Blackbyrd Fly
Interview with Progressive Funk-Rock Guitarist and Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Inductee: DeWayne “Blackbyrd” McKnight Thomas Amoriello Fleminton Raritan School District tamoriel@frsd.k12.nj.us
“H
ow Do You Get To Carnegie Hall? Practice!” is a joke heard often amongst classical musicians. The same could be said for musicians of popular styles about Cleveland and getting to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The diversity of the guitar and the many styles associated with it are the factors that continue to allow the instrument to grow in stature. The guitar is the instrument that attracts youth well after the deadline for 5th grade band signups. Our subject, DeWayne “Blackbyrd” McKnight has a resume that includes working with jazz giants such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins and Alphonso Johnson as well as funk legends George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. He was a member of The Headhunters, a fusion band from 1975 through 1978 and then went on to be the musical director of George Clinton and the legendary Parliament/Funkadelic from 1980 to 2008. Thank you to McKnight for sharing his musical journey with us. You recorded with jazz icon Herbie Hancock on his Man-Child & Flood albums. What was it like to work with what many consider to be a musical genius during his funk experimentation period? It was quite an honor to work with someone of his caliber. I had 3 goals that I set for myself when I was young and playing with him was one of them. Truly one of the greatest experiences I could hope for in that time of my life. You serve as music director for “Rock’n Roll Hall of Fame” inductee ParliamentFunkadelic and have traveled the world. What are some of the tougher aspects of life on the road?
TEMPO
Actually to me life on the road is not that tough. Performing for people makes me happy. I get to see friends and visit places I would not get to if I didn’t travel. It’s sometimes difficult to get healthier foods in some places. The whole traveling thing can get tiresome from time to time but it’s what the job entails. Traveling from city to city playing music for people who wish to listen and enjoy is special to me and one of the “get offs” of being a musician.
What were a few of your first guitar memories as a child? Dropping by the local music store and staring at the guitars through the window every day, hoping and wishing to play someday. Receiving my first guitar from my uncle; sitting on the steps of the back porch, plucking away learning my favorite songs. Of course my first electric guitar and amp; going over friends’ houses and jamming. There are many favorite episodes from that era that I am very fond of! Did you take guitar lessons and was there a mentor who helped you grow as a musician?
What is your favorite part? Obviously the shows. It is great to see people enjoy our shows, not to mention the landmarks you get to see like the Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Buckingham Palace etc. For example, some years ago when the Berlin Wall was being torn down, we played Berlin and were able to visit the wall and participated in chiseling the wall down. I even brought a couple of pieces which I still have. How cool is that? I like to visit other countries and see how people live.
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Yes, I did take lessons for a very short period of time. I also learned some music in grade school, junior high and high school (which they taught us in school then). I used to carry around a pitch pipe which I took everywhere. Every time I heard a sound or a note, I would find it on the pitch pipe until I remembered it. From there I developed a better ear, and started learning things on my own by watching other musicians on TV, radio, everywhere. I just became absorbed in music. I have a friend named Shuggie Otis who I learned a lot from by sitting with him and watching him play in his father’s band “The Johnny Otis Show”. Johnny, Shuggie’s father, also had some other really great musicians in his band whom I also learned from. I was very fortunate to have guys like Johnny and Shuggie Otis who let me go to gigs with them and hang out. A lot of other musicians helped me as well to develop and I always listened and watched as much as I could. Truth is I am still learning.
OCTOBER 2017
