Album Notes

I was born in Buffalo, NY on April 19, 1961. My immediate family was always very creative through either music or art. My Grandmother played Piano at various movie houses for the silent films in the 20's and 30’s. My Father and Mother were musically and artistically inclined respectively.

I have been playing the Piano since the age of 3 and was always a terror to my piano teachers, never wanting to play the lesson but always wanting to feel the music instead and play what was inside my head. When I was 12, my mother finally signed my sister and myself up for Guitar lessons. Although I had no interest in playing the guitar and did not feel this would be of any benefit, the instructor worked with us for 6 months. He was teaching us guitar chords, my sister the guitar and for me, the relationship of the guitar and their chords to the piano. It was great and I credit him with helping me to understand how to play out my emotions and feelings.

I guess I composed my first Ballad at age 15 for my father. It was funny as he always called me "The professor". I always thought that would somehow become my nickname, but my friends were always calling me “Barnsey”, and that’s what stuck. I love to travel extensively and find the most relaxing vacation to be a cruise. I really enjoy working with other musicians and find that its helps create a very emotional edge about my music. It is the one venue in which I can truly express all of my tears, fears, laughter and love for all of those around me. I feel “Music is the window to the soul. Put your negative emotions into being creative and never take them out on another human being.”

I was always the realist when I was younger. I wanted to enter the music field but never felt the right timing then and thought that in such a competitive field and with all of these other wonderful musicians out there that I would never stand a chance. So thus, I went into financial business for myself and have ran numerous successful mortgage banking and mortgage lending firms for the last 24 years, moving to Florida in the process. I continued to compose and play new music for the people who mattered most in my life, which was my family & my friends.

Funny how times change and the Internet was probably the biggest catalyst in that change for the music industry. It has brought us so much closer and has given us all a real gift. I must say setting up my MySpace personal and music page, was the most positive experience of my musical life. It has allowed me to meet some very wonderful and talented musicians, singers and artists of all walks of life and share our talents with each other and the public (our fans). It has inspired me to realize that it does not matter how old you are or where you are in life, good music and the arts should play an important role in everyone's existence. I have new found inspirations since my mom’s passing, and the emotional well just keeps pouring out new songs weekly. That combined with all of the new people I have met, been exposed to and inspired by, have allowed me to open myself to listening and composing all types and styles of music.

More information is available at www.markbarnesmusic.com or www.myspace.com/markbarnesmusic. Booking Information can be obtained by contacting Sher LeFever of Confederate Starz Artist Management: Office - (480) 634-5300 or Cell - (480) 776-4096.