“Happy Music” by The Blackbyrds

Acclaimed R&B/ jazz-funk outfit the Blackbyrds had one of their biggest hits with the exuberant “Happy Music.” The 1975 release lit up the airwaves and blessed the ears of music lovers across the U.S. The track boasts a dope rolling bass line, a funky beat, tight horn charts, and sweet keyboards. Legendary jazz man Donald Byrd contributes a wicked trumpet solo, and Orville Saunders’s exquisite guitar work significantly enhances the track’s breezy feel-good vibe. The band delivers smooth unison vocals, and they receive strong vocal support from renowned singer Merry Clayton, whose powerhouse pipes are brought to the forefront as the song closes out. 

“Happy Music” was written by Donald Byrd. It was a single from the Blackbyrds’ third studio album City Life (1975), produced by Byrd and released on the independent label Fantasy Records. The song peaked at #3 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart, #6 on Billboard’s dance chart, and #19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

City Life was the Blackbyrds’ most commercially successful album. It topped Billboard’s jazz album chart and peaked at #3 on Billboard’s R&B album chart and reached #16 on the Billboard 200. The RIAA has certified the album Gold in the U.S. with 500,000 copies sold. The collection also received high marks from music critics.

“Happy Music” has been sampled on 25 songs, including Grand Master Flash’s “Tear The Roof Off” and Jaz’s “Sign of the Crimes.”

The full personnel on “Happy Music” was Joe Hall (bass), Kevin Toney (keyboards), Orville Saunders (guitar), Stephen Johnson (saxophone), Keith Killgo (drums), Donald Byrd (trumpet), Ernie Watts (saxophone), George Bohannon (trombone), and Merry Clayton (vocals).

Happy Music at Amazon

Related blog entries:

"Do It, Fluid" by The Blackbyrds

"Unfinished Business" by The Blackbyrds