Biography of Michael Barry-Rec

What does a stone and a piece of music have in common? "More than meets the eye and ear." says Michael Barry-Rec, master mason/musician. Over the past two decades Michael has been physically taking hundreds of tons of random shapes we call stone and giving them purpose -and- diligently digging for musical treasures and giving them a voice. This unique combination has served this artist tremendously well.

He was raised in a small rural town in southeast Connecticut and moved to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in his early twenties. At this time he consciously put what was gearing up as a successful musical career on the back burner to devote himself to his family and the raising of his two children. "The music never stopped though, In fact, it expanded to new heights and depths", he declares. It was during this time that he also began to delve into the art of stone masonry. This creative chemistry has and continues to yield very satisfying fruits of labor, especially musically.

2004 saw the much anticipated release of Michael's debut album, "On The Road To North Mountain", an instrumental odyssey that definitely defies simple description. Organically rich acoustic guitar, soaring atmospheric strains of lap steel supported by delicately administered hammond organ arrangements make up the core of this melodic gem. Progressive Ear magazine states, "Very rarely does something knock me off my feet like this disc from Virginia guitarist Michael Barry-Rec. This is music that needs to be heard and experienced." Music Street Journal says, "Sometimes words just don't do justice, such is the case here." Prognaut reviews exclaims, "This whole album is a highlight - one of the better independent, even major releases that has crossed my path in a long while." George Winston, one of the most highly decorated pianists of our time refers to Michael as a favorite guitarist and composer. In addition, Michael's music has been featured in film, numerous magazines and has received substantial air play.

Michael is currently preparing to submerge himself in the studio once more for a projected 2008 release of his next CD. This album promises to up the ante and stretch acoustic boundaries to new heights! Stay tuned...