Died On This Date (March 10, 2008) Barry “Byrd” Burton / Amazing Rhythm Aces
themusicsover Barry “Byrd” Burton
DOB Unknown – March 10, 2008
Byrd Burton is best remembered for his time as guitarist for popular country rock band, the Amazing Rhythm Aces. Burton’s guitar talents can be heard on such records as their 1975 hit single, and their 1976 Grammy-winning “The End is Not in Sight (The Cowboy Tune).” Burton left the band in 1977 and went on to have a successful career as a session player. In the studio, he played on records by the likes of Nanci Griffith, Emmylou Harris, as well as on Don Williams’ “Tulsa Time.” He was also in the touring bands of Brooks & Dunn, Dolly Parton and Dan Fogelberg. In 1999, Burton learned that he had leukemia but fought it into remission for the next several years. It returned in 2007, and on March 10, 2008 he died as a result of the disease. He was 61 years old.
Butch McDade is best remembered as the founding drummer and sometime vocalist for country-rock band, the Amazing Rhythm Aces. With a sound that has been compared to the Eagles, the Amazing Rhythm Aces found moderate popularity during the late ’70s after forming out of the ashes of a band lead by Jesse Winchester who moved to Canada to avoid the Vietnam draft. The band released several albums during the ’70s and ‘8os and won a Grammy for the song, “The End Is Not In Site.” Outside of the Amazing Rhythm Aces, McDade played in the touring bands of, among others, Roy Clark,