Band after band, missed opportunity here, wrong turn there, and it was time to head to the Pacific Northwest in 1983. I had lost my fire for music by then, but a two-year hiatus in the Cascade Rainforest rejuvenated my inspiration. Soon, though, I was able to get to what I thought was my first instrument originally: drums.

Two weeks after getting a kit, I was gigging in a country band, and two years later a blues trio, the Mighty Sparrows, and soon was deeply enmeshed in the considerably active Portland Blues Scene. The Sparrows fell apart, as bands do, but I was contacted by a Top 40 band, City Lights, who took me in and set me to playing six nights a week travelling around the Red Lion Hotel chain. After about a year of that, the band broke up, as bands do, and it was back to the Portland Blues scene again.

I joined up with Paulette & Power in 1990 and the next year we won "Best R&B Band" at the short-lived Portland Music Association's Crystal Awards. Paulette's day job with the State soon forced her to go on a hiatus, and her frontwoman spot was ably filled by the great Kita Montgomery. During the further ensuing "musical chairs" and lengthy blanks in the calendar, I started looking for more gigs, being the drum addict I am.

I was shortly approached by talented Portland guitarist Robbie Laws & The Urban All-Stars, and joined up. After a whirlwind year, we garnered "Best New Band" from the prestigious Cascade Blues Association's Muddy Awards in 1994, and the next year won "Best Contemporary Blues Band" and "Best Northwest Blues Recording" for the all-original CD, "Midnight Rain".

I then got the call to the drum chair for the Joanna Connor Band out of Chicago. I toured with her for about a year, did an itinerary in Europe twice and traversed the United States three times. My drumming appears on the Joanna Connor Band Blind Pig Records release "Slide Time" (see link above), along with lyrics and melody for one of the songs penned by me (It's Not the Rock [MP3, 128KHz, 3.4 MB]).

The tour ended May '97, and upon my return home, I was recruited immediately by Portland R&B band, Shade. We had a nice run at the regional scene with mostly original material resulting in a 10-song CD, "City Lights", which made it to the Top 10 of the Northwest Blues charts, and garnered considerable airplay locally. Then, front man Charlie Grant died at his day job, effectively ending the band.

In August, 2000, I was invited to perform with the Terry Evans Band (most famous as the Terry Evans-Bobby King Show in the 80's), and did the Fall 2001 Tour across the U.S.

I hosted the Guitarslinger Tuesdays Series at Hopper's Blues Club in Portland, OR, as well as the blues jam there Thursday nights for almost a year. Upon return from the Fall 2001 US Tour of the Terry Evans Band, I formed the new, short-lived band, Warmdaddy, with Terry Evans' talented guitarist, Jesse Samsel. Although nothing ended up happening with Warmdaddy, I continue to do the occasional local gig when Terry is in town, such as the Waterfront Blues Festival.

I had played a gig with "E.Z." Eddy Campy back in May, 2002, at Billy Reed's, where I was hosting a Thursday night jam for a minute. E.Z. was subbing, and did a passable job. About a month later, he called me for helping J.R. Sims host a jam up in Battle Ground on Wednesdays. It was during that jam that Jeannette "Kid Lopez" came in to sing. We were impressed, and about a couple of months later, Eddy called me to say he was putting a band together around her and offered me the drum chair. That led to a two-year band project with appearances at the Waterfront Blues Festival, and several other festivals, as well as an in-studio broadcast on KMHD-FM. We never managed to get an official studio recording done, but there was plenty of live recording going on. We released "Air Waves" on CD from the KMHD broadcast. By Sept. 2005, Kid decided to move on and out of the band to pursue other interests, so Eddy changed the name of the band to The Jumpers (from "Rock & Roll Hootchie Koo" lyrics), and brought in the fabulous Nico Wind to replace Kid.

My stint with The Jumpers came to an end in May, 2006, in order for me to pursue some new musical projects, including working with the Cee Cee James Band through the Summer/Fall 2006, and re-upping with the Terry Evans Band for some dates up and down I-5 in November, 2006, January, 2007, and a 3-week tour of the Midwest in May, 2007. A European tour followed with Evans in March, 2009, as well as a tour of Turkey in October, 2009 with Shemekia Copeland.

Other bands I've been playing with recently include Chubby Johnson, J.R. Sims, Lynn Axtell & The T-Bones, Francine West, and others.

I continue to freelance when I've got a free date...so, gimme a holler! 503-961-2998...or EMAIL

"Awesome drummer. I tried to get him to move to Chicago."
Joanna Connor

"It's the greatest drummer in the world!"
Curtis Salgado
(Yelled to me from the Lloyd Center, Portland, OR, parking lot while driving a convertible Mustang)

"Killer shuffle, man!"
Paul deLay

"The best drummer in town."
Tony DiMicole
Owner, Key Largo nightclub Portland, OR

"Every time people talk about good drummers in town, Boyd's name comes up."
Justin Matz
Drummer/Instructor

"An award-winning drummer!"
Rick Hall, Pres. Cascade Blues Association

"The most dynamic and energetic drummer that I have ever worked with!"
Timmer Blakely, independent bass man.

"It's such a treat to play with a drummer who ends a song at the same tempo it starts. Killer player!"
Charlie Grant & Shade

"You are steady, man..."
Monti Amundson

"I like to call him 'Big Time Boyd.'"
Terry Evans

I just wanted to repeat what a great time I had last night.
I think we had a total felony rhythm section...bad-ass. The drums/percussion combo can be a disaster.
To the contrary, I feel very comfortable going side-by-side with you.
Try to think of an excuse to do it again. LOL
David Rolin, Percussionist

Boyd is a great individual and regular nice guy with many talents.
Whether you need a drummer on the spot to step in at a moments notice and make it seem like he's been there all the time,
or a fabulous web designer who will do the job better than expected and the way you need it,
Boyd is the person you are looking for.
Terry Currier, owner Music Millennium

"He's the Riverboat Captain of Groove..."
Ward Stroud

Boyd is a top notch drummer with a bright swing that energizes the rest of the band.
Plus, he's a responsible guy, shows up on time, is a team player and is friendly to staff and crew.
In this business it's a hard combination to find, so Boyd is a good choice for any gig.
Lisa Mann, Bassist

Boyd is an extremely talented muti-faceted drummer that is reliable and very personable.
I will continue to call Boyd for gigs that is when his schedule allows.
Walter Guy, Bluesman

Thanks, Boyd, the band only had the best of things to say about you and your playing.
I appreciate when someone I refer makes me look good!
Dave Melyan, Drummer Extraordinaire