bio

J. Byrd Hosch Bio

J. Byrd Hosch grew up on a small farm in Crosby, Texas, which is about 40 miles from Houston and will always be a country girl at heart. As a child she was involved in lots of school activities and also had a great love of music. J. Byrd had this uncanny fascination with drums however she was discouraged by everyone because girls just don't play drums!' They tried to interest her in the piano or the French horn but to no avail, it was the drums or nothing! In the end, J.Byrd won out and grew up playing drums in her older brother Jerry's rock and roll band. Rodney Crowell was her childhood playmate and he also played in the band. When they were in their early 20's, J. Byrd and Rodney took off for Nashville to seek their fame and fortune! After a short while, J. Byrd became discouraged and homesick and gave it all up and returned to Crosby. Rodney stuck it out and became a big success.

During the next twenty years J. Byrd raised her daughter and worked her job in corporate America. She still played her guitar and sang for her daughter and her Girl Scout troop and Sunday school class but that was about the extent of her involvement in music. In 1993 her life began to change. Her daughter was all grown and off to college and she was wondering what to do with her life especially since her long time relationship of 20 years was breaking up. Then suddenly her employer decided she had to go to San Francisco to do a job for several months. J. Byrd tried her best to get out of it but in the end she was forced to go. This trip to San Francisco would serve as the catalyst that would change her life forever!
She was accompanied to San Francisco by her pal Marya Martini. It was quite an adventure for both of them to arrive in the big city of San Francisco. It was through Marya's new friends in San Francisco that J. Byrd began to play music again. One day while playing her guitar and singing she was over heard and they invited her to perform at an upcoming event they were planning. J. Byrd refused and was against the idea but through Marya's persistence she was convinced to perform. What an event it was! The place was packed when J. Byrd walked out holding her guitar. She told a story or two and then sang a song about those stories. The crowd went wild and J. Byrd received three standing ovations that night! Afterward, to her amazement, she was approached by many people inviting her to perform all over the Bay Area. That ís how it started and it hasn't slowed down since!

When her job was completed in San Francisco and it was time to return to Texas, J. Byrd and Marya made a big decision. They decided to go home, settle their affairs and move back to San Francisco to pursue their musical careers. J. Byrd quit her job of 20 years, leased out her house and gave everything she had away and Marya did pretty much the same thing. Within one month they were headed back to San Francisco for good!

In her own words: "Life is so interesting, you never know what the future holds! Who would've ever thought that a gal my age would leave Texas to start a country band in San Francisco! Even though all the folks back home think I've gone crazy, I'm happier than I've ever been. I find it totally amazing that after twenty years away from music I have been so warmly welcomed back! I never took my song writing and singing seriously and was very content playing drums and singing back up for the boys but now I am up front talking and telling my stories and singing my songs. I am amazed that people are interested in this 54-year-old gal! It's like I have been given a second chance to follow my dreams and I will never abandon them again! Music means more to me than you will ever know and without it I could not go on. I love the people that come to see me and spend time with me as we play, sing, laugh and act silly together! I am truly blessed to be playing music again and will play and sing for the rest of my life!"