Tommy
Byrd has won many songwriting awards sponsored by Austin Songwriters
Group, Houston Songwriter and Performing Arts, Fort Bend Songwriter
Cooperative, and Louisville Songwriter Cooperative. He wrote the
winning song in the "Official Song of Austin" Contest
sponsored by the Austin Chamber of Commerce in 1986. He was a
top finalist in a national songwriting contest in 1998 sponsored
by TNN. Three of his songs have been recorded on a CD by Austin
band, ~Stop the Truck. Austin singer, Mady Kaye has recorded some
of his music, and in the summer of 2001 Kids' Acting used three
of has songs in the production "The Emperor's New Shows."
Tommy
has sung in various bands in Arkansas and Texas since 1967, and
was under contract with STAX Records in Memphis. He sang with
the Geezinslaws, and did harmony vocals with Willie Nelson on
"Amazing Grace" on the LP "The Sound in Your Mind."
Kathy's
background includes folk and contemporary vocal groups since the
late 1960's. She also has performed in musicals including the
roles of Elsa in Zach Scott's "The Sound of Music,"
Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady," and Adelaide in "Guys
and Dolls." She was one of three performers who produced,
acted, and sang in "Broadway Cabaret" and "Broadway
Cabaret 11" in Austin in 2001.
Tommy
and Kathy joined forces in the spring of 2001 and have played
and sung their original music at various venues in and around
Austin including Artz Rib House, Central Market, B. B. Rover's,
Austin Java Co. at the Backyard, North by Northwest, Mozart's,
Saradora's, Cactus Café, Treehouse Italian Grill, Stonehouse
Grill, The Gingerman, Sky Lounge, Grafitti's, and FOX 7 News in
the Morning. "Their voices blend like brother and sister,
like family." Rusty Weir said they are "a delight to
hear. Their harmony and vocals are so tight, they sound like they've
sung together for a very long time."
Tommy
and Kathy recorded "We Must," Tommy's response to the
September 11th event. All of the CDs were sold and Austin publisher,
Ten Tex Music is promoting the song to artists in Nashville and
L.A. Tommy and Kathy also collaborate as a songwriting team.
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