In its listing of the “20 That Mattered;” Guitar Player magazine stated that “Jerry Byrd is the standard by which all steel guitarists must be measured.” A fixture on the country scene; Byrd was a session player in Nashville in the mid-1940s and was influential in the development of the “Nashville Sound.” He played on the hits of a who's who of legends; including Hank Williams (“Lovesick Blues” and “I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry”); Pasty Cline; Ernest Tubb; Red Foley; Marty Robbins; Chet Atkins; Guy Mitchell; Burl Ives and countless others; he now has the distinction of being the artist with the world's largest steel guitar discography. Later; as the head of Combine Music Publishing; Byrd was the first to sign Dolly Parton. Drawn to the music of Hawaiian steel guitarists; he went on to develop a style and invent tunings that would become synonymous with the instrument; becoming the first inductee into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. In 1972; Byrd headed for Hawaii; only to discover that the islands had turned their back on the instrument that gave them their signature sound. Thus; Byrd's mission became to reacquaint Hawaii with its own creation. His inspiration not only bridged country and Hawaiian music; but also secured the steel guitar's place in the 21st century. Featuring dozens of rare photos; It Was a Trip; On Wings of Music brings to light Byrd's life and times; opening up an important chapter in American musical history.

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