Man With A Guitar.

 ******The song you're now listening to is "In The City", written and recorded by Mike in 1997 and taken from the album "The Sun Will Shine Again."******

MIKE BARRY has been a singer/guitarist since the early days of rock'n'roll. He is also a guitar teacher of note having taught other people to play for over 30 years. He is currently teaching and singing in Hong Kong. Mike is registered with the world-wide Registry Of Guitar Tutors and has been a member of CASH (Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong) since 2002.

Mike Barry (real name Mike Carrington) has been in show business since his schooldays. His first-ever singing appearance was at the age of 11 when he sang Come Back To Sorrento accompanied by a lady playing an aged piano with some of the keys missing! From that day on he decided to learn an instrument to accompany himself on, so that all mistakes would be made by him!

He taught himself to play the guitar (no guitar teachers where he lived) and a few months later formed his first group, the Sabres. Mike played guitar and sang, the drummer was Ian W. Malone and the bassist Barry Howse. Where are they now? The Sabres stayed together for 2 years and were quite popular not only for their music but also for their non-intentional comedy routines such as repairing the bass or drums in the middle of a song! Their equipment was not of the highest quality.

Mike moved on from the Sabres when he was invited to join top London group Johnny and the Stormriders on rhythm guitar. This group played at many of London's top clubs, and Mike improved his guitar playing to such an extent that he was able to compete for the lead guitarists job. This did not please the usual lead guitarist, so Mike decided to move on and form his own band.

Shortly after his departure from the Stormriders, Mike formed  the group that was to stay together for 5 years and almost make him famous, The Vibratones. The lead singer was Buddy Earl, and he was to make many memorable appearances and recordings with the Vibratones until the final breakup due to artistic disagreements. The group toured Germany, appeared on TV and did a recording test with Cliff Richard's recording, Jim Barrett, manager at EMI's famous Abbey Road studios. The test didn't go well, so it was farewell to the Vibratones. During the Vibratone years Mike was also doing some studio session work with top groups in and around London. He became well-known around the studios as a guitar player who could play anything!

Mike did form one more group in late 1965; They were known as The Ultimate Machine and featured Mike on vocals and lead guitar, George, former lead singer from the Vibratones, Phil Watkins on rhythm guitar and a mad drummer known as Maverick! Maverick owned a large Daimler limo which was the group's transport. Luxury indeed! They lasted for about 9 months and had a totally unique sound. This sound was, unfortunately, not appreciated by most of the public. So the Machine quietly drove away to obscurity in it's luxurious limo.

Mike joined the RAF after the breakup of the Ultimate Machine, but he still carried on playing, singing and occasionally teaching the guitar in various parts of the world. On leaving the RAF he returned to music and was asked to join a top Norfolk show band, The Allen Warburton Show Band. With them he played with many top stars of the day including the late great Roy Castle. During this period Mike went on stage alone at a top nightclub (Talk Of The Town) and won an Entertainer Of The Year award.

After Allen Warburton disbanded his show group, Mike was immediately asked to join the Dick Remik Set. This was a 3-piece outfit and Mike had to do lead singing and lead guitar duties. It was hard work, but fun and lasted for over a year before Mike left the UK for good and came to live and work in Hong Kong. 

On his arrival in Hong Kong, Mike was given his own show at the Holiday Inn Golden Mile. For 3 nights Mike (backed by the brilliant Filipino house band) held the sell-out crowds spellbound as he rocked his way through the great songs of yesteryear. He went on to play at the well-known Lord nightclub as well as doing many guest spots at various venues throughout Hong Kong. For other info about Mike, his recordings and his long career, check out his original web page at  http://www.singerguitarlearn.greatnow.com/ 

Mike was asked to teach guitar at ESF and other international schools in 1982 and he has been doing so ever since. He is still doing shows and in 1997 recorded his best-selling album of self-penned songs "The Sun Will Shine Again". He is hoping to do another album in the near future. If you want to hear and dance to the authentic sounds of long ago wth the man who was there, get MIKE BARRY for your function.

Hear Mike sing 2 tracks from his  album by visiting  www.soundlift.com/mikebarry  .  You can also listen to his former guitar student Louisa Jorge sing "Don't Turn Out The Light", another of Mike's songs. This track was recorded at Mike's own studio in 1994 when Louisa was at South Island School in Hong Kong.

Mike can be contacted for guitar lessons and personal appearances at: Tel/Fax:(852)29820345. Mob: 91516401.

E-mail: emcc42@hotmail.com  or  mikecarrington@rocketmail.com ..

All musicians (especially guitarists!) feel arthritis-type pains in their hands and wrists from time to time. OLEIA oil from the Philippines can help you with this. It can also help you to sleep and get rid of headaches from late-night gigs. Call/sms Mike on 91516401. E-mail:  emcc42@hotmail.com