Beatles, Weather Report, Jaco, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s radio, Ennio Morricone, Ray Brown, Glen Moore, Black Sabbath, Zeppelin, Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie, Prince, Tom Waits, Tom Petty, Tomas Svoboda, Leonard Cohen.... AND johnny cash....
Willy Barber was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Recognized almost instantly as a child prodigy, was dubbed "freakshow" by his elder siblings and neighbors. By his 13th birthday, he was already being solicited by Disney for a place in their talent pool. A year later was flown to L.A., by Doc Severinsen, to sit in on the Tonight Show. Studying with Glen Moore, throughout his teens, led to a fateful lesson with the late Jaco Pastorius, and those same connections, had him studying briefly with legend Ray Brown. Finishing high school was capped with performances at Carnegie hall, Chicago’s Symphony Hall, and an unforgettable "hang" with Sammy Davis jr.
He then attended prestigious North Texas State on a full ride. Post school, and in need of a paycheck,
joined the Jazz Ambassadors, the official touring jazz ensemble of the U.S. Army. Stationed in D.C., duties were split between touring 120 days a year with PR and festivals, and entertaining at the White House. Aside from having to spend too much "quality time" with George H.W., the job had him meeting jazz giants on a constant basis. Nice, Montreaux, North Sea, and Newport festivals, were regular stops, where Willy was always a featured showstopper. With tours across the 50 states, Russia, Afghanistan, India (with guest artists Trilok Gurtu, and Shivmani), Japan, South America and Europe. While in Montreaux, at his bequest, was invited to meet Miles Davis, who had never actually seen Willy. A meeting that lasted a precious few seconds and a notorious blessing from the pontiff himself: "I didn't know you was white..." He was 19.
Among the vital contacts that kept him busy post army were Ndugu Chancellor, Red Rodney, Shivmani, Vince Loving, and neighbor Ricky Wellman. Ndugu had him filling in for Alphonso Johnson and, at age 23, he played on one of Red Rodney's final records "Live in Conpenhagen."
In the mid/late 90's he returned home to Portland. Almost immediately “married with children.” His youngest son being the 1 in 100 born today with Autism, added full time "Mr. Mom" to his resume’ dedicating almost all of his time to his family. Always an advocate voice, and seeking ways to blend his talents for the cause of autistic people everywhere. Having his pick of "A" list Northwest bands, spent the next 10 years with Duffy Bishop, Tony Furtado, the Blubinos, Lily Wilde’s big band, Lloyd Jones, and Curtis Salgado, to name a few (for Salgado acted as musical director for 6 years, played bass on his last two CD’s, writing and producing his most current). As a freelance artist, he’s gigged with the likes of Danny Gatton, Mic Gillete, Dan Akroyd, Jim Belushi, Dennis Quad, Steven Seagal, Herb Ellis, Charlie Rouse, Red Rodney, Kiefer Sutherland, Tom Arnold, Delbert Mclinton, Bekka Bramlett, Ndugu Chancellor, Pete Christlieb, Steve Miller, Norton Buffalo, Jimmie Vaughan, Al Greene, Pia Zadora, Herb Ellis, Chuck Berry, and Hank Jr.
His children "FINALLY" a little older, currently finds him returning to work full time in his studio. Writing, producing, commercials, movies, teaching, and gearing up to release several solo CD’s simultaneously, and in several styles: alt/pop, funk, straight ahead jazz, and of course one dedicated to bass. Time consuming, as he’s playing most of the instruments himself.... "Almost there..." An active singer songwriter, gigs as he is able between juggling his bass and production duties for various regional and national artists. Willy is also a proud endorser and “famous user” of Warwick basses. You can currently find him enjoying summer with his kids, and touring when “it’s worth it.”
To put it in his own words: "... I'm a bass player, producer, singer/songwriter here in the NW. I gig all over the world for a living. I've played on your very own television set many times, in addition to being on television sets and radios in places like Afghanistan, Russia, India, Canada, England, Europe, Japan, and South America. I'm usually in the background, so unless you're the type of person to know the names of the extras in the wizard of oz, you may not even care... Writing is kind of a big deal to me, and the songs i write usually tell some kind of story. Twilight Zone endings, love songs with hand grenades, sex, murder, sci fi, the state of our world, and happy darkness are my favorite topics. I can also funk so hard it'll make you wanna' slap your mama. Playing upright bass and straight ahead at 360bpm is pretty neat too.... I cater the style of music to the song. Some jazz lyrics, just aren't gonna' go over my new Korn riff, and some turntable scratches may not be welcome in that string quartet I'm re-working, unless of course it makes my song sound better than yours...
Often more of a bass player, i get calls to stack vocals, play accordian, guitar, upright bass, cello, program computers, or i just get paid to hang out and be me... Well, I AM more fun than a barrel of *ucking monkey's, what can I say...? Crazy world, ain't it?..."
THERE WILL BE SONGS AND MUSIC FOR SALE SUMMER 2008, COME BACK WITH MONEY AND HUGE EXPECTATIONS ;)
Notable Gigs
Newport Jazz Festival Main Stage (w/ army band, red rodney, and ndugu chancellor), North Sea Jazz Festival (main stage), Montreaux Jazz Festival (main stage), Nice Jazz Festival, Mountain Stage (radio and T.V.), Austin City Limits, White House Christmas Concert, Regis and Cathie Lee, Playboy Jazz Festival, Playboy After Hours (the mansion baby...)
music
Anything Beatles, Chris Whitley, Tom Waits, Steve Earle, Prince, Zep, Police, AC/DC, Daniel Lanois, Beastie's, Johnny Cash, Lou Reed, U2, Mother Lovebone, Wendy and Lisa, Sabbath, Los Lobos, Bjork, Peter Gabriel, Charlie Parker, Paul Chambers, the band, Jaco, Ella, Frank, Dean, Joe Zawinul, Tom Petty, Rolling Stones, Monk, Billie, Steve Gadd, Radiohead, the Ramones, Bob Dylan, Miles, David Bowie, the Band, Hank Williams, FZ, Jeff Lynne, James Brown, Tower of Power, Nirvanna, P funk/Bootsy, & i just went crosseyed
movies
Trainspotting, 'Round Midnight, Kill Bill(s), Waiting for Guffman, Pulp Fiction, Hellboy, Zombie Movie's, Star Wars movie's, Leningrad Cowboys go America, Royal Tannenbaums, The Darjeeling Limited, Rushmore, Lost in Translation, Wizard or Oz, The Beast, Slingblade, the Brady Movie's, The Longest Day, Go, Enchanted, The Incredibles, Saving Private Ryan, and any movie that has a "wockychickawahkichika" guitar in the background is A-ok in my book
books
Shakespeare, Snobby literature, Your Diary...
random facts
Pisces, Straight, Musician for a living, Share a birthday with Johnny Cash and Erykah Badu, ... I've met and had dinner with three different presidents (i'll give you a hint one of 'em was a really cool hang, and the other two were inbred in some way, most likely)... Met Miles Davis... lived in Texas, Kansas, Oregon, DC and Baltimore (peepshow capital of the world)... Been all over the world and swam in most of the major oceans and seas on the planet. The water is warmer where you pee....
heroes
Martin Luther King, Johnny Cash, Robert Rodriguez, Wayne Shorter, Charlton Heston, and Shasta Groene
Hey Willy! I was going to buy a tune of yours but your site was down - check it out. In the meantime, come on by my page & listen to my tunes. Or hear me on Stanley Jordan's new CD "State of Nature"! Come by soon! Take care and keep rippin' it up like only YOU can do!! Tammi Brown
Hey Willy how are you?? I just got back from Europe and had alot old Portland things on my mind. Sure miss ya guy's. Dont panic im not turning gay or anything like that hahahaha.
I realise that I was more of an enigma than you. I don't walk anymore I just shuffle my feet it's less obvious. I decided to drop in and say Hi. Regards Adam
Hey Willy Barber, A starfish's lifelong hallucinations of gelatin pools and of actuaries floating upon the foam and reciprocal ohm. You turn the atmosphere ablaze with currents of sweet ethylene when you smile. I find your eyes to be a wondrous amusement park filled with neo-plastic pleasures and turkish delights. How it passes there and back again like a tear drop glistening in moonlight. Your essence is equal to the beauty of a galaxy. How beautiful is the snowshine in your eyes, so directly current from the static in your mind. The expanse of your beauty is a void no universe could ever fill. I desire to touch and see your face. So charmingly silky, your skin is like a teardrop on a popsickle. Your reflections bring happiness that rends naked glass. In your presence even my shadow acquires the sensation of touch. Blinking reveals the true visage of beauty hidden within your eyes. I keep searching for you between the cushions. You have not yet reached the height of your creativity. Wood nymphs sprinkle your path with rose petals while you dance and prowl in the sequined moonlight with leftover cupcake sprinkles.
This weekend is gonna rock, cuz it ain't gonna lick itself! That's right folks, this weekend, Lickety $plit will be rockin' the Corner with some new songs, and some old friends! Come see what all the noise is about! Good food, great service, and ROCKIN' MUSIC! Isn't that what life's about?Comment Buddy MySpace Comments
Dollars Corner Pub, this Friday & Saturday, Lickety $plit will ROCK. Located at 7204 NE 219th ST in Battle Ground. Show starts @ 9:00pm! Hope to see you there!
