Barry McGuire
Encyclopedia
Barry McGuire is an American
singer-songwriter
best known for the hit song "Eve of Destruction", and later as a pioneering singer and songwriter of Contemporary Christian Music
.
, Oklahoma
, and moved to California
in early childhood, when he was 2 years old. At age 16 he joined the United States Navy
, but was discharged ten months later for being under age.
After working as a commercial fisherman, and then going onto become a journeyman pipe fitter, at age 25 McGuire got a job singing in a bar. In 1961, he released his first single
called "The Tree", which was not a hit.
He formed a duo
with Barry Kane called Barry & Barry. The new duo folk act performed their own brand of original folk arrangements - noticeably impressive melodies laced with rich harmonies - at "The Ice House", a small folk club in Pasadena, CA. before moving on to The Troubadour in Hollywood in the spring of 1962. At The Troubadour they both joined The New Christy Minstrels, a large folk group performing there. They continued to perform their separate duo act there as well as performing with The New Christy Minstrels. They cut their first and only album as Barry & Barry called "Here And Now" which contained songs such as "Gold Wedding Ring", "Land Of Odin", "Another Man", "Summer's Over", "You Know My Name", "Bull 'Gine Run", "Far Side Of The Hill" and more. Their LP "Here And Now" on vinyl eventually went out of print, but has since been digitally remastered and rereleased on CD.
In 1963, McGuire along with Randy Sparks
(the founder of The New Christy Minstrels) co-wrote, and sang lead vocal on, the Christys' first and biggest hit single: "Green, Green." He left the Christys in January 1965, after recording the album
, Cowboys and Indians; however, on the 1965 album Chim Chim Cher-ee, he sang only on the title cut.
solo singer in the 1960s, he was best known for his hits "Eve of Destruction" and "Sins of the Family", both written by P.F. Sloan. His other chart successes were "Child of Our Times" (co-written by Steve Barri
) and "Cloudy Summer Afternoon (Raindrops)" (penned by Travis Edmonson of the 1960s folk-duo, Bud & Travis). "Eve of Destruction" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
.
McGuire's LP, The Eve of Destruction, reached its peak of #37 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart
during the week ending 25 September 1965. That same day the single of that name went to #1 on both charts. McGuire was never again to break into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100
. According to McGuire, "Eve of Destruction" was recorded in one take on a Thursday morning (from words scrawled on a crumpled piece of paper) and then he got a call from the record company at 7:00 the next Monday morning, telling him to turn on the radio - his song was playing. The recording includes an "ahhh" where McGuire could not read the words. The Temptations
referenced McGuire's song "Eve of Destruction" in their song "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)
". For other references and covers of "Eve of Destruction" see the article: "Eve of Destruction".
The album This Precious Time was released in 1966, his second with Dunhill Records
. It includes a version of "California Dreamin'
" with The Mamas & the Papas
singing backing vocals
. McGuire is mentioned several times in The Mamas & the Papas
hit, "Creeque Alley
". Frank Zappa
wrote McGuire's name in the sleeve of his Freak Out!
album (1966) as one of his musical influences.
McGuire appeared in the 1967 movie
, The President's Analyst
with James Coburn
as the character, "Old Wrangler," (leader of a band which completely comprised the Los Angeles group Clear Light
, who were between lead vocalists) and in Werewolves on Wheels
in 1971. He also starred for a year in the Broadway musical Hair
.
McGuire became a born-again Christian in 1971 after a brief encounter with evangelist Arthur Blessitt
in October 1970. In 1973, he joined the Myrrh
label and released the album Seeds. This album is also notable for the backing vocals provided by the family trio that would become known as the 2nd Chapter of Acts
. In 1974, McGuire released his second Jesus Music
album Lighten Up, which included a remake of "Eve of Destruction". He toured with 2nd Chapter of Acts and "a band called David
" and in 1975 this collaborative effort resulted in the double live album
, To the Bride.
In 1976, he left Myrrh, joining former Myrrh executive Billy Ray Hearn's new label
, Sparrow Records
. He recorded
seven albums on Sparrow, the best known of which is Cosmic Cowboy, released in 1978. That year he also released a top-selling children's album Bullfrogs and Butterflies
(part of the Agapeland
series) for Sparrow's subsidiary label, Birdwing.
In 1978, he also toured England, Scotland, and Wales with the Jimmy Owens' musical "The Witness", in which he played the part of the apostle Peter. His acting and singing in the musical was considered very inspiring. Also, the voice of Peter on the "Witness" album is his.
with his New Zealand wife Mari (former secretary of McGuire's Agape Force associate, Winkie Pratney
). He returned to the United States
in the 1990s, teaming up with Terry Talbot and recording as Talbot McGuire. The duo released four albums between 1996 and 2000.
In 1990, McGuire published a novel co-written with Logan White. A paperback, In the Midst of Wolves told a story about a group of bikers who come to know God.
As of 2006, he takes engagements which include a few songs and talks on a mixture of topics, by both McGuire and his wife. The McGuires resided in Fresno
, California
on their return to the United States but have since moved back to New Zealand.
On March 12, 2008, McGuire appeared on the Australian music comedy/game show, Spicks and Specks, performing an updated version of "Eve of Destruction", with new lines such as, "You're old enough to kill/ you just started voting" and "... can live for ten years in space". The reference to "Red China" was also removed.
In 2008, McGuire teamed up with former member of The Byrds
, John York
, for a live tour called "Trippin' the '60s", which McGuire describes as "...taking the songs and the truth that was in those songs from the 1960s and bringing them into the present moment...It's not a cover pack, it's us singing songs that we sung with a lot of our friends that aren't around anymore to sing them."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
best known for the hit song "Eve of Destruction", and later as a pioneering singer and songwriter of Contemporary Christian Music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
.
Early life
McGuire was born in Oklahoma CityOklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, and moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in early childhood, when he was 2 years old. At age 16 he joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, but was discharged ten months later for being under age.
After working as a commercial fisherman, and then going onto become a journeyman pipe fitter, at age 25 McGuire got a job singing in a bar. In 1961, he released his first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
called "The Tree", which was not a hit.
He formed a duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
with Barry Kane called Barry & Barry. The new duo folk act performed their own brand of original folk arrangements - noticeably impressive melodies laced with rich harmonies - at "The Ice House", a small folk club in Pasadena, CA. before moving on to The Troubadour in Hollywood in the spring of 1962. At The Troubadour they both joined The New Christy Minstrels, a large folk group performing there. They continued to perform their separate duo act there as well as performing with The New Christy Minstrels. They cut their first and only album as Barry & Barry called "Here And Now" which contained songs such as "Gold Wedding Ring", "Land Of Odin", "Another Man", "Summer's Over", "You Know My Name", "Bull 'Gine Run", "Far Side Of The Hill" and more. Their LP "Here And Now" on vinyl eventually went out of print, but has since been digitally remastered and rereleased on CD.
In 1963, McGuire along with Randy Sparks
Randy Sparks
Randy Sparks is a musician, singer-songwriter and founder of The New Christy Minstrels and The Back Porch Majority. Prior to that, in the late 1950s he had a solo career and released two albums under the Verve label, a self-titled album in 1958 and Walking the Low Road in 1959...
(the founder of The New Christy Minstrels) co-wrote, and sang lead vocal on, the Christys' first and biggest hit single: "Green, Green." He left the Christys in January 1965, after recording the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Cowboys and Indians; however, on the 1965 album Chim Chim Cher-ee, he sang only on the title cut.
Solo career
As a folk rockFolk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
solo singer in the 1960s, he was best known for his hits "Eve of Destruction" and "Sins of the Family", both written by P.F. Sloan. His other chart successes were "Child of Our Times" (co-written by Steve Barri
Steve Barri
Steve Barri is an American songwriter and record producer.Early in his career Barri was a staff writer with Dunhill Records. He frequently collaborated with P.F. Sloan, and the partners were responsible for the success of The Grass Roots and contributed largely to the band's first album...
) and "Cloudy Summer Afternoon (Raindrops)" (penned by Travis Edmonson of the 1960s folk-duo, Bud & Travis). "Eve of Destruction" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
.
McGuire's LP, The Eve of Destruction, reached its peak of #37 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
during the week ending 25 September 1965. That same day the single of that name went to #1 on both charts. McGuire was never again to break into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. According to McGuire, "Eve of Destruction" was recorded in one take on a Thursday morning (from words scrawled on a crumpled piece of paper) and then he got a call from the record company at 7:00 the next Monday morning, telling him to turn on the radio - his song was playing. The recording includes an "ahhh" where McGuire could not read the words. The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
referenced McGuire's song "Eve of Destruction" in their song "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)
Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)
"Ball of Confusion " is a 1970 hit single for The Temptations. It was released on the Gordy label, and produced by Norman Whitfield....
". For other references and covers of "Eve of Destruction" see the article: "Eve of Destruction".
The album This Precious Time was released in 1966, his second with Dunhill Records
Dunhill Records
Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions, originally for the purpose of releasing Johnny Rivers recordings on Imperial Records. It became a record label in 1965 and was distributed by ABC Records...
. It includes a version of "California Dreamin'
California Dreamin'
"California Dreamin is a popular song by The Mamas & the Papas, first released in 1965. The song is #89 in Rolling Stones list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time...
" with The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
singing backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
. McGuire is mentioned several times in The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
hit, "Creeque Alley
Creeque Alley
"Creeque Alley" is an autobiographical hit single written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas in 1967, narrating the story about how the group was formed. The title of the song is derived from the place Creque or Crequi Alley, home to a club in the Virgin Islands where...
". Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
wrote McGuire's name in the sleeve of his Freak Out!
Freak Out!
Freak Out! is the debut album by American band The Mothers of Invention, released June 27, 1966 on Verve Records. Often cited as one of rock music's first concept albums, the album is a satirical expression of frontman Frank Zappa's perception of American pop culture...
album (1966) as one of his musical influences.
McGuire appeared in the 1967 movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, The President's Analyst
The President's Analyst
The President's Analyst is a 1967 satirical comedy film written and directed by Theodore J. Flicker, starring James Coburn. The widescreen cinematography was by William A. Fraker, and Lalo Schifrin provided the film's musical score...
with James Coburn
James Coburn
James Harrison Coburn III was an American film and television actor. Coburn appeared in nearly 70 films and made over 100 television appearances during his 45-year career, and played a wide range of roles and won an Academy Award for his supporting role as Glen Whitehouse in Affliction.A capable,...
as the character, "Old Wrangler," (leader of a band which completely comprised the Los Angeles group Clear Light
Clear Light
Clear Light was a psychedelic rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1966.-History:In 1966, The Brain Train formed and was managed by Sunset Strip hipster Bud Mathis. They recorded one single before changing their name to Clear Light and signing to Elektra Records; Doors' on which producer Paul A...
, who were between lead vocalists) and in Werewolves on Wheels
Werewolves on Wheels
Werewolves on Wheels is a 1971 American exploitation film that blends two genres: the outlaw biker film and the traditional horror movie.-Plot:...
in 1971. He also starred for a year in the Broadway musical Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
.
McGuire became a born-again Christian in 1971 after a brief encounter with evangelist Arthur Blessitt
Arthur Blessitt
Arthur Owen Blessitt is a traveling Christian preacher, most known for carrying a cross through every nation of the world.-Early life and career:...
in October 1970. In 1973, he joined the Myrrh
Myrrh Records
Myrrh Records, also known as Myrrh Worship, is a Christian music record label. According to Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, the label was instrumental in developing a popular following for Contemporary Christian music as the label that first published music by Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of...
label and released the album Seeds. This album is also notable for the backing vocals provided by the family trio that would become known as the 2nd Chapter of Acts
2nd Chapter of Acts
The 2nd Chapter of Acts was a Jesus Music and early Contemporary Christian Music group composed of sisters Annie Herring and Nelly Greisen and brother Matthew Ward. They began performing in 1973 and enjoyed their period of greatest success during the 1970s...
. In 1974, McGuire released his second Jesus Music
Jesus music
Jesus music, known as gospel beat music in the United Kingdom, is a style of Christian music which originated on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This musical genre developed in parallel to the Jesus movement...
album Lighten Up, which included a remake of "Eve of Destruction". He toured with 2nd Chapter of Acts and "a band called David
A band called David
a band called David was a group of musicians who provided the instrumental support from 1974 until 1988 for the 2nd Chapter of Acts, a Contemporary Christian music group....
" and in 1975 this collaborative effort resulted in the double live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
, To the Bride.
In 1976, he left Myrrh, joining former Myrrh executive Billy Ray Hearn's new label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Sparrow Records
Sparrow Records
-Background:Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then A&R director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label"...
. He recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
seven albums on Sparrow, the best known of which is Cosmic Cowboy, released in 1978. That year he also released a top-selling children's album Bullfrogs and Butterflies
Bullfrogs and Butterflies (album)
Bullfrogs and Butterflies is the first album in the Dove Award-winning Christian children's series called Bullfrogs and Butterflies. It is set in Agapeland, and is an off-shoot of the Agapeland album...
(part of the Agapeland
Agapeland
Agapeland, or "Land Called Love," is a fictional place created for a series of children's Christian musical albums by Candle, Birdwing Kid's Korus, Barry McGuire, Tony Salerno, Jim and Dee Patton, and Agape Force in the 1970s and 1980s...
series) for Sparrow's subsidiary label, Birdwing.
In 1978, he also toured England, Scotland, and Wales with the Jimmy Owens' musical "The Witness", in which he played the part of the apostle Peter. His acting and singing in the musical was considered very inspiring. Also, the voice of Peter on the "Witness" album is his.
Later life
In the 1980s, McGuire left the music industry, and settled for a time in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
with his New Zealand wife Mari (former secretary of McGuire's Agape Force associate, Winkie Pratney
Winkie Pratney
Winkie Pratney is a youth communicator, Christian apologist, evangelist, and writer from Auckland, New Zealand. With a mostly teenaged audience, Pratney speaks world wide to over 500,000 annually in churches, universities, high-schools, and Christian-oriented festivals.Pratney's leadership...
). He returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the 1990s, teaming up with Terry Talbot and recording as Talbot McGuire. The duo released four albums between 1996 and 2000.
In 1990, McGuire published a novel co-written with Logan White. A paperback, In the Midst of Wolves told a story about a group of bikers who come to know God.
As of 2006, he takes engagements which include a few songs and talks on a mixture of topics, by both McGuire and his wife. The McGuires resided in Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on their return to the United States but have since moved back to New Zealand.
On March 12, 2008, McGuire appeared on the Australian music comedy/game show, Spicks and Specks, performing an updated version of "Eve of Destruction", with new lines such as, "You're old enough to kill/ you just started voting" and "... can live for ten years in space". The reference to "Red China" was also removed.
In 2008, McGuire teamed up with former member of The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
, John York
John York (musician)
John Foley York is an American bassist and guitarist, born in White Plains, New York on August 3, 1946. He is best known for his work with The Byrds, who he joined in September 1968 as a replacement for the band's original bass player Chris Hillman. He remained with the group until September...
, for a live tour called "Trippin' the '60s", which McGuire describes as "...taking the songs and the truth that was in those songs from the 1960s and bringing them into the present moment...It's not a cover pack, it's us singing songs that we sung with a lot of our friends that aren't around anymore to sing them."
Partial discography
- Barry Here and Now (1962)
- The Barry McGuire Album (1963)
- Eve of Destruction (1965)
- This Precious Time (1965)
- The World's Last Private Citizen (1967)
- McGuire and the Doctor (1971)
- Seeds (1973)
- Lighten Up (1974)
- Narnia (1974)
- Jubilation (1975)
- To the Bride (1975)
- Eve of Destruction (Star Power) (1975)
- C'mon Along (1976)
- Anyone But Jesus (1976)
- Jubilation Two (1976)
- Have You Heard (1977)
- Cosmic Cowboy (1978)
- Inside Out (1979)
- Best of Barry McGuire (1980)
- Finer Than Gold (1981)
- Pilgrim (1989)
- Let's Tend God's Earth (1991)
- When Dinosaurs Walked The Earth (1995)
- Ancient Garden (1997)
- Frost And Fire (1999)
- Eve Of Destruction (20 Inspirational Classics) (2000)
See also
- List of 1970s Christian pop artists
- List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
- List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States
- Hot 100 number-one hits of 1965 (USA)Hot 100 number-one hits of 1965 (USA)These are the Billboard magazine Hot 100 number one hits of 1965.-See also:*1965 in music*List of number-one hits *Cashbox Top 100 number-one singles of 1965...
External links
- www.barrymcguire.com
- Barry McGuire's "Trippin' the '60s" official site
- Interview with Stain Free Media, November 16, 2007
- [ Barry McGuire biography] at Allmusic websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
- TheBeginningsConcert.com - Reunion Concert Event.