Following a week of uncertainty and speculation, the death of 80-year-old trumpeter Donald Byrd has been confirmed. Haley Funeral Directors in Southfield, Michigan today published an online obituary. The notice said that a private funeral for Byrd will be held this week. Neither the funeral home nor the family is releasing further information. Last week, a nephew announced that Byrd died on February 4 in Dover, Delaware, but Byrd’s immediate family maintained silence that continues.
The February 8 Rifftides post reviewing Byrd’s career is two items down in the queue. We have erased the question mark in the headline.