Donald Byrd was born on this date.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

[Marcuse]

1. A gentleman and a scholar indeed.

People casually toss out the phrase “a gentleman and a scholar,” but rarely does the trope fit the recipient like it does with the late, great NEA Jazz Master Donald Byrd. When he died in 2013 he had six graduate degrees—including a law degree from Howard University—and was angling for nine. And perhaps the most admirable part of his insatiable thirst for education was his desire to share what he learned. In addition to teaching, Byrd started jazz studies programs at three colleges, including the prestigious program at Howard University in Washington, DC. It was at Howard where he founded, shaped, and produced the inimitable band the Blackbyrds, a significant component of his legacy. The band blew up in the 1970s with monster hits.


https://www.arts.gov/stories/magazine/2017/1/nea-jazz-mastersnea-national-heritage-fellowships-celebrating-35-years/donald-byrd-and-art-education

[Mr. Scorpio]

2. I've met him once. It was an honor.