Barry McGuire

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Barry McGuire
Barry McGuire in 1979.
Barry McGuire in 1979.
Background information
Born October 15, 1935 (1935-10-15) (age 72)
Origin Oklahoma City, Oklahoma US
Genre(s) Rock
Occupation(s) Singer, Songwriter
Instrument(s) Guitar, Vocals
Label(s) Horizon, Ember, Dunhill, Ode, Myrrh, Sparrow
Associated acts New Christy Minstrels

Barry McGuire (born 15 October 1935) is an American singer-songwriter.

Contents

[edit] Early life

McGuire was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and moved to California in early childhood. At age 16 he joined the United States Navy, but was discharged ten months later for being 'under age'.

After living as a drifter in his late teens and early twenties, McGuire got a job singing in a bar. In 1961, he released his first single called "The Tree", which was not a hit, and formed a duo with Barry Kane. They both joined the New Christy Minstrels in Spring 1962. In 1963, McGuire wrote the Christys' first and biggest hit single: "Green, Green." He left the Christys in January, 1965, after recording the album, Cowboys and Indians; however, on the 1965 album Chim Chim Cher-ee, he sang only on the title cut.

[edit] Solo career

As a folk rock solo singer in the 1960s, he was best known for his hits "Eve of Destruction" and "Sins of the Family", both written by P.F. Sloan. His other chart successes, "Child of Our Times" was co-written by Steve Barri, and "Cloudy Summer Afternoon (Raindrops)" was penned by Travis Edmonson of 1960's folk-duo, Bud & Travis.

McGuire's LP, The Eve of Destruction, reached its peak of #37 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart during the week ending 25 September 1965. That same day the single of that name went to #1 on both charts. McGuire was never again to break into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. According to McGuire, "Eve of Destruction" was recorded in one take on a Thursday morning (from words scrawled on crumpled piece of paper) and then he got a call from the record company at 7:00 the next Monday morning, telling him to turn on the radio - his song was playing. The recording includes an "ahhh" where McGuire couldn't read the words.[1] The Temptations referenced McGuire's song "Eve of Destruction" in their song "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)". For other references and covers of "Eve of Destruction" see the article: "Eve of Destruction".

The album This Precious Time was released in 1966, his second with Dunhill Records. It includes a version of "California Dreamin'" with The Mamas and the Papas singing backing vocals. McGuire is mentioned several times in The Mamas & the Papas hit, "Creeque Alley". Frank Zappa wrote McGuire's name in the sleeve of his Freak Out album (1966) as one of his musical influences.

McGuire appeared in the 1967 movie, The President's Analyst with James Coburn as the character, "Old Wrangle," and in Werewolves on Wheels in 1971. He also starred for a year in the Broadway musical Hair.

McGuire became a born-again Christian in 1971. In 1973, he joined the Myrrh label and released the album Seeds. This album is also notable for the backing vocals provided by the family trio that would become known as the 2nd Chapter of Acts. In 1974, McGuire released his second Jesus Music album Lighten Up, which included a remake of "Eve of Destruction". He toured with 2nd Chapter of Acts and "a band called David" and in 1975 this collaborative effort resulted in the double live album, To the Bride.

In 1976, he left Myrrh, joining former Myrrh executive Billy Ray Hearn's new label, Sparrow Records. He recorded seven albums on Sparrow, the best known of which is Cosmic Cowboy, released in 1978. That year he also released a top-selling children's album Bullfrogs and Butterflies (part of the Agapeland series) for Sparrow's subsidiary label, Birdwing.

In 1978, he also toured England, Scotland, and Wales with the Jimmy Owens' musical "The Witness", in which he played the part of the apostle Peter. His acting and singing in the musical was considered very inspiring. Also, the voice of Peter on the "Witness" album is his.

[edit] Later life

In the 1980s, McGuire left the music industry, and settled for a time in New Zealand with his New Zealander wife, Mari (former secretary of McGuire's Agape Force associate, Winkie Pratney). He returned to the United States in the 1990s, teaming up with Terry Talbot and recording as Talbot McGuire. The duo released four albums between 1996 and 2000.

As of 2006, he takes engagements which include a few songs and talks on a mixture of topics, by both McGuire and his wife. The McGuires currently reside in Fresno, California.

On March 12, 2008, McGuire appeared on the Australian music comedy/game show Spicks and Specks, performing an updated version of Eve of Destruction, with new lines such as, "You're old enough to kill/ you just started voting" and "... can live for ten years in space". The reference to "Red China" was also removed.

In 2008, McGuire teamed up with former member of The Byrds John York for a live tour called "Trippin' the '60s", which McGuire describes as "...taking the songs and the truth that was in those songs from the 60's and bringing them into the present moment...It's not a cover pack, it's us singing songs that we sung with a lot of our friends that aren't around anymore to sing them."[2]


[edit] Partial discography

  • Barry Here and Now (1962)
  • The Barry McGuire Album (1963)
  • Eve of Destruction (1965)
  • This Precious Time (1965)
  • The World's Last Private Citizen (1967)
  • McGuire and the Doctor (1971)
  • Seeds (1973)
  • Lighten Up (1974)
  • Narnia (1974)
  • Jubilation (1975)
  • To the Bride (1975)
  • Eve of Destruction (Star Power) (1975)
  • C'mon Along (1976)
  • Anyone But Jesus (1976)
  • Jubilation Two (1976)
  • Have You Heard (1977)
  • Cosmic Cowboy (1978)
  • Inside Out (1979)
  • Best of Barry McGuire (1980)
  • Finer Than Gold (1981)
  • Pilgrim (1989)
  • Let's Tend God's Earth (1991)
  • When Dinosaurs Walked The Earth (1995)
  • Ancient Garden (1997)
  • Frost And Fire (1999)
  • Eve Of Destruction (20 Inspirational Classics) (2000)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links