This is intended to be a homage to very many musicians I've loved since I started listening to music. My intention is to tell what I know about them, hoping that those people who like them too, will help me fill numerous gaps, which I may have in their careers and discographies. Sorry, but there are no MP3 audio files here at all, just info (and love for the musicians).


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Monday 4 July 2011

Byrd Foster / Ron Foster (drums)


BANDS:
  • Michael G And The Eruptions
  • Jimmy Mack And The Music Factory
  • Sweet Lightning
  • Roy Buchanan Band
  • The Silencers
  • Iron City Houserockers
  • Mystic Knights of the Sea
  • Extension 8
  • Red Hot & Blue
  • Midnight Creepers
  • Shawn Rounds Band

BIOGRAPHY:

Powerful drummer (also a gifted singer) from Pittsburg, Ron Foster (also credited to Ronnie Foster, but usually as Byrd Foster) appears in many albums.

He was born on December 16th, 1949 in Mt. Oliver.


MICHAEL G AND THE ERUPTIONS


This is the first band I know with Byrd:

MICHAEL G AND THE ERUPTIONS #
Byrd Foster
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!
Jimmy Mack And The Music Factoryê


JIMMY MACK AND THE MUSIC FACTORY


This was a band that evolved from The Igniters. They released 2 singles, but the only one I have info about is their second one, ´Gonna try / So long mama´, released in 1969 with these musicians:

JIMMY MACK AND THE MUSIC FACTORY #?
?
êMichael G And The Eruptions
Frankie Czuri
vocals, keyboards
Bubs McKeag
guitar
Fred DeLu
keyboards
Byrd Foster
drums, vocals

They folded soon after.



ROY BUCHANAN BAND


This was the Roy Buchanan Band around November 1974:

ROY BUCHANAN BAND #?
1974
Roy Buchanan
guitar, vocals
Billy Price
vocals
John Harrison
bass
Malcolm Lukens
keyboards
Byrd Foster
drums, vocals

Roy Buchanan live. From left to right: Roy Buchanan, John Harrison, Malcolm Lukens, Byrd Foster


Roy Buchanan and Byrd Foster


John Harrison and Byrd Foster live in Roy Buchanan Band


And this was the personnel of Roy Buchanan Band during most of 1976 and 1977:

ROY BUCHANAN BAND #?
1976-1977
Roy Buchanan
guitar, vocals
John Harrison
bass
Malcolm Lukens
keyboards
Byrd Foster
drums, vocals

Other info on members of Roy Buchanan Band (I know up to 11 members)
To be covered (5): Roy Buchanan, Jeff Ganz, John Harrison, Gordon Johnson, Ray Marchica


SWEET LIGHTNING


Byrd Foster was a member of Sweet Lightning in the mid 70s:

SWEET LIGHTNING #?
?
Pete Hewlett
vocals
Dave Molter
bass
Byrd Foster
drums, vocals
+ others unknown to me. Help!

But I haven´t any other details. Can someone help, please?

Other info on members of Sweet Lightning (I know up to 4 members)
To be covered (2): Pete Hewlett, Sid McGinnis


THE SILENCERS


The Silencers were formed in 1979:

THE SILENCERS #1
1979-?
êDiamond Reo
êDiamond Reo
Frankie Czuri
vocals
Warren King
guitar
Mike Pella
bass
Dennis Tacos
keyboards
Byrd Foster
drums
Pure Goldê
Mystic Knights of the Seaê

After two albums, Warren King left them in 1984.

Other info on members of The Silencers (I know up to 5 members)
Already covered (1): Warren King


IRON CITY HOUSEROCKERS


This was a different edition of Iron City Houserockers (now known only as The Houserockers), around 1984:

IRON CITY HOUSEROCKERS #?
?
Joe Grushecky
vocals
Eddie Britt
guitar
Art Nardini
bass
Gil Snyder
keyboards
Byrd Foster
drums



MYSTIC KNIGHTS OF THE SEA


This was a band formed in 1984 by Warren King and Gil Snyder:

MYSTIC KNIGHTS OF THE SEA #?
1984
êThe Silencers
Warren King
guitar
Bryan Bassett
guitar
Gil Snyder
keyboards
Byrd Foster
drums, vocals

They soon changed their members as most of them were prolific sessionmen.

Other info on members of Mystic Knights of the Sea (I know up to 11 members)
Already covered (1): Warren King
To be covered (1): Bryan Bassett


EXTENSION 8


In 1984, Byrd Foster joined Extension 8. This was their lineup in 1985:

EXTENSION 8 #?
1984-1985
Luisa Libraty
vocals
Donald Barnat
guitar
Scott Martin
bass
Paul DeSena
keyboards
Byrd Foster
drums, vocals

He stayed with them until 1985.


RED HOT & BLUE


Sorry, I haven´t info about Red Hot & Blue, except that Byrd Foster and Warren King played with them:

RED HOT & BLUE #?
?
Warren King
guitar
Byrd Foster
drums, vocals
+ others unknown to me. Help!

Can someone help, please?

AND THEN...


Byrd relocated in Florida along with Warren King, working in many sessions for the label King Snake, mostly produced by the musician Bob Greenlee.


MIDNIGHT CREEPERS


I can´t find proper info about Midnight Creepers, the band from Florida:

MIDNIGHT CREEPERS #?
?
Root Boy Slim
vocals
Warren King
guitar
Byrd Foster
drums, vocals
+ others unknown to me. Help!

Can someone tell me more about them?
Other info on members of Midnight Creepers (I know up to 3 members)
Already covered (1): Warren King


SHAWN ROUNDS BAND


Byrd Foster also played drums for guitarist Shawn Rounds Band:

SHAWN ROUNDS BAND #?
?
Shawn Rounds
guitar, vocals
Barry Williams
bass
Byrd Foster
drums

Since 2004, he started having health problems, but the saddes news are that Byrd Foster passed away on June 30th, 2011, in Deltona, Florida, due to liver cancer. He was 61.

DISCOGRAPHY: (38 albums known to me - Status: In progress)

ALBUMS AS A BAND MEMBER (11 credits)
  • Gonna try / So long mama (SINGLE) - Jimmy Mack and the Music Factory (1969)

  • Live stock - Roy Buchanan (1975)

    • Members: John Harrison (RIP: Roy Buchanan, Byrd Foster)
    • Technical: Shelly Yakus
    • Comments: Recorded live in November 1974.
  • A Street called Straight - Roy Buchanan (04/1976)

    • Members: John Harrison (RIP: Roy Buchanan, Byrd Foster)
    • Guests: Rubens Bassini, Ken Bischel, Randy Brecker, Robin Clark, Billy Cobham, Lew Delgatto, Will Lee, Andy Newmark, Barry Rogers, G Diane Sumler, George Young (RIP: Michael Brecker, Luther Vandross)
    • Producer: (RIP: Arif Mardin)
  • Loading zone - Roy Buchanan (05/1977)

    • Members: (RIP: Roy Buchanan, Byrd Foster)
    • Guests: Stanley Clarke, Steve Cropper, Donald ´Duck´ Dunn, David Garibaldi, Ray Gomez, Diva Gray, Jan Hammer, Will Lee, Dennis Parker, Narada Michael Walden
  • Live in Japan - Roy Buchanan (1978)

    • Members: John Harrison (RIP: Roy Buchanan, Byrd Foster)
    • Comments: Recorded live in 1977, it was released originally only in Japan in 1978. But the CD was released worlwide in 2003, fortunately.
  • My babe - Roy Buchanan (1980)

    • Members: Gordon Johnson (RIP: Roy Buchanan, Byrd Foster)
    • Guests: Richard Crooks, Paul Jacobs
  • Cracking under pressure - The Houserockers (1983)

  • Breaking point - Midnight Creepers (1993)

  • Live from Austin Tx - Roy Buchanan (04/2008)

    • Members: John Harrison (RIP: Roy Buchanan, Byrd Foster)
    • Comments: DVD recorded live in November 1976.
  • Live - amazing grace - Roy Buchanan (08/2009)

    • Members: John Harrison (RIP: Roy Buchanan, Byrd Foster)
  • American axe - live in 1974 - Roy Buchanan ( - )

    • Members: John Harrison (RIP: Roy Buchanan, Byrd Foster)
COMPILATIONS AS A BAND MEMBER (4 credits)
  • Sweet dreams - the anthology - Roy Buchanan (09/1992)

    • Members: John Harrison (RIP: Roy Buchanan, Byrd Foster)
    • Guests: Steve Cropper, Charlie Daniels, Tim Drummond, Donald ´Duck´ Dunn, Ray Gomez, Karl Himmel, Teddy Irwin, Neil Larsen, Andy Newmark, Jean Roussel, Bill Stewart, Willie Weeks, Bob Wilson
    • Producer: Stanley Clarke (RIP: Arif Mardin)
    • Comments: Compilation with 4 unreleased tracks.
  • Guitar on fire - the Atlantic sessions - Roy Buchanan (04/1993)

    • Members: John Harrison (RIP: Roy Buchanan, Byrd Foster)
    • Guests: Alfa Anderson, Stanley Clarke, Steve Cropper, Krystal Davis, Donald ´Duck´ Dunn, David Garibaldi, Ray Gomez, Jan Hammer, David Lasley, Will Lee, Andy Newmark, Dennis Parker, Narada Michael Walden, Willie Weeks (RIP: Luther Vandross)
    • Producer: (RIP: Arif Mardin)
    • Technical: Dan Hersch, Bill Inglot
  • The Best of Roy Buchanan - the millenium collection - Roy Buchanan (03/2002)

    • Members: John Harrison (RIP: Roy Buchanan, Byrd Foster)
    • Guests: Teddy Irwin, Neil Larsen
    • Producer: Bill Stewart
  • The Definitive collection - Roy Buchanan (05/2006)

    • Members: John Harrison (RIP: Roy Buchanan, Byrd Foster)
    • Guests: Charlie Daniels, Tim Drummond, Karl Himmel, Teddy Irwin, Neil Larsen, Bob Wilson
ALBUMS WITH BANDMATES AND FRIENDS (2 credits)
  • Up all night - Chizmo Charles (1998)

    • Guests: (RIP: Byrd Foster, Warren King, Teddy Reynolds)
    • Comments: Debut album by Chizmo Charles (and he was 70 at that time!).
  • Outtakes and demos 1975-2003 - Joe Grushecky (02/2006)

SOUNDTRACKS (1 credit)
  • Creepshow OST - VVAA (10/2003)

    • Guests: (RIP: Byrd Foster)
    • Producer: John Harrison, John Sutton
    • Technical: (RIP: Jerry Reed)
SESSIONS (20 credits)
  • Crazy man - Floyd Miles & Friends (1992)

    • Guests: Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Edgar Winter (RIP: Byrd Foster, Bob Greenlee, Warren King, Root Boy Slim, Alex Taylor)
    • Technical: Bryan Bassett
  • Never too late - Erica Guerin (1993)

  • King of the boogie sax - Noble Thin Man Watts (1993)

    • Members: (RIP: Noble Watts)
    • Guests: (RIP: Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Byrd Foster, Bob Greenlee, Warren King)
    • Technical: Bryan Bassett
  • Goin´ back to Daytona - Floyd Miles (1994)

    • Guests: Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts (RIP: Byrd Foster, Bob Greenlee, Warren King, Noble Watts)
    • Technical: Bryan Bassett
  • Blues is my religion - Eric Culberson & The Erok Band (1996)

    • Guests: (RIP: Byrd Foster, Warren King)
    • Producer: (RIP: Bob Greenlee)
    • My opinion: Magnificent blues album, absolutely beautiful. My favourite tracks ar the slow blues ´Morning light blues´ and the instrumental ´Stray bullet blues´.
  • Out of control - Sonny Rhodes (1996)

  • Back to Bogalusa - Chicago Bob Nelson (01/1996)

  • Keepin´ a secret - Ace Moreland (02/1996)

  • Cadillac in the swamp - SmokeHouse (03/1996)

  • Get real - Erica Guerin (05/1997)

    • Guests: Bryan Bassett, Tony Coleman, Charlie DeChant (RIP: Byrd Foster, Warren King, Noble Watts)
    • Producer: (RIP: Bob Greenlee)
  • Every shade of blue - Roy Roberts (06/1997)

  • Born to be blue - Sonny Rhodes (09/1997)

  • Unchained maladies - Reverend Billy C Wirtz & The Polyester Prophets (08/1998)

    • Guests: Mark Hodgson (RIP: Byrd Foster, Bob Greenlee, Warren King, Dru Lombar, Root Boy Slim)
    • Technical: Bryan Bassett
  • No rules to the game - Eric Culberson (10/1998)

  • Blue diamond - Sonny Rhodes (1999)

    • Guests: Mark Hodgson (RIP: Byrd Foster, Bob Greenlee, Warren King, Noble Watts)
    • Technical: Bryan Bassett, Peter Moore
  • Deeper shade of blue - Roy Roberts (1999)

  • Give it to get it - Ace Moreland (06/2000)

  • I won´t give up - Lou Pride (06/2000)

  • Hindsight is 20/20 - Ace Moreland (04/2003)

  • Triple trouble - Tommy McCoy (11/2008)

    • Guests: Tony Coleman, Charlie DeChant, Tommy Shannon (RIP: Rock Bottom, Byrd Foster)
    • Technical: Bryan Bassett (RIP: Warren King)

RELATED VIDEO LINKS: 9
Disclaimer: I don´t own or upload any of the videos linked here. I just include links to live videos that are already available, in order to show the work of this musician. Anyway, if someone feels that some link shouldn't be included, please write me at the email address shown below. And if you know of more videos featuring Byrd Foster, please, also write me with the link.
RELATED MUSICIANS:

Byrd Foster mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
Warren King (23)
Bob Greenlee (20)
Ace Moreland (16)
Bryan Bassett (14)
Rick Bailey (13)
Roy Buchanan (12)
Bill Samuel (12)
John Harrison (11)
Malcolm Lukens (11)
Doug Bare (7)

Page created by Miguel Terol on: 04/July/2011 - Last modified on: 15/July/2011. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com

Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.

3 comments:

  1. Other members of Sweet Lightnin' with Byrd included Harry Turner (bass), and Fred Delu, keys, both founding members. Later Albritton McClain and Syd McGinnis (now in the David Letterman Band) were in Sweet Lightnin'. The last edition of SL disbanded in 1979 and included Pete Hewlett and Buddy Hall on guitar, Dave Molter onbass and Byrd on drums.

    ReplyDelete
  2. yo, my name is tim kelliher, i was in two bands with byrd,blues for soul, with ron and george clarke, which we made one cd, called buried alive in the blues, and skin and bone band,blues in the nite,both i can make available, i also finished,7 tracks all new, which will be out soon called byrdsongs, he was a great friend, i miss him dearly , contact me at www.timothykelliher@yahoo.com, peace

    ReplyDelete
  3. Byrd was also with a Pgh. band called Friar Tuck. Circa late 60's. Keyboard Player was Jerry Lotti, Guitar-Ron Cochran & Bass Was Steve Fonzerelli ? They played frequently at an Oakland Club called the Love-In.

    ReplyDelete

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