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Bob Barry

BIO

I have lived in the world of  the "arts" all my adult life!

As an actor, I started in community and regional theater, moving on to musical summer stock, bus and truck tours, and star packages, performing in shows such as, "Carousel""Guys & Dolls", "Music Man", "Kiss me Kate", "Fiddler on the Roof", "Damn Yankees", and  "Pajama Game".

Some Off- Broadway credits are, "Stag Movie", "Alligator man", "The Drunkard" and "The Brass Butterfly ", and making my Broadway debut in 1976 in "So Long 174th Street"playing opposite Bobby Morse.

During that time , I appeared in over 100 TV commercials, guest starred and appeared in several TV shows and sitcoms, "Caroline in the City", "Sister Kate", "Homefront" and films, "Bananas""Safehouse", Chance of a Lifetime" and "Body Slam".

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During this time in NYC, my "day gig" was that of a singer-guitarist in the hotels, clubs, restaurants and lounges in Manhattan, and up and down the East Coast as a single entertainer, duo and trio.

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I have been into photography since I was eight years old, when my father gave me the old family Kodak 120 camera. My earliest works of consequence were in Manhattan, photographing the parks, (especially, Riverside Park), and the street life. At that time, (during the late 60's, early 70's), my young actor friends had no money to get professional photos, so I became the "photographer of choice " and I am pleased to say, that many found work with my photos.

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In the eighties I moved to LA, and after working several years in film and TV, a chance meeting with legendary jazz guitarist John Pisano, turned into a great friendship and the foundation of a 25 year career to date, as a music industry and jazz photographer. 

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The late, jazz photographer Ray Avery referred to my work as “Performance Portraits”. It is that description that most accurately defines my work and satisfies me.

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All my images are taken during performances in available light. It has been my experience, that under these conditions, I can find the honesty, vulnerability and emotional content I look for.

 

I am on the Board of Directors of the California Jazz Foundation, a charitable organization that reaches out to Jazz and Blues musicians in need.

 

I am presently the photo archivist for the "Jazz Bakery Movable Feast" , "John Pisano’s Guitar Night" and the "Just Jazz" Concert Series, also photographing concerts, and jazz festivals in LA, throughout the USA, and abroad including seven years as the Director of Photography for special events for the American Jazz Museum In Kansas City MO, from 2008-2014.

 

Having published the "John Pisano Guitar Night Calendar",

In 2018, I published my first book, a pictorial history of John Pisano’s on going musical event, (over 22 years now) called “Guitar Night”.

 

I have photographed covers, and contributed photo art for 85 CD’s, and DVD’s, including those of Rosemary Clooney, Kenny Burrell, (six covers), Dianne Schuur, Barbara Morrison, Mark Murphy, John Pisano, Pat Martino, Johnny Rivers and Jim Webb, Danny Seraphine ‘s (CTA), Mary Stallings, Pat Senatore & Joe Diorio.

 

My work resides in the permanent collection of two museums, ("American Jazz Museum" and The Mayme Clayton Library and Museum"), and in a permanent installation at the Henry Mancini Bldg. (Sound Dept) of NBCUniversal Studios. I have been shown in several galleries, libraries, nightclubs and studios around LA, Kansas City MO. & The UK.

 

In 2012, I was the subject of a documentary called “Bob Barry – Jazzography in Black & White”, produced and directed by filmmaker Dailey Pike, which won an award at the Tupelo Film Festival and was a finalist in the Arch Light Documentary Film Festival in Hollywood CA.

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