Take a look back at our interview with the late Roy Tyler.
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Video Content: Roy Tyler and New Directions (2001):
In 2001, “Sidewalks Entertainment” host Richard R. Lee was introduced to Tyler’s group for the first time at the Bay Area Music Awards, better known as The Bammies.
Born and raised in Delhi, Louisiana, Roy Tyler at a young age performed in church, which led him several years later to join his first group, The Soul Guiders. In 1967, Tyler moved to Oakland, California and became a member of The Spiritual Eagles.
Going between gospel groups, he hooked up with Joe Ardin Thomas, Jr. to form a new version of the Gospel Hummingbirds, a group that were originally founded in the early 60’s. The Hummingbirds performed around the world and shared the bill with many popular gospel, blues, and rock groups, including The Five Blind Boys Of Alabama, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Etta James, Huey Lewis And The News, and the Neville Brothers.
In the late 90’s, Tyler formed his own group, Roy Tyler and New Directions.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNEhO6uUV8Y[/youtube]
Producer / musician and founding member of Tony, Toni, Tone” Rafael Saadiq, who — at age 13 — played bass guitar with the Hummingbirds, has been quoted in saying that “The Gospel Hummingbirds and Roy Tyler are responsible for the path my musical career has taken. Roy Tyler is like a father figure to me and it is his guidance, expertise and his understanding of music that has helped me to grow. His love for playing gospel music mixed in with his love for R&B has helped me to find a balance for the two genres in my own music.”