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Born: 2 February 1941 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died: 7 April 2010 in Morgan City, Louisiana, United States

American rock and roll singer from New Orleans, best known for his 1958 single Lights Out.

Raised in the Irish quarter of New Orleans Byrne was still a high-school student when he began singing in the rough 'n tough bars of the city, along with his cousin Mac Rebennack.

The two performed in various bar-bands, one known as Jerry Byrne & The Loafers, which included a revolving line-up of personnel such as Paul Staehle, Earl Stanley, Charlie Madwell & Leonard James. Byrne's first release came to fruition after crossing paths with Harold Battiste, helped by Rebennack's working relationship with the Cosimo Matassa studio. It was here that Byrne recorded the David/Rebennack composition Lights Out, released on the Specialty label in 1958. The single featured on the soundtrack of Sam's Son, a movie produced by Michael Landon of 'Bonanza' fame. It was also covered by Dr. Feelgood.

After his musical career Byrne settled in Morgan City, Louisiana to run a marine supplies company.

APPEARANCES +


Various
An Introduction To: Night Train New Orleans
2001, 2xCD, Comp, Smplr, Night Train International
Various
The Specialty Story
1994, 5x CD, Box Set, ,
Jump Blues/Gospel/Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll/Doo Wop
Ol' Rockin' Bordsteinkloppers
Bölkstoff On The Rocks & 6 Weitere Zusätze
1994
Dr. John
Mos' Scocious - The Dr. John Anthology
1993, Box Set, 2x CD, ,
Bayou Funk/Classic Rock
Pfeifer & Leiche
Bunte Bilder...
1991
Wild Angels
Rockin' On The Railroad
1988, ,
Rockabilly
Wild Angels
Rockin' The Joint
1979
Snakes
Teenage Head / Lights Out
1976, ,
Classic Rock/Pub Rock/Rock & Roll
Vince Taylor
Do You Wanna Rock 'n Roll
1975, 7", Single, Rockhouse
The Cheerleaders
Chinese Bandits / True Love
1959
Various
Walking To New Orleans: An Aural Accompaniment
2024, CD, Comp, Jasmine Records
Various
The Rhythm Of The Rain - 30 Melodic Drops For Cloudy Days
2023, CD, Comp, Dig, Bear Family Records, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly
Various
Racketeer's Wildest Wingding!
2021, CD, Comp, Atomicat Records, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly
Various
Nobster's Beats Spicy Gravy Vol.2
2021, CD, Comp, Not On Label, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly
Various
Teenage Rebels
2021, 3xCD, Comp, RM, Not Now Music
Various
Sex: Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die
2020
Various
Teenage Rebel Party
2017, 3xCD, Comp, RM, Big3
Various
Good Times In New Orleans 1958-1962 - In The Studio With Mac Rebennack AKA Dr. John
2017
Various
Rockabilly Roadster
2016, 2xCD, Comp, Metro Select, ,
Rockabilly/Rock & Roll
Various
New Orleans Gumbo
2016, 3xCD, Comp, Big3
Various
Simply New Orleans
2016, 3xCD, Comp, Unionsquaremusic
Various
Rock 'N' Roll Party
2015, 3xCD, Comp, Big3, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly
Mac Rebennack
The Early Career Of Mac Rebennack Aka Dr. John Good Times
2015, CD, Comp, Mono, Jasmine Records
Various
I Just Love Truckin'
2015, 3xCD, Album, Comp, Music Digital, ,
Rock & Roll/Blues Rock
Various
Walking To New Orleans (A History Of The Crescent City Piano Pioneers)
2014, 4xCD, Comp + Box, Proper Records (2), ,
Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Truck Stop - 60 Essential Rock 'n' Roll Driving Songs
2014, 3xCD, Comp + Box, Met, Metro Tins, Union Square Production, ,
Rock & Roll
Various
Restless! Reckless! And Reviled! (Untamed Youth, The Original Rebels Of Rock 'n Roll)
2014, 3xCD, Comp, Famous Flames
Various
Rockabilly Ruled UK Vol.2
2013, CD, Comp, Rhythm Bomb Records, ,
Rockabilly/Rock & Roll
Various
The Cosimo Matassa Story - The Essential Tracks
2013, 2xLP, Comp, Vintage Vinyl, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll
Various
Rock-A-Billy Dynamite
2013, 40xCD, Comp, Mono + Box, The Intense Media, ,
Rockabilly/Rock & Roll
Various
New Orleans - The Ultimate Collection
2013, 3xCD, Comp + Box, Met, Metro Tins, ,
Bayou Funk
Various
The Cosimo Matassa Story Volume 2 - Gumbo Ya Ya
2012, 4xCD, Comp + Box, Proper Records (2), ,
Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Rip It Up - The Specialty Story
2012, 2xCD, Comp, One Day Music, ,
Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Loud Fast & Out Of Control : Vol 23 (Rockin' The Joint)
2011, CD, Comp, Not On Label, ,
Rock & Roll
Various
Great Rock'n'Roll - Red Hot! - The Original Rock 'n' Roll Recordings 1953-1960
2010, 2xCD, Comp, Smith & Co Sound & Vision
Various
Rock-a-Billy Rock And Roll & Hillbilly
2010, ,
Rockabilly/Rock & Roll
Various
Heavy Sugar (The Pure Essence Of New Orleans R&B)
2010, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Soul/Funk
Various
The Finbarr Rock 'n' Roll Party, Vol. 2
2009, CD, Comp, RE, RM, Finbarr International, ,
Rock & Roll
Various
Rock On
2008, CD, Comp, Ace
Various
Well, Now Dig This
2004, CD, Comp, Castle Music
Various
The Sound Of The City: New Orleans
2002, 2xCD, Comp, EMI, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll
Various
Return Of The Mac (In The Studio With Mac Rebennack A.K.A. Dr. John • 1959-1961)
2000, CD, Comp, Westside
Various
Baby That Is Rock 'N' Roll
1999, CD, Comp, Ace, ,
Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues
Various
New Orleans Deep Roots - 50 Years Of Remarkable Music
1998, CD, Comp, Night Train International, ,
Louisiana Blues/Cajun/Bayou Funk
Various
Gumbo Ya-Ya-Yah - New Orleans Funky Classics 25
1995, CD, Comp, P-Vine Records
Various
Rock 'N' Roll Fever! The Wildest From Specialty
1994, CD, Comp, Ace, Specialty
Various
Creole Kings Of New Orleans Volume Two
1993, CD, ,
Rhythm & Blues
Various
Creole Kings Of New Orleans
1992, CD, ,
Rhythm & Blues
Various
Rockin' In The 50's
1991, CD, Comp, HMV
Various
This Is How It All Began - The Specialty Story Vol. 1 & 2
1991, CD, Comp, RE, P-Vine Records, ,
Country Blues/Gospel/Rhythm & Blues/Ballad/Boogie Woogie/Jump Blues/Rock & Roll
Various
Specialty Rock 'N' Roll
1990
Various
Nervous Breakdown Vol.1
1987, LP, Comp, Nervous Breakdown
Various
Hi-Fi Rock'N'Roll Party
1986, CD, Comp, Ace
Various
Rock 'n' Roll Party Vol Six
1986
Various
The Specialty Story Vol.1
1985, LP, Comp, Ace, ,
Rock & Roll
Various
Rock 'n' Roll Party Vol. 1
1985, LP, Comp, Eagle Records (8)
Various
Ace Records Presents The History Of New Orleans Rock 'N' Roll - Volume IV
1984, LP, Comp, Ace Records (3), ,
Piano Blues/Delta Blues/Rhythm & Blues/Dixieland/Louisiana Blues
Various
Rock Around The 50's - Le Rock Des Années 50
1981, 2x Vinyl, ,
Rock & Roll
Various
Going Back To New Orleans
1978, LP, Album, Comp, Specialty, ,
Rhythm & Blues
Various
Flashbacks Vol.1 - 20 Rock And Roll Favourites
1978, Vinyl, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly
Various
Rock Your Memories - The Glory Of The Fifties
1977, 2xLP, Comp, Metronome
Various
Songs and Ballads of the Anthracite Miners
1976
Various
Rock N' Roll Museum Vol 4 Specialty Originals
1974, LP, Comp, Specialty
Various
Non Stop Double Golden Record Of Rock 'n Roll
1972, 2xLP, Comp, Vogue
Various
20 Great Hits I'll Always Remember Volume 1
1971,
Rock & Roll
Various
This Is How It All Began Volume Two
1970, Vinyl, ,
Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Various
Like Nothing Your Ears Have Ever Heard Before! Volume 7
LP, Comp, Vladimir Twist Records
Various
Jukebox Collection 3
Cass, Comp, Home's Musikk, ,
Rock & Roll
Various
Rør'n'Rul Med Brødrene Lamel - 40 Rockhits Fra 50'erne
CD, Comp, Rockwool A/S
Various
My Kind Of Woman
CD, Comp, Pan-American Recordings
Various
20 Great Hits I'll Always Remember Volume 1
LP, Comp, Mono, RE, red, Request
Various
Spoonful - Vol. 50/Duke Jens-O-Matics Jim Jam Gems
CDr, Comp, Spoonful
Various
20 Golden Hits
Rock & Roll/Pop Rock/Classic Rock
Various
Rock 'N' Roll Planet - The Best Of Rock 'N' Roll Music - Volume 2
2002, CD, Comp, Unofficial, Landy Star Music
Various
Rock 'N' Roll Planet - The Best Of Rock 'N' Roll Music (Volume 2)
2000, CD, Comp, Unofficial, Landy Star Music, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly/Twist/Rhythm & Blues