Real name: DeWayne Stephen McKnight

American funk guitarist Blackbyrd McKnight, (often credited as Blackbird) was born April 17, 1954 in Los Angelis CA.
Former member of The Headhunters (1975 to 1978) and Parliament-Funkadelic (1978 to 2008).
Filled in with the Red Hot Chili Peppers after the death of founding member Hillel Slovak in 1988.
Has continued to work with Parliament-Funkadelic on numerous side projects and has been touring with them again since 2015.