Jonathan Byrd’s delightful, substantive songs are rich with imagery and textures of influences from Appalachian, country, early American balladry, and old timey folk music. A stalwart of modern folk music, Byrd is constantly evolving in new musical directions and each incarnation has proven to be masterful. After winning a North Carolina songwriter's competition in 2000, Byrd released the debut album "Wildflowers," which includes a little bluegrass, blues and country. His second release, "The Waitress" (2002) explores the colorful, sometimes dark world of this contemporary Southern songwriter. That same year, he won the prestigious New Folk competition in Kerrville, Texas. For his third album, Byrd teamed with the acclaimed world-music duo Dromedary on the lyrical "The Sea and The Sky" (2004). “This Is the New That” (2007) skewed toward rock and roll, and “The Law and the Lonesome” (2008) brought together the best of Byrd’s southern roots and the increasingly strong influence of Texas. His newest CD, “Cackalack” (2010), shot to No. 1 on Roots Music Reports folk radio chart by mid-January. Byrd learned to sing in the church where his father preached, and began performing solos when he was 8, about the same time his mother began teaching him piano. By his high school years in Hillsborough, N.C., he had discovered guitar and joined the jazz band. After graduation, Byrd spent four years in the Navy. His guitar accompanied him wherever he went and, upon his return to civilian life, he explored Ireland and the Appalachian mountains in a search for his musical roots.
