Glenn Barber
b. Martin Glenn Barber, 2 February 1935, Hollis, Oklahoma, USA. The family soon moved to Pasadena, Texas and from an early age Barber showed an interest in country music. He first learned guitar but later was to become equally proficient on banjo, mandolin, steel guitar, dobro, bass and drums. He began to write songs and gained his first US Billboardcountry chart successes on the Sims and Starday labels in 1964. In 1968, he joined Hickory and immediately had a minor hit with his own song Don't WorryBout The Mule’. This was followed by Kissed By The Rain, Warmed By The Sun and She Cheats On Me, the latter also being recorded by Roy Orbison. During the '70s, he mustered 16 minor hits including his own version of Yes Ma'am, He Found Me In A Honky Tonk, a song later recorded by Leona Williams, and a version of Mickey Newbury's ballad Poison Red Berries. In 1979, he had a minor hit with the then optimistically titled Everyone Wants To Disco. When five years later it became an album track, he had discovered that they didn't and the song had been renamed Don't Take My Country Away. In spite of his multi-instrumental talents and songwriting abilities, Barber has had no chart hits since 1980. Although busily recording in the early '80s, he now seems to have drifted from the music scene and turned his attentions to being a portrait painter.