Don Barry was born in Cambridge, MA and grew up in a musical family. His Dad the opera tenor, Mom the pianist and his Grandfather played the banjo, guitar and mandolin. With all these musical influences it is no surprise that Don picked up the bass, guitar, and ukelele, and has played music for over 30 years.

Early in his career he spent time playing with “Listen to Living” and “Front Street,” which led him to a summer working in the house band in a Catskills NY resort hotel. There he picked up his appreciation for jazz and blues and developed his chops on the upright bass. Don has toured with Lonesome Dave Clark, and Chicago Bob, ex-Muddy Waters player and played gigs with Luther Johnson down at the old Highland Tap, Speakeasy, and Bunratty’s in the 1970s.

Exit stage right - during the early 80’s Don took a break from playing live music to raise a family. He did continue to be involved with theater sound design, audio electronics, and even appeared on stage in local community theater. Family and friends enjoyed Don’s guitar playing privately until he rejoined the music scene in the mid 1990’s to do fill-ins on both bass and acoustic guitar. In early 2000, with Don’s family now grown, he began to perform at benefits and the occasional pub with “Just For Fun” and “Acoustic Fire.” In 2004 he played electric bass and guitar on Maria Breen’s, “Lights of Hope” CD.

In 2004, Don joined the Lenny Solomon Band playing bass on Lenny’s third album, "Maybe Today". He now appears regularly in the Solomon Band, and the more acoustic Solomon Trio, at clubs, concerts and coffee houses in the Metro Boston area.

A lover of Bluegrass and Country music Don has revived his early influences, performing with singer songwriter Dawn Kenney and playing bass on her new CD “Feel That Light” in 2007. A highlight in Don’s musical career was to appear with Dawn at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival emerging artist spotlight. Following his appearance at Falcon Ridge he was presented an Outstanding Artist award for acoustic bass by the New England Country Music Organization (NECMO) when he played with Big Blue at the ceremonies. Dawn and Don are headed to Tennessee as the New England contestants in the NACMA show in Pigeon Forge.

In 2007, Don was a performer at the Taunton River Folk Festival, playing bass with a number of artists over the course of the 4 day event. On most Thursday nights he could be found playing bass for Ragtime Jack Radcliff, and Backstage Blues band at Steve's Backstage Pass in Taunton MA.

Don’s project in 2008 was playing bass for folk singer and songwriter, Dale Robbin Goodman, on her newest CD which was recorded in the spring of 2008 by Wepecket Island Records . This CD is a passionate collection of original and traditional music crafted by a woman who really understands where great songs come from. Dale Robbin's new CD, Sweet and Salty is available at all the usual locations, and on the web of course.

During 2009, in addition to some touring with the Wepecket Rolling Roots Revue, and hosting Cafe Milano open mic, Don recorded an album with authentic bluesman Sherman Lee Dillon, from Jackson MS, available on Wepecket Island Records. The CD, State of the Blues is Sherman's own Mississippi take on some old favorites and some new tunes written for the album. "It was such an great session; to be able to play upright bass on Willie Dixion tunes with Sherman's own special y'all beat." Check out samples on the MySpace www.myspace.com/donbarrysr
or CDBaby sites.

During 2010, More studio time and several band projects. Jim McGrath's new Last of the Romantics CD available at Wepecket Island Records. "We captured on record, Jim's special style that has been a mainstay in the Newport music scene for decades."

Don has also joined a new band, the "SC Growlers", led by Steve Ventura, songwriter and lead singer, along with Mike Paolucci on guitars and Paul Curran on sax, flute, and harp. The Growlers perform a jazz, blues, country mix of mostly orginal music. The Growlers are appearing in the southeast coast reagion and are recording their debut CD. Definitly more to come soon on this front!

That’s all for now, stay tuned ....