Jerry Byrd's career started in radio in 1938. In 1947, he came to the Grand Ole Opry, playing for Ernest Tubb and later, Red Foley. In 1948, Jerry returned to Cincinnati and soon signed a contract with Mercury Records. Early in 1949, 'Steelin' The Blues' was released (Mercury 6175), with a vocal by Rex Allen. It became a classic and Jerry cut a total of 23 78s/singles for the label - including a 78 rpm book set of Hawaiian music with Danny Kuaana & His Islanders (Album A-82) - before switching to Decca in 1955. Along with Zeke Turner and Louis Innis, Jerry was part of the Mercury - and King - house bands for several years. He can be heard backing up Rex Allen but also Red Kirk, Eddie Hill, Daisy Mae & Old Brother Charlie, Pete Cassell and of course, Louis Innis on his solo outings.
The Eddie Hill sides that Jerry played on are very interesting, notably 'The Hot Guitar' (Mercury #6347), a classic bopper from 1951, which also features Chet Atkins and Hank Garland on guitars. 'Educated Fool' b/w 'Cold, Cold Woman (& the Hot Guitar)' (Mercury #6375) is also outstanding, the top side having been recorded at the 1951 session above.
Like Speedy West or Noel Boggs, Jerry was also asked to play behind some of the top Pop artists of the day - i.e. Patti Page, Rosemary Clooney or Guy Mitchell.
In the mid-fifties, he was appearing daily on a noon-hour program over WSIX-TV in Nashville, Tennessee, where he had now made his home.

'STEEL GUITAR FAVORITES'
Mercury MG 20345 (Mono)
Steelin' The Blues * Steel Guitar Rag * Cocoanut Grove * Texas Playboy Rag * Limehouse Blues * The Jitterbug Waltz * Panhandle Rag * Steelin' The Chimes * Wang Wang Blues * Georgia Steel Guitar * Wabash Wah-Wah Blues * Gold Coast Blues

The cream of his highly praised Mercury cuts is featured on the above album, released in 1957. The Master of touch and tone, who once kept his tunings secret, does a marvelous job and even creates 'wah-wah' efects at times, without pedals or other devices ! His rendition of 'Steel Guitar Rag', with that terrific slappin' double-bass intro, is awesome ; other classics include 'Limehouse Blues' (one of Ernie Hagar's favorites), 'The Jitterbug Waltz' (only Chet Atkins's version on his 'Chet Atkins In Hollywood' RCA album from 1959 could rival Byrd's) and 'Gold Coast Blues'. Not included on this album but well worth mentioning is his devilish take on 'Hi Lo March' and the wonderful 'Byrd's Boogie'. Both tracks were later compiled on another killer Mercury LP, 'Man Of Steel' (#60932). In fact, his entire Mercury output is top class despite a sometimes raw sound (check out 'Texas Playboy Rag' for example). Although not credited, Chet Atkins certainly plays on some of the cuts.