover. Soon afterwards their other singles which included ‘All I really wanna do’ didn’t quite top the charts as Sonny and Cher had beaten them to it. Quiet quickly, The Byrds wrote a classic called ‘Turn, Turn, Turn!’, this in turn again topped the charts and it was their 2nd number 1!