Donald Byrd was a prominent American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. His early music career saw him associated with bop and hard bop, shifting towards funk and soul in the mid-1970s. Byrd's work, especially his 1970s albums 'Black Byrd' and 'Street Lady', played a significant role in the fusion of jazz and funk, influencing future generations of jazz musicians. Renowned for his sophisticated and innovative trumpet style, Byrd remains a notable figure in the evolution of jazz.