Tony Byrd age 60 was born in 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio to Leroy and Annie James Byrd. He was the only boy of five sisters, and attended Cleveland Public schools where at the age of thirteen, he was introduced to the world of music.
He performed his first gig at the tender age of thirteen in an afterhour club where his mother had to chaporone him. By the age of fifteen, he was known as a prodogy and a professional musician, and was playing several main circiuts in the Cleveland area.
In 1975 at the age of eighteen he met and married the love of his life Deborah who would end up being his biggest fan and his eternal partner. They produced two sons and two daughters from this union.
Tony shared a deep love for his family that can not be described in words, and they were his greatest love. Besides his family, playing drums was his only other passion. He had a deep love for his fellow musicians, and he loved being a entertainer, and I use the word "entertainer" specifically because those of you who have had the pleasure of enjoying his playing knew that he did not just play drums to play, but played to entertain.
Tony and I spent forty-one beautiful, passionate years together and I am so very grateful, proud and honored to be the one he shared his world with. Tony was the most loving and compassionate person who would always put others needs before his own. We love and miss Tony more than words can say, and we feel his presense everyday.
God saw that you were getting tired and a cure was not to be
So he put his arms around you and whispered "come home with me"
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer, and saw you fade away
Although we loved you deeply, we could not make you stay
Your golden heart stopped beating, A determined spirit was at rest
God Broke our hearts to prove to us, he only takes the best.