| Barb Ryman | |
| Birth Name: | Barbara Ann Ryman |
| Birth Place: | Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. |
| Birth Date: | 3 February 1951 |
| Genre: | Americana, indie folk |
| Occupation: | Singer-songwriter, spiritual healer |
| Instrument: | Vocals, guitar |
| Years Active: | 1991–present |
| Label: | CD Baby, Barb Ryman / Renegade |
Barbara Ann Ryman (born February 3, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter, as well as a spiritual healer.[1] Her first album, Winds of Good Fortune, was released in 1993, and she has since released six more albums: Lay Me Open (1995), Like A Tree (1998),[2] Falling Down to Heaven (2002), Earthbound (2007), Catch the Sunset (2012) and her most recent, Breathe (2019), respectively.
Ryman began playing at Twin Cities coffeehouses [3] but as her career took off, she nationally toured the folk circuit playing at such venues as Boston's Club Passim,[4] her hometown's The Cedar Cultural Center,[5] [6] Nashville's Bluebird Café, Portland's Folk Music Society,[7] and Texas' Uncle Calvin's.[8] Her music has since charted nationally on Folk-DJ’s top albums chart as well as on NACC. Ryman has been featured on The Midnight Special, a syndicated radio show, and The Morning Show. She headlined the first rural LGBT Pride, East-Central Minnesota Pride.[9] In 2006, the ABC TV show Sons & Daughters licensed Ryman's song, All American Dysfunctional Family.[10] Ryman had artist and album reviews published in the StarTribune,[11] and on TwinCities.com,[12] as well as national folk and world music media including Dirty Linen and Sing Out!. According to Sault Ste. Marie's SooToday.com, "Ryman lays insightful, witty lyrics into a rich mosaic of contemporary folk, gentle rock, and country blues, delivering it all with a clear, compelling voice. She gently charms every audience she meets with her sincerity and playful stage banter."[13]
Ryman was nominated for several music awards by the Minnesota Music Academy, including: Songwriter of the Year and Folk Album of the Year.[14] She was past winner of the McKnight Composer Fellowship from the McKnight Foundation (2002). In 2007, Ryman was a NewSong Showcase Winner at the Walnut Valley Festival in the Feeling Good category with her song, Strawberry Pie.[15] She was a finalist in other competitions, such as at Big Top Chautauqua and at the Great River Folk Fest.
Besides being a performing songwriter, Ryman also carries out energy work on individuals and with rivers.[16] Ryman's son is comedian Tommy Ryman.[17]