Backstreet Band

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Phil Boyd - Keyboards, Vocals

P. D. Boyd

I started singing in church when I was 8 years old. My mother had me singing for all of her church friends and different organizations that she was a part of, including funerals and weddings. My reputation as a wedding singer quickly spread, and I sung for numerous weddings around the Pelham, N.C. area where I was raised. She even had me entered in a talent contest at Ruffin School when I was 9. I didn’t win. Too skinny and ugly I suppose.

I started playing the piano when I was about 12, again at church. When our regular church organist passed away, I played the organ at our small Methodist church for about 20 years. Today I attend and play organ and keyboards at a large Wesleyan church in Reidsville, NC.

When I was 16 years old I started singing with a combo known at the "Circuit Riders" from Yanceyville. I started out singing one to three songs per night (for about $1 per song). I wasn’t good enough to play keyboards for them, so I just sung. After the Circuit Riders broke up, I began playing and singing with other bands, including several years of three piece groups (I played bass keyboard along with a guitarist and drummer). I was approached in 1983 with an opportunity to join a new band called "Backstreet". This was my first experience with a "professional" band that had a bass player, two keyboard players, saxophone, guitarist and drummer. I decided to give it a try, and we played our first job in October, 1983. The irony of the whole thing is that I wasn’t happy with the group, and threatened to quit on numerous occasions.

So, to make a long story longer, Backstreet is still going strong after almost 24 years of existence. We have become a household name in Danville and surrounding areas, opening up for such acts as the Beach Boys, Hank Williams, Jr, K.C. and the Sunshine Band to name a few. While there have been a few major personnel changes dating back to the early 90’s, the nucleus of the group have been together for over 10 years. We are very fortunate to have players who leave their ego’s at home. As the only remaining original member, I am proud to be associated with Backstreet and have learned a lot along the way.