Danny Barnes (musician)

Danny Barnes
Danny Barnes on stage at the Northwest String Summit on July 21, 2013.
Background information
Born (1961-12-21) December 21, 1961 (age 62)
Temple, Texas, U.S.
GenresCountry, jazz, punk, rock, folk
OccupationMusician
InstrumentBanjo
Years active1970s-present
LabelsATO, Sugar Hill, Terminus, MapleMusic Recordings (Canada)
Websitewww.dannybarnes.com

Danny Barnes (born December 21, 1961)[1] is an American banjo player, singer, and composer whose music is influenced by country, jazz, blues, punk, metal, and more.[2] He has been described as a "banjo virtuoso"[3][4] and is "widely acknowledged as one of the best banjo players in America."[5] He was a founding member of the Austin trio the Bad Livers, with whom he toured and recorded extensively from 1990 to 2000. Since then, he has performed and recorded as a solo artist, as well as collaborating with Bill Frisell,[6] Dave Matthews,[7] Jeff Austin[8] and other musicians. In 2013, Barnes and Max Brody formed the Test Apes. In September 2015, Barnes was awarded the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass, in recognition of his role as "one of bluegrass music’s most distinctive and innovative performers."[9] Martin’s website said of Barnes’ work: "The raw and unpolished musical breadth of his compositions has propelled him across the industry today."[10]

  1. ^ Trischka, Tony. "Interview with Danny Barnes." Banjo Newsletter. September 2005. 12-23.
  2. ^ Dukes, Howard. "Barnes dubs banjo in many styles." Archived 2014-12-04 at the Wayback Machine The South Bend Tribune. 29 May 2011. G2. Retrieved January 5, 2013
  3. ^ Staff. "Danny Barnes and Thee Old Codgers: Things I Done Wrong (Review)." Dirty Linen December 2001-January 2002. 84-85.
  4. ^ McLeese, Don. "Danny Barnes: Get Myself Together (Review)." Archived 2014-12-01 at the Wayback Machine No Depression #59 September–October 2005. Retrieved January 2. 2013.
  5. ^ Staff. "Robbie Fulks, Danny Barnes Perform Live Score at Chicago Cultural Center on Feb. 9." US Fed News 28 December 2006.
  6. ^ Hall, Michael. "Danny Barnes Proves That Playing the Banjo Can Pay." Texas Monthly. 14 September 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  7. ^ "Dave Matthews Band Tries a Slice of Danny Barnes’Pizza Box." jambands.com. 16 June 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  8. ^ "Jeff Austin Band featuring Danny Barnes, Ross Martin & Eric Thorin." Happening @ Michigan. 8 June 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  9. ^ Itzkoff, Dave. "Banjo Innovator Wins Steve Martin Bluegrass Award.", The New York Times. 15 September 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  10. ^ "Danny Barnes Wins Sixth Annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass". 11 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.