Byrd was born in Lima, Ohio, United States,[1] one of five siblings, his interest in the instrument began after a "tent show" when he was 12 and by 15 he was playing in bars.

The list of artists that Byrd played or recorded with included Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, Patsy Cline and Red Foley and countless others.

[1] While living in Hawaii, Byrd had a regular weekly gig with his trio at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel that lasted until his death.

On April 11, 2005, Byrd died of Parkinson's disease at 85 in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he had resided for 30 years; he was survived by wife Kaleo Wood and two daughters.

His discography as a sideman spans multiple decades, with additional recordings alongside artists like Red Foley and George Morgan.