The Byrds were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. They are considered one of the most influential bands of the 1960s and are particularly known for popularizing the folk rock genre.

The band's original lineup consisted of Jim McGuinn (later known as Roger McGuinn) on vocals and guitar, Gene Clark on vocals and tambourine, David Crosby on vocals and rhythm guitar, Chris Hillman on bass guitar, and Michael Clarke on drums. The band's sound was characterized by McGuinn's distinctive 12-string Rickenbacker guitar playing and the group's tight harmonies.

The Byrds achieved immediate success with their first single, a cover of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man," which became a hit in the United States and the United Kingdom in 1965. The band continued to release a string of successful albums and singles throughout the mid-1960s, including "Turn! Turn! Turn!," "Eight Miles High," and "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star."

In addition to their pioneering work in the folk rock genre, The Byrds also experimented with psychedelic rock and country rock, and their influence can be heard in the music of bands like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and R.E.M.

The band underwent numerous personnel changes over the years, with McGuinn being the only constant member throughout their career. Despite this, The Byrds continued to release critically acclaimed albums into the 1970s before disbanding in 1973. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.

The Byrds were initially called The Jet Set, due to Roger McGuinn's fascination with airplanes. -GSH

• Roger McGuinn - guitar/vocals - b. James Joseph McGuinn III, July 13, 1942, Chicago, Illinois - formerly with The Limeliters and The Chad Mitchell Trio; also backed Judy Collins.
• Gene Clark - vocals/tambourine/guitar - b. Harold Eugene Clark, November 17, 1941, Tipton, Missouri; d. May 24, 1991, Sherman Oaks, California - formerly with The New Christy Minstrels.
• David Crosby - guitar/vocals - b. David Van Cortland, August 14, 1941, Los Angeles, California - formerly with Ethan & David and Les Baxter's Balladeers

• Roger McGuinn - guitar/vocals
• Chris Hillman - bass/vocals - b. December 4, 1942, Los Angeles, California - formerly with The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers, The Golden Gate Boys / The Hillmen, and The Green Grass Group.
• Gene Clark - vocals/tambourine/guitar
• David Crosby - guitar/vocals
• Michael Clarke - drums - b. June 3, 1944, New York City, New York; d. December 19, 1993, Treasure Island, Florida.

1. "Mr. Tambourine Man" (1965) - Single: "Mr. Tambourine Man" (1965)
2. "Turn! Turn! Turn!" (1966) - Single: "Turn! Turn! Turn!" (1966)
3. "In the Beginning" (1988)

• Roger McGuinn - guitar/vocals
• Chris Hillman - bass/vocals
• David Crosby - guitar/vocals
• Michael Clarke - drums

1. "Fifth Dimension" (1966) - Single: "Eight Miles High" (1966)
2. "Younger Than Yesterday" (1967)

• Roger McGuinn - guitar/vocals
• Chris Hillman - bass/vocals
• Kevin Kelley - drums - b. 1945 (Chris Hillman's cousin).

1. "The Notorious Byrd Brothers" (1968)

• Roger McGuinn - guitar/vocals
• Chris Hillman - bass/vocals
• Kevin Kelley - drums
• Gram Parsons - guitar/vocals - b. Ingram Cecil Connor III, November 5, 1946, Winter Haven, Florida; d. September 19, 1973, Yucca Valley, California.

1. "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" (1968)

• Roger McGuinn - guitar/vocals
• Clarence White - guitar/vocals - b. June 6, 1944, Lewiston, Maine; d. July 14, 1973, Palmdale, California. Stellar bluegrass flatpicker formerly with bluegrass band The Kentucky Colonels.
• Gene Parsons - drums - b. April 9, 1944.
• John York - bass

1. "Dr. Byrds and Mr. Hyde" (1969)

• Roger McGuinn - guitar/vocals
• Clarence White - guitar/vocals
• Gene Parsons - drums
• Skip Battin - bass/vocals - b. February 2, 1934, Gallipolis, Ohio.

1. "The Ballad of Easy Rider" (1970)
2. "The Byrds (Untitled)" (1970)
3. "(Untitled)/(Unissued)" (2-CDs) (2000)
4. "Byrdmaniax" (1971)
5. "Farther Along" (1972)

• Roger McGuinn - guitar/vocals
• Clarence White - guitar/vocals
• Daryl Dragon - drums - b. August 27, 1942, Los Angeles, California.
• John Guerin - bass

• Roger McGuinn - guitar/vocals
• Chris Hillman - bass/vocals
• Gene Clark - vocals/tambourine/guitar
• David Crosby - guitar/vocals
• Michael Clarke - drums

1. "The Byrds" (1973)
2. "Preflyte" (1973)

1. "Greatest Hits" (1967)
2. "The Best of the Byrds - Greatest Hits, vol. 2" (1972)
3. "The Original Singles 1965-67" (1980)
4. "The Byrds" (4-CD box set) (1990)
5. "20 Essential Tracks from the Boxed Set: 1965-1990" (1992)
6. "Byrd Parts: Oddities, Curios & Essentials" (1998)

• "DESPERADOS: The Roots of Country Rock" - by John Einarson; published by Cooper Square Press - Let me say right up front that I have been a big fan of country rock music ever since hearing the "Pickin' Up The Pieces" single from Poco's debut album.  Poco has remained a favorite of mine through the years, although I always believed they were overlooked as a significant influence on popular music into the 1970s and the "new country" movement in the 1990s.  Thankfully, this oversight is corrected by John Einarson in his book, "DESPERADOS: The Roots of Country Rock", which traces the history of country rock's rise in Southern California from the early days in the late 1960s up to The Eagles (unquestionably the most commercially-viable country rock band of all time).  Having previously read one of Mr. Einarson's biographies on The Guess Who, I was anxious to see how he approached my favorite type of music...I was not disappointed.  "DESPERADOS: The Roots of Country Rock" is an intricate tale of musicians struggling to be heard amidst the psychedelic and hard-rock sounds flooding the airwaves at the time...and these early country rockers did make themselves heard...The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Poco, Buffalo Springfield, Clarence White, The Eagles, Michael Nesmith (remember The Monkees?...Nesmith made some great country rock music after that gig was over), The Dillards, Rick Nelson and The Stone Canyon Band, The Dillard and Clark Expedition, Linda Ronstadt, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band...the list could go on and on.  This book covers the early days of country rock from it's beginnings in the late 1960s to the tragic year of 1973 (when the music world lost two country rock pioneers: guitarist-extraordinaire Clarence White and Gram Parsons) and examines the influence this music has had on second-generation country rock bands such as Pure Prairie League and Firefall.  In addition, the impact of these early country rockers on the "new country" music of the 1980s and the "alternative country" movement of the late-1990s and beyond is explored from a "roots" perspective.  This is a tale masterfully woven by Mr. Einarson, based on more than 60 exclusive interviews with the originators and innovators of country rock.  The amount of information and level of detail contained in these 288 pages is astounding, and there are 31 black and white photographs (some of which I've never seen before).  The only improvement that I would recommend is the inclusion of a comprehensive index in the next edition (this would really help in finding information on specific artists).  Even though I've been following country rock music for years, I learned a lot from this book.  The quotes gleaned from Mr. Einarson's interviews during research for this book are particularly helpful in understanding the origin and development of country rock. "DESPERADOS: The Roots of Country Rock" is required reading for all fans of country rock or anyone interested in late-1960s to early-1970s music. Highly recommended.