Back in 1983, David W. Meyers initiated the Columbus Rock & Roll History Project in a effort to gather together as much information as possible on the garage bands of the 'sixties.  He began by interviewing bands represented on the now "famous" (in collector's circles, anyways) 1967 Northland Battle of the Bands album.  However, many of the interviewees volunteered information on their subsequent musical careers, as well, and before long David had notes on hundreds of bands and thousands of musicians.  In addition, he had expanded the scope of his project to embrace all genres of popular music within a 60 mile radius of Columbus. After teaming up with Bob Thomas, David began to dig deeper into Central Ohio's musical past.  Working forward and backward at the same time, he skimmed through thousands of pages of microfilmed newspapers while continuing to clip articles on contemporary musicians and groups from current publications.  In 1988-89, David hosted a weekly 25 minute radio program, Bring 'Em Back Alive!, on WTVN 610, featuring live interviews with local musicians.  He also contributed to the Listen For The Jazz project, documenting the city's historic Eastside jazz scene. Based on his research, David has been writing an encyclopedic history of music in Central Ohio (it is currently more than 2,000 pages in length).  His hope is to eventually publish it in some form (book, CD-ROM, etc.) so that others will have access to it.  In the meantime, he welcomes contributions from anyone who might have information he could use.  If you are curious as to whether he has information on a particular group or individual, just send him an e-mail and he will reply ASAP.

Back in 1983, David W. Meyers initiated the Columbus Rock & Roll History Project in a effort to gather together as much information as possible on the garage bands of the 'sixties.  He began by interviewing bands represented on the now "famous" (in collector's circles, anyways) 1967 Northland Battle of the Bands album.  However, many of the interviewees volunteered information on their subsequent musical careers, as well, and before long David had notes on hundreds of bands and thousands of musicians.  In addition, he had expanded the scope of his project to embrace all genres of popular music within a 60 mile radius of Columbus. After teaming up with Bob Thomas, David began to dig deeper into Central Ohio's musical past.  Working forward and backward at the same time, he skimmed through thousands of pages of microfilmed newspapers while continuing to clip articles on contemporary musicians and groups from current publications.  In 1988-89, David hosted a weekly 25 minute radio program, Bring 'Em Back Alive!, on WTVN 610, featuring live interviews with local musicians.  He also contributed to the Listen For The Jazz project, documenting the city's historic Eastside jazz scene. Based on his research, David has been writing an encyclopedic history of music in Central Ohio (it is currently more than 2,000 pages in length).  His hope is to eventually publish it in some form (book, CD-ROM, etc.) so that others will have access to it.  In the meantime, he welcomes contributions from anyone who might have information he could use.  If you are curious as to whether he has information on a particular group or individual, just send him an e-mail and he will reply ASAP.

Born in Pleasant Corners, Ohio, Bobby Byrne was only 16 when Jimmy Dorsey hired him to replace his brother,  Tommy, following the break-up of the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra.  Within a few years, he would be leading his own big band until World War II intervened.  After his discharge from the service, Bobby became a much sought after session man and record producer with Grand Award/ Command Records.  He was inducted into The Columbus Senior Musicians Hall of Fame in 1999.