B-Ro

Like most kids from the 80’s, B started out copping Hendrix and Clapton licks. After winning a pair of tickets to see Muddy Waters in 1982 courtesy of WXRT, his life was forever changed.  He became immersed in Blues. His passion for the blues continues throughout his teens.

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Later, while attending the University of Wisconsin, Madison, he was brought on as a member of the house band of the legendary and long-running “Tate’s Blues Jam”. Instead of washing dishes or flipping burgers, Barry earned extra money with his guitar. He was living his dream. He had the opportunity to play alongside many of the area’s finest. Musicians such as Madison legend Paul Black, “West Side” Andy Linderman, Rollo Steele, Jerry Alexander, “Fat” Richard Drake, Mel Ford & Mark Haines all frequented the Jam.  He would sit in with such luminaries as Luther Allison, Eddie Shaw, & Vaan Shaw, Robert Covington, Phil Guy, and many others as they traveled through town on their tours.

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For better or for worse, while B never pursued music as a profession-it remained his obsession. Fast forward twenty years, B founded The Working Man’s Jam in Highwood, Il - A suburb of Chicago. Recalling his experience in college, he wanted to create a welcoming, inclusive musical environment where listeners could not only listen to the finest Blues the area could offer; Aspiring musicians could actually jam with Artists such as Little Ed, Rockin Johnny, Dave Spector, Toronzo Cannon, Big Head Todd, Chainsaw Dupont, Brother John Kattke, J.B. Richie, Ivy Ford, Michael Williams, Louie Zagoras and Omar Coleman.

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Now residing in New Jersey, B has taken a new turn; choosing to focus on studying jazz guitar and vocals in an endless quest to round out, break new ground and challenge himself, band members and audiences to experience something a little different.