Del Barber

Early life

Barber was born on October 14, 1983, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He cites some of his influences as Townes Van Zandt, Greg Brown, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Wilco, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Loretta Lynn, Mississippi John Hurt, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Merle Haggard, The Band, and Ryan Adams. Del is also influenced by authors such as Farley Mowat, Wendell Berry, Jack Kerouac, and Kathleen Norris.

Career

Barber began recording music while attending college. From there he would start playing shows all across North America. During his one year at North Park University, he would continue to write music and then make his way back to Winnipeg to study philosophy.

After the release of two early demo albums, Barber went back into the studio to record his eleven-track album Where the City Ends. With many positive reviews of this album, he continued to tour extensively in support of the album. In 2010, Barber released his second album entitled Love Songs for the Last Twenty. Once again, Barber had critical success with the album and continued to tour extensively. In August 2010, Barber was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award for Roots Solo Album of the Year for Where the City Ends. The album also received a second nomination for Best Album Design of the Year which album designer Brooke Nelson was nominated. In 2011, he was nominated for a Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year for "Love Songs of the Last Twenty." On April 11, 2011 Barber appeared as the musical guest and interview on CBC Q with Jian Ghomeshi. The show was taped live as a part of The Winnipeg Comedy Festival. Barber performed "Miles & Years" and "As Far As I Can Tell." Later in 2011, Barber's career continued to reach new heights when he won two Western Canadian Music Awards for Independent Album of the Year and Roots Solo Recording of the Year.

In early 2012, Barber signed a deal with Six Shooter Records. Headwaters was released on May 1. In support of the album, Barber embarked on a cross Canada tour opening for Old Man Luedecke.

On September 17, 2013, True North Records announced that they signed Del and that he will release his first record on the label in February 2014. Four of the tracks were heard on his NoiseTrade page to promote the album. The album is entitled Prairieography and was released on February 4, 2014. The album was co-produced by William "Bill" J. Western. Western also plays in Barber's band.

On April 15, 2016; Barber along with the No Regretzkys released The Puck Drops Here through Corn Cob Music and True North Records. With Barber being a hockey fan, this was a hockey themed album with distinct rock and country sounds.

Band members

When not performing by himself in his solo work, Barber plays with his backup band The Del Barber Band. The members are as follows.

Studio albums

Where the City Ends

1. "Morning Song"
2. "Story That You Tell"
3. "Where the City Ends"
4. "Love is Just a Wrecking Ball"
5. "Muddy Palms"
6. "Hurry"
7. "Leather Boot Blues"
8. "Harvest"
9. "Long Long Winter"
10. "God Damn Desire"
11. "The Party Song"

Love Songs for the Last Twenty

1. "As far as I Can Tell"
2. "Chicago"
3. "Love Song for the Last Twenty"
4. "Miles and Years"
5. "Home to Manitoba"
6. "Coming Home with the Summer"
7. "Story I Can Believe"
8. "If I Told You That I Love You"
9. "Songwriter's Lament"
10. "62 Richmond"
11. "Thunder Bay"
12. "Katy Sparrow"

Headwaters

1. "Love and Wine"
2. "Everything Is Not Enough"
3. "Queen of July"
4. "Believe Me"
5. "Can't Turn Around"
6. "Right Side of the Wrong"
7. "The Waitress"
8. "Running on a Wire"
9. "Hen House Manifesto"
10. "Soul of the Land That's Mine"

Praireography

1. "Living with a Long Way to Go"
2. "Farewell, God Bless You Goodbye"
3. "Walking in a Straight Line"
4. "Arianna"
5. "Country Girl"
6. "Peter and Jenny Lee"
7. "It’s Harder Than You Think"
8. "Big Smoke"
9. "Yellowhead Road"
10. "The Wind and The Road"
11. "The Sparrow and The Crow"
12. "All That It Takes"
13. "Tell Me Where to Start"
14. "White Lines and Taillights"

The Puck Drops Here

1. "The Hockey Theme"
2. "Big League"
3. "Lights Go out"
4. "Sawchuk"
5. "Clear The Track, Here Comes Shack"
6. "Flame of Victory (Coach’s Corner Theme)"
7. "The Hockey Song"
8. "Hudson Bay Rules"
9. "A Game Goin’ On"
10. "Mon Chandail de Hockey"
11. "The Hey Song aka Rock And Roll (Part 2)"
12. "Gretzky Rocks"
13. "Hockey Night Tonight"
14. "The Hockey Theme (O/T)"

Singles