Kevin Toney – born April 23, 1953, in Detroit, Michigan – was a jazz pianist
best known as the leader of jazz / rock/ fusion group The Blackbyrds, who scored
a hit in 1974 with the song “Walking in Rhythm.” Influenced by jazz greats such
as Art Tatum and John Coltrane, Kevin Toney graduated from Cass Technical High
School in Detroit before attending Howard University in Washington, D. C. Iconic
trumpeter Donald Byrd headed the jazz studies department at Howard University
and spearheaded the formation of a group made up of his students. Calling
themselves The Blackbyrds and led by...