Tony Byrd’s love of the bass and entertainment in general began in elementary school where he began playing upright bass.  At the time he was too small to carry the instrument, he switch to the drum pad.  Bored with beating on pads, he began playing trombone.  His love for bass never wavered.  He worked two jobs and saved his money to purchase his first bass.  Tony attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts playing trombone and bass. 

As a young boy, while the other boys were playing games, every Saturday morning Tony could be found standing outside the rehearsal space for the Washington DC Department of Recreation Showmobile Band or standing at the plank of the Wilson line trying to carry the band gear for the acts that were performing on the boat. As he got older, he began to stand outside the stage door at DAR Constitution Hall, Arena Stage, and The Warner Theater in DC.   

After graduating from Duke Ellington, he dropped out of the University of the District of Columbia to sign a contract with CBS International, where he toured Europe and recorded a couple of singles.  Upon returning from Europe, he traveled extensively with various Blues and R&B artist including Millie Jackson, The Manhattans, BB King, Bobby Blue Bland, ZZ Hill, and others. 

Tony took a long hiatus from music and entertainment to raise his children.  In 1998, he began playing for his church choir at Bethel Baptist Church, where he’s worships every Sunday and was ordained in 2003.  

Tony became a constant presence at various open mic jam sessions around the DC area.   You can also find him playing or providing a complete sound system for various groups performing a wide variety of music from Gospel, Country, Symphonic, Bluegrass, Rock, R&B, Hip Hop, Go-Go, Blues, Jazz, and Funk.