Caruth Byrd

I played drums for Carothers in Dallas at the White Horse Saloon on Elm Street in 1971. He was a great bandleader and friend. My mom, Virginia Lewis worked at the Dallas Morning News and introduced me to Caruth. He fronted our Dixieland jazz band and we had a ball playing for him. He was so easygoing and nice. I just loved him. We played private parties at his dad´s mansion in Highland Park. We were waited on hand and food at dinner. It was magnificent!

Billy and I were shocked to hear of the passing of Caruth. He had a been a friend of our family for 40 yrs. He helped Billy and I at the beginning of our marriage in more ways than I can count. As a matter of fact, our daughter, Carista Kay, is named after Caruth and his then girlfriend, Marilyn. Caruth and Marilyn were the godparents to our daughter. I'm sure he and Cotton are reuniting in Heaven; Caruth playing the piano and Cotton playing his guitar.

My dad Cotton Whittington worked for Caruth over twenty years. All the wonderful stories and memories I have are too numerous to tell. I still play the records and tapes that Caruth and my dad played music on. RIP in peace old friend.

Charlotte Amon

My name is Joyce Whittington. My late father-in-law, Cotton Whittington was one of Caruth's good friends. My husband's family and I have known Caruth for over 40 yrs. We are deeply saddened to hear of his death. We didn't even know that he was ill. I am married to Cotton's youngest son, Billy. Billy and I have so many fond memories of Caruth but the one memory we have is of the way he helped us when we were first married. Billy and I started out with very little and Caruth helped us...

I’ve known Chuck Byrd for over 55 years—first as fellow cadets at Culver Military Academy in Indiana, and then into many “adventures” in Los Angeles in the 1970s. We had the great fortune to reconnect about two years ago, as he struggled through his illness. He was, indeed, the most complete Caruth C. Byrd that he could possibly be…and it seems that I have 1,001 amazing stories of our times together…many of which I’ve passed onto many friends and family members. I greatly mourn his death,...

Caruth and I knew each other at Culver Military and got together at times when i lived in Dallas in the late 1960s. He was a one of a kind character who was quite warm to people he knew.

Caruth and I were friends at Culver Military Academy and would saw each other a number of times when i lived in Dallas in the late 1960s. He was one of a kind and warm to those he knew. James Randel, Katy, TX