Sidney Barnes
http://www.sidneybarnes.net/
http://www.myspace.com/sidneybarnes
Sidney Barnes has been a part of the music business
since the early 60's. In England, and other parts of Europe, his 60's Soul
recordings are collectors items, and they consider him an icon and an American
Soul Music legend.
After singing in several doo wop groups in Washington DC Junior high schools,
including a group called The Embracers that included a young Marvin Gaye, Van
McCoy (The Hustle) and Herb Feemster (of Peaches & Herb fame), Sidney and
his family moved to New Jersey where he began to mingle in the New York music
scene. Soon Sidney and his New Jersey group The Serenaders signed with Berry
Gordy's Motown Records and their newly opened New York office. While with
Motown, Sidney and his group recorded one single which Berry Gordy himself
produced. Sidney, and his partner George Kerr, began working for the Motown
label as song writers, recording artists and talent scouts. One of the first
people that Sidney and George Kerr brought to Motown was a young George Clinton
and his group Parliament. Soon, Sidney and George Clinton teamed up with Motown
sax player Mike Terry to form Geo-Si-Mike Productions in Detroit, and began
cutting some pure classics for The Detroit based Golden World record label.
These include early Parliament/Funkadelic records.
Sidney went on to work in the recording studio, and live in concert, with some
of the greatest acts in the music business, including Janis Joplin, The Rolling
Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Stevie Wonder, Led Zepplin, and more. In the
late 60's Sidney helped to form a Soul/Rock band called The Rotary Connection.
Signed to Chicago's Legendary Chess Records the band which also featured the
late great Minnie Riperton recorded 5 classic albums created a cult following
world wide and disbanded in 1971. Sidney continued to work with Minnie Riperton
until her untimely death in 1979.
Sidney's songs have been recorded and sampled by many artists including, The
Jackson 5, Mary J. Blyth featuring 50 cent, The Beasty Boys, EPMD, The Supremes,
Minnie Riperton, Parliament/Funkadelic and many others.
Sidney now lives with his wife Clella-Ann in Las Vegas. He continues to write,
perform, record, produce and help develop and encourage new acts, and along with
partner Grant Lane is releasing several new projects on his new BarVada
Entertainment International record label. Sidney currently appears either as a
singer, song writer, producer or musician on over 100 CD Compilations now on the
world market.
Sidney is currently involved with his old buddy, "Funk Overlord"
George Clinton on several studio projects. One is called "The Big Ole Nasty
Get Down", which also involves other great musicians & singers from
several other great bands. Another is a Clinton produced project called
"Gangsters of Love", on which ( Heart Trouble)) a song written by
Sidney and George is performed . Sly Stone, Santana, The Red Hot Chili Peppers,
El Debarge, various members of P Funk & other Soul, Funk, Rock & Hip Hop
legends all perform on this album.
