Tony met Jimmy Dyson in the early 90's while going through experiences with different musicians. Everyone loved the way Tony played, so it was not hard for him to stay busy. Jimmy, his brother who played bass, and Tony did several gigs together mostly out of town. After going their seperate ways, they ended hooking back up in 2000. This would be the beginning of Tony's Blues era which would last the rest of his life.

I was the only wife allowed to hang out with Mystique. I was like one of the guys. I kept all of their secrets intact.

This photo was taken around 2000 for a reunion for all mystique members and their families @ one of the singers house {Ron Scott}. They performed all of their old acts and we had a beautiful cookout.

Tony would continue his love of playing jazz for the next several years. After being stricken with an illness, Mar'shall was not able to perform, so Tony and Ray stayed busy performing with other bands individually. But that would not be their last time playing together. Soon after Ray would put together a band with himself, Tony, his wife Angela who sang, and Tonya who was from Kansas and played the sax. They later named themselves "Together".  As we developed a unique relationship, their sound became just as unique. They strickly played only black tie events that would land them many times in places like landerhaven, country clubs and several other highend society events that they could book. These years would prove to be very eventful in our marraige.This picture was taken at an event at the Landerhaven.

During Tony's jazz era, he played several years with his uncle Ray Odom, and a female singer named Mar'shall Baxter Beckley who was the wife of Jerry Baxter who was the drummer for the R&B group the O Jays. They had an exceptional sound and stayed busy doing mostly black tie affairs. Mar'shall, who had several connections, managed to book a gig at the White House during the presidency of Bill Clinton. I was so excited for my love even though I was not allowed to make the journey with him because of security reasons, I sent him off with all of my love. He told me that they were not allowed to move around much because of security, but the gig went well and that Bill Clinton came up and performed a song with them on horn! They went on to perform gigs in New York and Atlanta and jamming with other international musicians including Rick James's Band, and the Spinners. During this era is when my beloved was approached by a local jazz musician (horns) who was writing a book called "Jazzkeepers". It is a pictorial tribute and memoir to Cleveland's finest jazz performers. It consist of dozens of photographs and conversations with some of Cleveland's best including Eddie Baccus Jr. and Robert Lockwood Jr. I was so proud of my love for his achievments.

As the Mystique era started to wind down, Tony began to focus on jazz, and jazz fusion. We both love jazz and he performed it quite well and enjoyed playing it. All the players changed as did the crowd.The musicians seemed to be well polished and professional as well as the types of gigs he performed. Most of the gigs were black tie affairs.  We had matured by this time and welcomed this exciting change. He had that same deep desire to entertain the crowd, and had the same affect that he had on the R&B era.  His style of playing would attract many professional players such as Ray Odom, Eddie Baccus, Eddie Baccus Jr., Cedric Napoleon, Wayne Bell Jr., and Marshall Baxter-Beckley among others. This would proved to be a great time of growth and maturity for us as we continued our musicial journey

During our earlier years, Tony played with played with quite a few bands in the city. One that was memoriable was "Mystique Show Band" in 1983. That was a fitting name for the colorful, exotic cast. When Tony joined the band in 1983, they consisted of three male singers and a band of four members. They played all the venues that were jumping at the time including Native Son, RD's, Tuckers, Cassablanca, Scotties, and Reason Why. Their reign was one that was left to be desired by many Cleveland musicians. They had some competition including Odessy and co. who were nationally known as well as locally. But at one point, they even felt threatened by this local cerlebrity band called Mystique. They made an impact in Cleveland with their renditions of the Temptations, Prince, and any other R&B artist that was listened to in the 80's. Their dress was erotic and included their trademark color which was red. They always had a full house, which consisted of mostly females who would draw the men in. Every night of music with Mystique, was never the same as the last, and you never knew what would happen on any given night.

By 1985, Mystique's future was looking good, and they began to talk about recording. They stayed busy playing, but their only downfall was their love of their female fans. When the dust settled, there were broken marraiges, kids who lost parents, and a lot of broken hearts and promises. Not a very good outcome for a group of musicians who were so dedicated to pleasing their fans. There were a lot of lessons to be learned, some would last for a life time. Our marraige would thrive from these life lessons, but many were not so lucky, and the children would end up in an evil battle of "music VS. marraige. It was amazing for me to see how easy it was to lose focus and get caught in the limelight. These are some of the things that made our marraige closer. We had to seal any leak and gap in order to secure our bond. We decided that we would let no one into our Divine circle for any reason. This would prove to be crucial in our years to come.

Tony and I at C-bars with our youngest son Andre Byrd

We took this picture with three of our ten grandkids about  ten or twelve years ago

Edward Jr., Daonnya, and Destiny

My husband loved me so much and he showed me everyday. He was interviewed for a book written by a local musician called the "Jazzkeeper"  around 1993. It features dozens of musicians from our area. When we retrieved our copy, Tony promptly autographed it for me. I Love Mr. Byrd!

Thank you for being my favorite musician of all times. Thank you for playing just for me every Christmas eve. You are the sexiest drummer I've ever seen. I belong only to you.

Thank you for being my favorite musician of all times. Thank you for playing just for me every Christmas eve. You are the sexiest drummer I've ever seen. I belong only to you.

We braved a snow storm to get to C-bars this Sunday night!

After playing with about two or three other bands, Tony ended up with Orpheus phase ll, at the tender age of fifteen.

Tony and I at a gig performed by some of our friends James Stewart, and James Harris both singers.

This was Tony' last picture, taken several hours before he passed with four of his grandkids, Antonio Jr., Andarius, Dayonna, and Lesha. After this photo was taken, Tony gave me the weirdest look, its almost as if he knew he was about to pass.

Tony and Lego Legros (guitar and bass) at a jam night gig at Grillers.

Another Sunday night out with my girls Ro, Debra, and Sandy.

This picture was taken in May of 1987 at a Cottonball affair at Sheraton Inn dowtown. Mystique was the guest band. It was a beatiful night and love was in the air. I will remember This night as long as I live.

Tony was about 15 when this picture was taken. He was well seasoned by this time. So much talent.

This was Cottonbowl event in 1987 at the downtown Sheraton Inn with Mystique show band as the guest band. It was a beautiful night and love was in the air. Such a mystical night that I will never forget.

This was Cottonbowl event in 1987 at the downtown Sheraton Inn with Mystique show band as the guest band. It was a beatiful night and love was in the air. Such a mystical night that I will never forget.

This is one of my favorite pictures of me and my beloved.

Thank you God, for blessing me with a "Super Spouse"

There was an electrifying feeling between the two of us that words cannot describe.

My beautiful husband singing mustang sally at C-bars.

I have a deep physical, mental, emotional, and spirtual connection of affinity, which cannot be expressed in words.

Tony loved spending time at his gigs with two of his biggest fans, me and our youngest daughter Dina.

Tony and me with Dominique (keyboards), doing a gig at Grillers on Thursday jam night with Tower City Blues band.

I love this picture, this is our Bonnie and Clyde look!

Tony and me with Crazy Marvin (musician).

What a fun filled beautiful night!

Tony and his band at Scoundrels doing a gig.

A night out at Grillers jam with Tower City blues band. Oh how he loved his girls.

This was one of our many Sunday nights spent at the jam session at C-bars.

My intentions here is to not only share our beautiful love story, but to give hope and encouragement to ohers who have lost a spouse or loved one. There is no death, only transition, and they can and will connect with you. All you have to do is be open to the communication and the connection. Unconditional love is the most powerful emotion on earth and in heaven, and unconditional love never ever dies.

Plato described it 2,500 years ago:

And when one meets the other half, the actual half of himself, the pair are lost in an amazement of love and friendship and intimacy and one will not be out of the others site, even for a moment.

Couples united like this think and breath permanence, and their eternal happiness is based on this idea. For all these reasons, they are no longer two people, but one person that is two flesh. To spiritual eyes it is plainly clear that they can not be torn apart by either ones death.

This new thing should be added to these observations: that these two are not even seperated by the death of one, since the spirit of the deceased husband or wife continues to live with the husband or wife who is not yet deceased. And this continues until the other one's death, when they meet again and re-unite themselves and love each other more tenderly than before because they are in the spiritual world.

So as my daddy was getting sicker, me and my mother vow to do everything in our power to make him happy morning, noon and night. One day my daddy called me out the blue at home and ask me if I could bring him some 2% chocolate milk. "Of course" I  stated. So he proceeded to tell me "it has to be 2%, I can't drink regular chocolate milk" and again I said sure. So I go to the store and walk in asking for 2% chocolate milk. The cashier "ummm we sell chocolate milk but I have never heard of 2% chocolate milk". I immediately get upset because surely my daddy knows what kind of milk he drinks so I called for a manager because someone is about to get hurt over my daddy's 2% chocolate milk. The manager comes and explain that there is no such thing, it's only one kind of chocolate milk. I get loud with them and yell "this better be the right kind of milk or I will come back and make sure the rest of your day is hell". So I storm in the house with this milk that I know is the wrong kind and gives it to my daddy. He looks at the milk and ask me for a glass and I say "daddy look at the milk and make sure it's not the one you don't drink" and he says "this is the right milk, I said chocolate milk". I said "No, you said 2% chocolate milk". He said " this is 2% chocolate milk". I said "No, that's regular chocolate milk, they said they don't sell 2% chocolate milk". His response "Girl get the hell on so I can enjoy my "regular" chocolate milk". I almost tore the store down looking for 2% chocolate milk and now he want to say he don't care, he just want chocolate milk!!! I almost went to jail over chocolate milk but that's ok because I would have tore the earth up looking for anything he wanted... I love you daddy RIH young man...

*How your eyes danced in your head when you look at me, as I blushed everytime.

To you I deeply belong*