illustration by Ryan Spahr
Early behavior doesn’t always predict what lies ahead in life.
Bob Barry’s mother, he recalled, had the hardest time convincing him to take piano lessons. But she needn’t have worried. Her son has been a professional pianist—self-taught on the instrument—for decades.
He actually started out as a drummer/percussionist at the tender age of 10, then transitioned to the piano when he began to “fall in love with rock ‘n roll” and “discovered the gift of playing by ear.” At the time he was, and still is, a “huge Beatles fan.”
Four years later, he formed a band called the Checkmates—the first of several. Though, since 1980, he has played mostly instrumental solo.
Thankfully, there was one time when the young Barry absolutely listened to his mother—to his great benefit. In 1974, she sent him a newspaper clipping about a piano competition. He entered with his own compositions and took home the top prize out of 65 musicians.
The actual prize was the opportunity to play at New York City’s prestigious Carnegie Hall.
“That started my career,” he said.
That same year, the group New Found Freedom, which offered a mix of covers and original music, invited Barry to join.
Over time, he developed his own musical niche, a fusion of instrumental classical rock, progressive rock, New Age and smooth jazz. And he’s been busy.
There were years when the Susquehanna Township resident played more than 100 shows, mostly between New York City and Washington, D.C. But he has also toured widely, including to Hawaii, around the Caribbean, Mexico, Amsterdam, Dublin, Scotland and Dover, England.
“Some of my favorite destinations, usually they’re warmer ones, are Boca Raton, Fla., Barbados, Jamaica and Riviera Maya, Mexico,” said Barry.
These days, the number of shows he plays has decreased to 30 or 40 a year.
The decision to cut back, especially on touring, related to the birth of his children—a son and a daughter.
“I didn’t want to be away for more than a few days,” he said. “My kids came first.”
His piano-related activities go beyond playing. In 1981, he opened Piano One Gallery, which expanded his earlier offerings of piano tuning and restoration to piano moving and the sales of pre-owned vintage pianos.
He has tuned or played for several major recording artists, including Billy Joel, Ray Charles, the Beach Boys, Laura Branigan and Yanni, to mention a few.
In 2014, the Moody Blues, a band he considers his “main mentors,” invited him to perform on a cruise, which proved to be a career highlight.
“I did nine shows along with Starship, Roger Daltrey of The Who and others,” said Barry. “I learned a lot. This was one of my most-iconic music experiences ever.”
Locally, he plays often on Pride of the Susquehanna cruises and has played at Whitaker Center. He’s particularly proud to be one of the “three main players” at the River House concert series—the other two being jazz pianist Steve Rudolph and violinist Odin Rathnam.
In 1994, the pianist released his first instrumental album, “Caverns of the Mind.” There have been five others since, with a sixth, entitled “52/52,” due out soon.
Some of Barry’s favorite pieces, he said, are “scattered throughout the albums, inspired by the people he loves.” For example, he wrote “The Courtship,” for his wife.
Barry has other passions besides music. One is nature, another travel.
Then there’s staying home, which he calls his “calm estate,” which is nonetheless only minutes from downtown Harrisburg.
Aside from the creative meaning Barry has gained over many years from playing and performing, he considers himself particularly fortunate to be able to pursue his career “on my own terms.”
“My wife and, many times, other family members and friends have accompanied me,” he said.
Barry has a simple way of summing up his many years of musical and domestic satisfaction.
“I’ve been a very blessed and happy man,” he said.
To learn more about Bob Barry and his music, visit www.bobbarrypiano.com.
