Meet West Byrd of West Unlimited

Today we’d like to introduce you to West Byrd.

Hi West, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been working as a professionally touring musician, producer, composer, and music director in the music business for over 15 years. My musical journey started at age 5 in Selma, Alabama as a classical pianist. I had a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Lotti Nixon, who I studied with for about 12 years. During this time, I also played regularly at church which is where my interest in music as a career started to form.

Up until my college years, I didn’t have a clear idea of how music would be possible as a career. As a freshman, I was a pre-med (Biology) major and didn’t want anything to do with music. I was frustrated with the musical opportunities that had been presented to me as a teenager in Selma. One day that all changed!

An uncle of mine that had been working in radio for about 10-15 years invited me to a Fred Hammond concert where I discovered my first full production concert and ultimately made up my mind to pursue music as a career. This shift prompted me to change my major to Business with a minor in Music.

Once my mind was set on this path, a ton of wonderful opportunities began to present themselves. I started to “gig” on the music scene around Birmingham, Alabama and I got to know quite a few musicians around the city. This was the time I really learned what it took to be a musician and the type of lifestyle that came with it. I played hundreds of gigs and really developed a sense of security. After about seven years of doing that, I started to feel like I was outgrowing my surroundings and I knew it was time for a change.

I decided to move to one of three places: Los Angeles, New York, or Atlanta. I had been told these cities were the meccas of the music industry and they were the places to be if you were serious about making music a career. There was a ton of doubt not knowing if I would be skilled enough to stay competitive with musicians in these major cities. New York was the first city to be taken off the list because of weather and public transportation. YUCK! LA also didn’t appeal because of the cost of living and the distance away from my family. I finally decided on Atlanta and moved on a whim. I only knew one other musician in the city at the time, but I was determined to give it my best shot.

My first few years in Atlanta posed a few challenges that I had to navigate, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my career. The thing about moving to a new city is that no one knows you, your personality, or your work ethic. Unless you have experience and your reputation precedes you, you have to earn your stripes in whatever field you are in. For me, it was about 2 or 3 years of struggling to get noticed by those who were the “gatekeepers” on the music scene. Finally one day, I came up with the strategy to hire those that I wanted to work with so that they could see me in action and hopefully that would spark a working relationship that I could build upon. Well, after a few months that paid off and I was well on my way to making my mark in the music community in Atlanta.

Since moving to Atlanta, I have had the pleasure to work with many artists in various genres including – Sheila E, Peabo Bryson, Jeffrey Osborne, Chante Moore, Kenny Lattimore, Will Downing, After 7, Ceelo Green, Montell Jordan, Bobby Brown, Leela James, Keke Wyatt, Maysa, Taylor Hicks, Lee Ritenour, Nathan East, Chuck Loeb, and Kirk Whalum to name a few. I have also had the esteemed pleasure to showcased my talents in the television and film industry as music supervisor/segment producer for nContrast, a weekly show aired on BETJ. Production partnerships with Paramount Pictures, Universal, Warner Bros, Dreamworks, and ESPN were also possible under this umbrella.

Music has undoubtedly been a blessing to my life and career affording me an opportunity to see the world touring all over the United States, Europe, Russia, Africa, and countless islands around the world. I am currently the musical director for the Barbados Jazz Excursion and the Life Luxe Jazz Festival (Los Cabos, Mexico).

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey hasn’t been extremely difficult but it definitely has not been smooth. Learning the business has been one of the most challenging lessons. Talent is the area I focused most on (as most creatives do), but the business side is equally as important and is something I had to make more of a priority. As I’ve gotten older one of the most important traits I’ve picked up is asking questions and seeking out mentors to help me navigate the journey.

I had to surround myself with people that were much farther along than I was and learn from their experiences. Networking was not a strong feature of mine being somewhat of an introvert, but it has truly been the key to my growth. My talent has gotten me in many doors, but the relationships is what has allowed me to sustain a career in music.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
West Unlimited is a full-service production and entertainment company. We specialize in all things music. We offer LIVE show production for events ranging from 100 people to 50,000 people.

On stage:
Our skilled musical directors and roster of musicians perform with the best artist in the world. We take an artist’s vision and make it come to life. From conception of a show to programming, rehearsals, and the finally product the fans see on stage.

Off stage:
Our agency division books talent for festivals, music venues, and private events (corporate galas, etc.). We have had the pleasure of working with artists like Babyface, BoyzIIMen, Ceelo Green, and several others at special events.

As consultants, we work to develop and mold artists with studio production, branding, and other tools to take their careers to the next level.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
COVID taught me to prioritize what’s truly important. For me, that has been family and health. It’s changed the way I view the world and taught me never to take things for granted. My understanding of gratitude and compassion for others has increased tremendously.

It has also taught me to always be open to pivot at any moment. It’s imperative not to be stuck in one frame of mind resulting in getting left behind when life changes without warning. My entire touring calendar was canceled for almost two years. Fortunately, I was still able to maintain business by shifting from the touring world to the studio. It pays to be able to do multiple jobs and it always increases your value amongst your peers and business associates.

Lastly, COVID revealed to me that we’re all the same. It forced everyone to be neutralized no matter your age, gender, religious beliefs, financial status, etc. That is probably the biggest lesson I have taken from Covid -19.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.westunlimited.net
• Instagram: Instagram.com/westunlimited
• Facebook: Facebook.com/Westbyrd
• Twitter: Twitter.com/westbyrd
• Youtube: YouTube.com/Westbyrd

Image Credits
Photos by Aric Thompson, Dream Multimedia Group.