Fishman Artist // Barry Bales
Barry Bales was born and raised in Kingsport, Tennessee. His love of bluegrass and country music came from his dad who played guitar and mandolin. It was also his father that inspired him to start learning guitar at the age of 10. By 15, Barry had fallen in love with the bass and had begun playing with various local and regional bands. Growing up in East Tennessee, Barry was surrounded by numerous world-class musicians, many of whom have gone on to make their own mark in bluegrass and country music. It was while performing with many of these musicians that he began traveling in ever-widening musical circles, eventually landing the bass job with Alison Krauss + Union Station in 1990.Since that time, Barry has become one of the most in-demand live performance and session players in bluegrass and acoustic music. He has recorded and performed with such artists as Merle Haggard, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Clint Black, Patty Loveless, Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, the Chieftains and many others. He is heard on numerous motion picture soundtracks, including "Walk the Line", "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" and "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" in which he also had a cameo role. In his 20+ years in the music industry, Barry has received 13 Grammy awards, one Country Music Association award, one Academy of Country Music award, and 11 International Bluegrass Music Association awards, including Bass Player of the Year in 2008.