The Charlie Byrd Papers (approximately 1926-2008) 

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Are housed at the Peabody Archives and document the career of American guitarist Charlie Byrd (1925–1999), known for his work in jazz, Brazilian music, and classical guitar. The collection spans Byrd's lifetime and includes a variety of materials related to his music career.

Overview of the Collection:

• Scope and Contents:

  • Series 1 & 2: Manuscript and printed musical scores, including compositions and arrangements by Byrd, with performance and study markings.

  • Series 3: Documents related to Byrd’s professional career, such as publicity materials (clippings, programs, posters), subject files, contracts, awards, and other memorabilia.

  • Series 4: Photographs of Byrd throughout his life.

  • Series 5: Sound and video recordings of Byrd, primarily unpublished.

Biographical Note:

Charlie Byrd was a prominent American guitarist who performed across a variety of genres, including jazz, Brazilian music, and classical guitar. He was influenced by European and Brazilian traditions, and his career included international performances, including U.S. State Department tours to South America and India. Byrd also led the Charlie Byrd Trio in the 1980s and 1990s.

Extent and Access:

• Physical Size: 27.1 cubic feet, including 75 boxes and 46 media items.

• Language: English

• Media Formats: The recordings in Series 5 include audiotapes, phonograph discs, CDs, and video formats, some of which may require special equipment for access due to outdated formats.

Acquisition:

The materials were donated by Charlie Byrd (1999) and his wife Rebecca Byrd (2010-2012). Some materials were digitized and are available through the Peabody Archives' digital collection.

Processing Information:

The collection has been processed in stages, with the final stages of processing completed in 2024.

Related Materials:

• Two scrapbooks about Byrd's early career are available on microfilm at the Arthur Friedheim Library.

• The Joe Byrd Papers (Charlie Byrd’s brother) are housed in a separate collection at Peabody.

• Most of Byrd’s commercially released recordings are accessible through the library catalog and streaming services.

For more information or to access the collection, you can contact the Peabody Archives at Johns Hopkins University.

Key Topics:

• Jazz musicians

• Classical guitarists

• Composers and arrangers

• Music scores, sound recordings, and photographs

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This collection provides an in-depth look at Charlie Byrd's artistic legacy through scores, media, and personal materials.