George Barnes (musician)
| George Barnes | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | George Warren Barnes |
| Born | July 17, 1921 South Chicago Heights, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | September 5, 1977 (aged 56) Concord, California |
| Genres | Jazz, blues, swing, pop, rock, country |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1931–1977 |
| Labels | Okeh, Keynote, Decca, Mercury, Stash, United Artists, Audiophile, Columbia, A&R, Famous Door, Concord Jazz |
| Associated acts | Carl Kress, Bucky Pizzarelli, Ruby Braff |
| Website | www |
| Notable instruments | |
| Guild George Barnes Acousti-Lectric guitar, Guild George Barnes Guitar in F | |
George Warren Barnes (July 17, 1921 – September 5, 1977) was an American swing jazz guitarist, who is believed to have played the first electric guitar in 1931, preceding Charlie Christian by six years. Barnes made the first commercial recording of an electric guitar on March 1, 1938, in sessions with Big Bill Broonzy.
Barnes was born in South Chicago Heights, Illinois. He started his professional career at the age of 12, when he received his musicians' union card and toured throughout the Midwest. By the time he was 14, he was accompanying blues vocalists such as Big Bill Broonzy and Blind John Davis. On March 1, 1938, he recorded "Sweetheart Land" and "It's a Lowdown Dirty Shame" with Broonzy, the first commercial recordings of an electric guitar. Later in 1938, he was hired as a staff musician for the NBC orchestra, and became a featured performer on the radio shows National Barn Dance and Plantation Party.
In 1940, Barnes released his first recording under his own name, "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" backed with "I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me", on Okeh Records.
Barnes was drafted into the Army in 1942, and served as an intercept operator in the basement of the Pentagon. Immediately after his discharge in 1946, he formed the George Barnes Octet and was given a 15-minute radio program on the ABC network.
He and Evelyn Lorraine Triplett were married in Chicago on January 17, 1947.
In 1951, Barnes was signed to Decca Records by Milt Gabler and moved from Chicago to New York City. In 1953, he joined the orchestra for the television show Your Hit Parade. The band was conducted by Raymond Scott, and Barnes was a featured soloist. Barnes, Scott, and vocalist Dorothy Collins (Scott's wife) also recorded together.
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