Photo: Manfred Werner / Tsui / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
DeWayne McKnight, born on April 17, 1954 in Los Angeles, California, United States, is a jazz guitarist. As of 2026, DeWayne McKnight is 72 years old. Education on record includes Morningside High School.
My Take
DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight is a musician's musician, and I find his story irresistible. From the jazz-funk fire of the Headhunters to four-plus decades inside Parliament-Funkadelic, he is a sideman of staggering longevity. The brief, fascinating chapters fascinate me too: stepping into the Red Hot Chili Peppers after Hillel Slovak's death before John Frusciante took over, and even playing with Miles Davis in 1986. McKnight never chased the spotlight, but that is exactly where authenticity lives. The Los Angeles guitarist embodies the unsung craftsmanship that holds great bands together.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- DeWayne McKnight
- Name (Japanese)
- デュアン・マクナイト
- Reading
- でゅあん・まくないと
- Born
- April 17, 1954 (age 72)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Horse
- Origin
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Occupation
- guitarist / jazz guitarist
2. Background
- High school
- Morningside High School
3. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeWayne%20McKnight
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2467456
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was DeWayne McKnight born?
Born April 17, 1954 (age 72).
Where is DeWayne McKnight from?
DeWayne McKnight is from Los Angeles, California, United States.
What does DeWayne McKnight do?
DeWayne McKnight works as guitarist, jazz guitarist.
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