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Opry North

Name: Oliver Barrett

Age: 53

Birth date: 9th July, 1947

Birth place: Middleton, Co-Cork, Ireland

Home town: Co-Cork

Resides in: Co-Cork

Pets: A dog.

Group name: The Band

Instruments played: Bass

Started performing at age: 19 years old.

Most memorable performance: Green Glens Arena in Co-Cork.

What do you do to relax: Listen to Old Country Music.

Finished CD's: 3

Cud's for sale: - "Is This Me"

"Yours Sincerely"

"The Oliver Barrett Collection"

Management: Own

Record Label: O.M.B.

Website: http://www.oliverbarrettcountry.co.uk

About Me

I was born in Middleton Co Cork on 9th July 1947

I have 5 Sisters and 2 Brothers.

Mum and Dad had a small band, Mum played Drums and Dad played Piano Accordion.

We had no Television so we used to gather with neighbours around an open fireplace singing and playing Traditional Irish music and Country Music.

Dad worked as a porter at Middleton Hospital where he was given an old wind up record player by the Nuns, we listened to artists like John McCormack until it became beyond repair. One day Dad arrived home with a Bush Record Player and a LP of Jim Reeves, I could not believe what I was hearing, the beautiful rich textured voice and wonderful songs, we collected many LP's of Jim.

In the early 60's I joined a band in Fomoy called The Zodiacs as a Bass Guitarist with brother Ronnie on Drums, I did get to sing one song 'A Stranger's just a Friend'. I was with them for about Two years when I moved on to the 'Breakaways' then the 'Superstars', still playing Bass, then the 'Maurice Mulcahy Orchestra' where I was to sing covers by Demis Rousos,Tom Jones etc, pop was what was wanted then.

Moving onto the mid 70's we formed 'Oliver B and the Carltons' ,we seemed to be quite popular so it was decided to make a tape which we sent to Peter Bardon and Donnie Cassidy in the hope something may materialise. Not long after we were playing at a club in Youghal where we met with Peter Barden and Donnie Cassidy. I was offered a recording contract and four weeks later I was whisked off to Nashville U.S.A. to record my first professional album (Yours Love).

Even when I look back on it today it was a most amazing period in my life, to work with artists like 'Hargus (pig) Robbins' and 'Bobby Dyson', it is a dream story on its own.

Since then I have recorded 'Yours Sincerely' and 'Is This Me', and my early tape recordings are on 'The Oliver Barrett Collection'.

I have played in the U.K. in Manchester, Carlisle, Birmingham and Bedworth.

Interviews on many Local Radio, BBC Radio and Hospital Radio stations.

TV. appearances on the Kelly Show and the BiBi Baskin Show.

Work for me was and still is truck Driving for a Brewery, and at weekends Gigging all round Ireland.

My hope's for the future, to tour the U.K. and further afield, to record again in Nashville and foremost to keep alive the wonderful treasury of music which JIM REEVES left us.

Biography reproduced courtesy of www.oliverbarrettcountry.co.uk

One thing that we've learned since starting our work through Opry North is that country music enjoys a global popularity, more so in some countries than others perhaps, but those who love it do so wholeheartedly. As the months passed we started to hear from artists all over the world, people who have worked toward what they want to do with the same determination and perseverance of those artists we've been privileged to befriend. And like many of the artists we've come to know, they have all reached different levels of success in their own areas and are looking to expand their exposure. Well, they came to the right place.

Oliver Barrett was brought to our attention a couple of months ago and we were very interested in his work, so we sent out the questions listed below that we use for our profiles, just in case he'd be interested. In due time the answers were sent back and the CD arrived in the mail, and we decided that he would be the first international artist profiled. We are pleased to present to you Ireland's own Oliver Barrett, a respected and renowned performer of traditional country music. He has put his heart and soul into performing the music he loves for satisfied audiences everywhere he's played while still working in the everyday world, like so many of us, and if that isn't an above average person then I don't know what is. We hope you get to know him a little better

Starting Out

Q: Looking back on your earliest experiences in the music industry what did you learn that made the most difference at that time?

"Listen and Perfect."

Q: What is the one part of the music industry that you had to learn about that you hadn’t really thought of when you started out?

"The amount of people who will use you."

Q: What two things would you say are the most important things to do or have to succeed to the level you’d wanted to out of the following: practice, ambition/determination, organizational ability, creating enough buzz.

"Practice, Ambition/Determination."

Q: Being aware of the highly competitive nature of the music industry were you given any guidance or support from established performers on your way up, and how valuable has that been?

"No guidance or support."

Q: The world of press kits, promo shots, making contacts and networking may seem overwhelming to someone just starting out. What’s the best advice you could give someone regarding getting all this sorted out?

"Get a manager who understands your type of music."

Q: As an up & coming artist did you find it was difficult to get your name and your sound out into the public at times? That there was a shortage of showcase media be it print or electronic to fill the void between the clubs and the stadiums?

"Yes."

Q: Looking back, do you feel that focusing on being a songwriter, learning about producing or learning about the whole process was the thing you should have done as opposed to what you did do? Or, are you satisfied with your route and wouldn’t have changed a thing?

"I am satisfied with the route I have taken and would not change it."

First Making it “Big”

Q: With success comes a lot of responsibility. How do you decide when it’s time to delegate some of the load, who to delegate to and what you’ll keep for yourself?

"When you feel under pressure carrying out your chosen task (i.e.. singing), it is time to take on management as in question above."

Q: If the success you’ve worked for seems to be overwhelming you and you’d like to step back for a breather is that acceptable or is there pressure to keep the push on while you’re hot?

"If it's good enough it stays hot without having to slave over it."

Q: Some people are content to stay on the same path they’ve always been on after they’re successful. Others see it as a good time to show versatility and go in a different direction, not always to people’s liking. Can you see yourself breaking out into slightly different direction instead of staying on the safe road?

"No."

Q: The team you choose to help out when things take off plays a large part in how stress free things become. What qualities must you look for to be sure the person you've chosen is right for the team?

"MUST understand and want to be part of and give to your success."

Q: It’s been said that the music industry is a very small world, with you running into the same people all the time. I know it’s important to always treat others the way you’d want to be treated but have there been instances where you’ve been caught off guard with someone popping up where you really didn’t expect them to (or want them to, maybe)?

"No."

The Future

Q: With the arrival of the cyber age, with online stores, MP3’s and the like how do you see the music industry changing? Can you see contracts in the future outlining who has what rights in relation to the Internet?

"No."

Q: Will there be such an importance in being signed by a major label do you think, with the ability to produce, promote and sell material independently taking off?

"Yes."

Q: Can you see such independent productions being accepted into the same leagues as the major label productions by both or either the industry or public?

"Yes."

Personal Questions

Q: What, if any, preparation did you have to do to get started or advance? Has there been vocal, dance, maybe business instruction along the way?

"Very little."

Q: What surprised you the most about being in music? What elements caught you off guard or weren’t what you’d expected?

"The difference between Irish country and American country music."

Q: What part of the up & coming process would you change if you could? Or do you feel that everyone should take some bumps along the way?

"Everyone should take some bumps along the way."

Q: What was it like when you first started recording? How prepared did you feel going in and how prepared were you really?

"It was nerve racking but I thought I was well prepared but I was wrong."

Q: They say to be good at what you do you have to keep learning. What areas of the music business do you want to start learning more about next?

"Just concentrate on singing."

Q: If you had to choose one part of the music industry and do only that one thing what would it be?

"Sing."

Q: What did you discover about touring that you hadn’t expected?

Tiredness and the great high's you get when performing."

Q: Any tips to make things run smoother?

"Good Humour."

Q: Are there any projects coming up that you can tell us about?

"Proposed European tour."

Q: What would you like to do for 2000 that you haven’t tried before?

"Put a proper 50's/60's country band together."

We hope you've enjoyed meeting Oliver Barrett as much as we have, and pay a visit to him in Ireland via his website. Country music is loved around the world and we hope to make the artists we've worked with universally known and you are a huge part of that, thanks very much.

We would like to thank Helen and Roger Smith and Oliver Barrett for their help with this profile. It's always a pleasure to meet people who feel the same way we do about music and country artists. Your dedication is very inspiring.

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