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The Famous Flames
The Famous Flames
American R&B band
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James Brown
James Brown
American singer-songwriter, dancer, music mogul
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The J.B.'s
The J.B.'s
band
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The Valentinos
The Valentinos
American musical group; family R&B group from Cleveland, Ohio
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Bobby Rogers
Bobby Rogers
American singer
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Billy Griffin
Billy Griffin
American singer and songwriter
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Dion and the Belmonts
Dion and the Belmonts
American vocal group of the late 1950s
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The Miracles
The Miracles
American rhythm and blues vocal group
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Little Anthony and the Imperials
Little Anthony and the Imperials
rhythm and blues/soul/doo-wop vocal group from New York
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Marv Tarplin
Marv Tarplin
American guitarist and songwriter
10
The Midnighters
The Midnighters
American R&B group
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Bobby Bland
Bobby Bland
American soul & blues musician
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Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
American recording artist; R&B singer-songwriter and record producer
13
The "5" Royales
The "5" Royales
R&B band from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
14
The Moonglows
The Moonglows
American R&B group
15
Ben E. King
Ben E. King
American soul and R&B singer and record producer
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Jerry Butler
Jerry Butler
American soul singer and songwriter
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The Drifters
The Drifters
American R&B band (1953-)
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The Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers
American singing duo
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The Spinners
The Spinners
American soul music vocal group
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Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips
American R&B/soul band
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Bobby Hatfield
Bobby Hatfield
American singer
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Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack
American singer-songwriter and musician
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Warren Moore
Warren Moore
American singer-songwriter and record producer
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Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf
Canadian-American rock group
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Bernie Leadon
Bernie Leadon
American musician
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Teddy Randazzo
Teddy Randazzo
American recording artist, music arranger and songwriter
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Samuel David Moore
Samuel David Moore
American musician
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Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter
American singer
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Ronnie Spector
Ronnie Spector
American singer
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Bill Medley
Bill Medley
American singer and songwriter, record producer
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The Funk Brothers
The Funk Brothers
group of Motown studio musicians
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The Dells
The Dells
American R&B vocal group
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Junior Walker
Junior Walker
American saxophonist
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The Fleetwoods
The Fleetwoods
vocal group from Olympia, Washington, USA
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Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
American singer
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Roger McGuinn
Roger McGuinn
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
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Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas
American vocal group
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The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5
American pop music family group
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Floyd Cramer
Floyd Cramer
American pianist
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The Ventures
The Ventures
American instrumental rock band
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Bobby Day
Bobby Day
American rock and roll and R&B musician
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Johnnie Johnson
Johnnie Johnson
American musician
43
The Rascals
The Rascals
American rock band/blue-eyed soul band
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Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge
American singer
45
Ronald White
Ronald White
American singer, songwriter
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The Dave Clark Five
The Dave Clark Five
English pop rock group
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Deep Purple
Deep Purple
English rock band
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Etta James
Etta James
American recording artist; singer
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Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
American singer, songwriter, and record producer
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Sam Taylor
Sam Taylor
American jump blues musician and songwriter
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Al Green
Al Green
American singer
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The Coasters
The Coasters
American band
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Four Tops
Four Tops
American Motown vocal group
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The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers
American musical group
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Garry Shider
Garry Shider
American musician
56
Jesse Stone
Jesse Stone
American rhythm and blues musician and songwriter
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Hank Ballard
Hank Ballard
American R&B recording artist; singer and songwriter
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Bert Berns
Bert Berns
American songwriter and record producer of the 1960s
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Kings of Rhythm
Kings of Rhythm
American musical group; R&B/Soul band led by Ike Turner
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Heart
Heart
American rock band
61
Dan Fogelberg
Dan Fogelberg
American singer-songwriter and musician
Bobby Byrd
American R&B/soul singer, songwriter, bandleader, talent scout, record producer, and musician

Bobby Byrd

Intro
American R&B/soul singer, songwriter, bandleader, talent scout, record producer, and musician
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Bobby Howard Byrd (August 15, 1934 – September 12, 2007) was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, bandleader, talent scout, record producer, and musician, who played an integral and important part in the development of soul and funk music in association with James Brown.

Byrd began his career in 1952 as member of the gospel group the Gospel Starlighters, who later changed their name to the Avons in 1953 and the Five Royals in 1954, before settling on the name the Flames in 1955 prior to Brown's joining the group; their agent later changed it to The Famous Flames. Byrd was the founder of The Flames, is credited with the discovery of James Brown, and also claimed responsibility for writing most of James Brown's hits. As group founder, and one of the longest-serving members of the group, Byrd was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame posthumously in 2012. Byrd was also a 1998 recipient of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award.