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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
May 6, 2025
To officially recognize the 50th anniversary of the mainstream breakthrough of the musical
ensemble, The Blackbyrds, which formed in the District and helped shape our city's
cultural identity.
WHEREAS, the Blackbyrds, a groundbreaking ensemble formed under the visionary
leadership of the late Dr. Donald Byrd – celebrated jazz trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and
the professor at Howard University – celebrate the 50th anniversary of their mainstream
breakthrough in 2025;
WHEREAS, the Blackbyrds were conceived as a bold experiment in musical mentorship,
uniting some of the most talented students at Howard University to create a sound that was both
deeply rooted in the traditions of jazz and boldly contemporary in its embrace of funk, soul, and
rhythm and blues;
WHEREAS, their song “Happy Music” was issued as their first club mix release by
Fantasy Records in November 1975;
WHEREAS, the Blackbyrds hit the big time with their 1975 hit “Walking in Rhythm”,
which received a Grammy nomination and sold over one million copies by May 1975;
WHEREAS, they followed up “Walking in Rhythm” with their 1975 song “Rock Creek
Park”, which became an anthem of the District of Columbia and a charted on the U.S. R&B
chart;
WHEREAS, the band’s chart-topping hits such as “Do It, Fluid” captured the energy and
essence of urban life while establishing the Blackbyrds as pioneers of the jazz-funk genre, all the
while influencing the hip-hop generation, with artists like Tupac Shakur, Gang Starr, and Full
Force sampling their music;
WHEREAS, “Rock Creek Park” alone has been sampled by hip-hop artists such as MF
Doom, De La Soul, Eric B. & Rakim, Massive Attack, Heavy D, Nas, Grandmaster Flash & the
Furious Five, Tone Lōc, Mac Dre, and Wiz Khalifa, bringing national attention to Washington,
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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DC’s thriving Black arts and music scene, and played a vital role in shaping the city’s cultural
identity;
WHEREAS, the influence of the Blackbyrds transcends decades with their recordings
and their contribution to hip-hop, affirming their lasting musical legacy as a pioneering music
group;
WHEREAS, 50 years after the release of their first major hit, the music of the Blackbyrds
continues to represent a significant cultural cornerstone of Washington, DC’s rich musical
heritage;
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “The Blackbyrds 50th Anniversary Recognition Resolution of
2025.”
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia hereby congratulates the living members
of The Blackbyrds, Keith Killgo and Joe Hall, as treasured DC natives whose hit “Rock Creek
Park” celebrates one of DC’s most cherished public spaces.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.