Music
Allan Barnes
1949–2016 · jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer
Detroit saxophonist and flutist of Donald Byrd's Blackbyrds, heard on "Walking in Rhythm," who spent most of his career as a Detroit bandleader and educator.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
Detroit, Michigan
aged 66- Birth name
- Allan Curtis Barnes
- Also known as
- Allan C. Barnes
- Detroit years
- 1949–2016
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Barnes learned music from his uncles Joe and Robert Barnes, enlisted in the Army in 1967, trained at the Naval School of Music and served with the 4th Division Army Band in Vietnam. Back in Detroit after his discharge, he was discovered by trumpeter Donald Byrd, who brought him to Howard University for his new band, the Blackbyrds. Barnes toured the world with them, wrote "Summer Love" and "The Blackbyrds Theme" for their gold-selling debut, and played flute on the hit "Walking in Rhythm." He then led Allan Barnes and Primetime and worked with Gil Scott-Heron, Nina Simone, Fred Wesley, Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Rollins, Marcus Belgrave, Regina Carter and Geri Allen, as well as Detroit hip-hop artists; he appears on Rebirth of Detroit (2012), played over J Dilla beats. He created and hosted the PBS show Jazzland, had a cameo in Clint Eastwood's Bird, and led the band Giant Steps. He died of a heart attack in Detroit in 2016 and was buried at Great Lakes National Cemetery.
Highlights
- Founding member of Donald Byrd's Blackbyrds
- Wrote "Summer Love" and "The Blackbyrds Theme"; flute on "Walking in Rhythm"
- Created and hosted the PBS show Jazzland
- Played on Rebirth of Detroit (2012) over J Dilla beats
- Buried at Great Lakes National Cemetery
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Buried here · 2016
Great Lakes National Cemetery
National cemetery for veterans in northern Oakland County, where Vietnam veteran Barnes was buried.