Roger McGuinn is an American musician, songwriter, and guitarist who is best known as the founder and frontman of the influential 1960s band The Byrds. Born on July 13, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois, McGuinn grew up in a musical family and began playing the guitar at an early age.

After attending college in Chicago, McGuinn moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s and began performing as a session musician and songwriter. In 1964, he formed The Byrds with fellow musicians David Crosby and Gene Clark, and the band quickly gained a following with their unique blend of folk, rock, and psychedelia.

McGuinn's distinctive 12-string Rickenbacker guitar sound became a hallmark of The Byrds' sound, and he also contributed lead vocals to many of the band's most popular songs, including "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Turn! Turn! Turn!," and "Eight Miles High."

After The Byrds disbanded in 1973, McGuinn continued to pursue a solo career and released several albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He also worked as a producer and collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Elvis Costello.

In addition to his music career, McGuinn is also an advocate for folk music and music education, and he has worked to preserve and promote traditional folk songs through his Folk Den project, which features recordings of classic folk songs that are available for free on his website.

• Roger McGuinn - guitar/vocals
• Gene Clark - guitar/vocals
• Chris Hillman - guitar/vocals