| Sidney Barnes | |
| Birth Name: | Sidney Alexander Barnes Jr. |
| Birth Date: | February 6, 1941 |
| Birth Place: | Welch, West Virginia, United States[1] |
| Origin: | Welch, West Virginia, United States |
| Instrument: | Vocals |
| Genre: | Rhythm and blues, blues, jazz |
| Occupation: | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Years Active: | 1958–present |
| Label: | Motown, Golden World Records |
Sidney Alexander Barnes Jr. (born February 6, 1941) is an American singer,[2] songwriter, and producer. He has been active in music since the early 1960s with Rotary Connection[3] and as a staff writer with Motown during their time with the New York office and credits on albums with George Clinton, The Jackson 5, The Supremes, and B.B. King. Barnes has appeared on more than 150 albums and CD compilations.
Barnes was born in Virginia, USA.[4]
Barnes formed several doo-wop groups in high school, and sang with Marvin Gaye and Herb Heemster of Peaches & Herb. He released a solo recording, "Wait My Love". In 1963 he and his group The Serenades were signed with Berry Gordy. They made a few recordings, but the group was not financially successful.[5] Sidney joined Motown Records staff as a songwriter.[6] In 1964 Barnes composed and recorded with J.J. Jackson.[7] Barnes and Jackson became a freelance songwriting team in 1964, following Barnes' term as a lead writer, producer and talent scout for the recently opened New York office of Motown Records and Jobete Music[8] Barnes and Jackson wrote songs for several R & B solo artists of the period, including Sandra Phillips and Billy Prophet, formerly of The Jive Five. Barnes and Jackson also wrote for The Soul Sisters,[9] and became staff writers at Sue Records, one of the few black-owned record labels based in New York at the time.[8] Barnes and Jackson were soon thereafter signed to exclusive contracts with Red Bird Records and Trio Music Publishing, owed by Leiber and Stoller.[8] Through the Blue Cat Records subsidiary of Red Bird Records, Barnes and Jackson worked on songs for The Shangri-Las. Barnes also recorded for the label.
By 1965, Barnes had emerged as a solo performer, recording songs written by Barnes and Jackson, including "I Hurt On The Other Side",[10] and "I Don't Know Why".[8]
In 1966, Barnes returned to Detroit and joined George Clinton at Golden World Records.[11] During this partnership Barnes worked on "I Bet You" for The Jackson 5. When Golden World Records was sold to Motown, Barnes signed with Chess Records and was signed onto Rotary Connection.
Between 1971 and 1999 Barnes worked on TV, radio jingles, recordings and occasionally toured in the west and midwest United States. He took part in a project with Jerry Goldsmith on the soundtrack for Love at First Bite as well as . Barnes has continued writing and performing on a smaller scale since 2000.
In 2000 Barnes married and moved to North Carolina. He currently resides in Asheville, where he performs locally when not travelling and performing with George Clinton.