The son of a Methodist minister, Donald Byrd was born in Detroit and performed with Lionel Hampton before graduating high school. He would later play with Jazz greats, Art Blakey and John Coltrane, before starting his solo career. Many of his albums are quite valuable including “Jazz Eyes” on Regent Records now worth up to $500.00 and “Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill,” released by Transition Records in 1956, is worth up to $1,800.00 today.