BYRON CANIDA is a “self taught” guitarist born and raised in Longview, Texas and has been playing guitar since the age of 14.  He states that it all started from a dream he had when he was 12 years of age in which he saw himself playing a guitar.  His mother was moved by his fervent desire to play and on his 14th birthday she bought him his first guitar; a bass guitar.  He has since then migrated to lead and rhythm guitar and has been plying ever since.  He has been privileged to play for some amazing gospel artist such as: Carolyn Traylor, Rev. Gerald Thompson and local gospel great Rev. Eddie Templeton (deceased) as well as Jazz saxophonist Pam Williams.

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Byron also played guitar for a local band favorite back in the 70’s, Merging Traffic, for 4 years. During that time he wrote 5 and co-wrote 4 of the 9 songs on the bands only recorded album., Loves Traffic, which featured the local favorite, “Come, Let Me Love You” which he co-wrote with Ray Crumley and Ronnie Allen. After leaving the road he started his 29 year career with Texas Eastman Chemical Company, he retired from Eastman in July of 2010.  Byron and Patsy, his wife of 33 years, have 5 children and 8 grandchildren and 1 great-grand child on the way.

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Byron is truly grateful to God for bestowing him with his gift and states: “Truly God is the giver of every good and perfect gift and my commitment is to be a good steward of this and other gifts he’s blessed me with.

                   

                                                                                                        RIP 1956 - 2020

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