George Barnes (musician)

George Barnes ( born July 17, 1921 in South Chicago Heights, Illinois, † September 5, 1977 in Concord, California ) was an American jazz guitarist. By his own account he was playing an electric guitar in 1931, six years before Charlie Christian. He was definitely one of the first, grossed the recordings with the electric guitar.

Age of 13, Barnes worked as a musician. The mid-1930s, he toured in the Midwestern United States. In 1938, he worked in Chicago as a studio musician for NBC. He accompanied blues greats such as Big Bill Broonzy and Washboard Sam in their recordings.

After his military service during the Second World War, Barnes worked in the studio again and went on with his own octet. In the early 1960s formed Barnes with guitarist Carl Kress a widely acclaimed duo, and later with guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli.

In the 1970s, Barnes headed cornetist Ruby Braff along with a rather unusual quartet. He also made recordings with Joe Venuti. George Barnes died in 1977 in California.

Disco Graphical Notes

  • Complete Standard Transcriptions ( Soundies, 1946-51 ) with the ABC Radio Chicago Octet
  • Guitars Anyone ( Audiophile, 1964) with Carl Kress, Milt Hinton, Dick Hyman, Hank Jones, Joe Jones
  • Do not Get Around Much Any More ( Acoustic Disc, 1977)

Lexical entries

367188
de