--People
In The News--
Dennis Barney
By Norma-Lee
He can sing just about any Merle Haggard song you can name but he is
also a fan of the old standards and classic rock. Born on June 10,
1942, in Idaho Falls, ID, Dennis Barney was destined to be a country
singer. His fiddle-playing grandfather and guitar-picking great-uncles
toured Idaho and Utah by horse and buggy from 1910 until 1940. A couple
of his uncles and even his father played guitar but it was the radio at
home constantly tuned to a country station that determined Dennis's
future. Drawn to those old time melodies and lyrics, he was hooked by
age five.
His mother bought his first guitar when he was 16 (a Sears and Roebuck
Silvertone) and one of his uncles taught him the key of C chords of C,
F, and G. After that it was a matter of watching, listening, learning,
and practicing. Wanting to be a singer like Hank Williams, Dennis
learned his first song also at 16, which was "Jealous Heart". Practice
lead to live performing, which he did with a couple of high school
gigs. Assisted by the radio and records, he continued to hone his
skills and until he was 25.
He left Idaho with his small
band after playing the local clubs for a few years and began the Nevada
casino circuit. He had to leave the band to attend his mother's funeral
back in Idaho and returned to Nevada only to find they had been
replaced. At loose ends, he went on to California to visit his father
who had moved there in 1961.
It was now 1972 and Lloyd Hickey's "40 Grand" club was in it's hayday
as was Jerry Depew's "Nashville West". Both clubs sponsored talent
contests, which Dennis entered. He won one and lost one but the outcome
was an appearance on the television show "California Hayride" and an
invitation to put together a house band for "Nashville West". Hence,
"Dennis Barney and the Nashville Rebels" came to be and was the house
band from 1971 until 1979.
Dennis then took his band back to the Nevada circuit for a few years.
In 1982, he went to work at the "Country Comfort", formerly known as
the "Detour Inn" named after its owner's famous song "Detour" by Okie
Paul Westmoreland. He continued to work there on and off until 1992
when the club closed. During that time, about 1987, Scott Joss, a
fiddler extraordinaire whom Dennis had met through Tiny Moore (Merle
Haggard's fiddler) stopped by the Country Comfort to jam. Dennis hired
him to play for the Nashville Rebels which Scott did until he was hired
away by Dwight Yokum in 1989.
When Scott formed his band "The Souvenirs" he in turn, hired Dennis to
play for him. Scott's band only performed when he wasn't on the road
with Dwight so the work was intermittent and Dennis decided that,
except for performing with Scott, he would take a break from the
business. He could see that the live musician was becoming an
endangered species; with the advent of DJ's and Karaoke, it was
becoming impossible to earn a living with a full band. Open-heart
surgery in December of 1999 added to his decision to "get away from it
all".
About nine years later, day jobs had lost their allure but one has to
make a living. Dennis decided to try a one-man act and it's working! He
can once again make a living doing what he has always loved best;
singing country music. You can find him most Saturdays and Mondays at
the Elkhorn Moose Lodge, Fridays at Lew's Club, and the first Wednesday
of every month at the West Sacramento Moose. He also has several fair
dates coming up this season but he is available for gigs either with
his one-man show or with a full band. Give him a call at 916-798-0031
to book him.
What have the years on the road taught Dennis? He says you must always
play the music that's in your heart and always play for the fan, not
the club owners or other musicians. And, he says, "remember that the
musician on stage, whether he is good or bad, is always playing his
best, which is all you can ask of anyone".
The one mistress a man can never cheat on is Fate and though Dennis
tried to deny her when making a living was in jeopardy, she would have
her way. With his guitar and some backup tracks, Dennis is at ease with
his audience as he once again shares those old melodies but more
importantly, he is at peace with his music. Mistress Fate won out.
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