Today, September 5, is the birthday of my sister-in-law Joanne Barry. Joanne has been such a significant source of love in my life for as many years as I can remember. It is no coincidence that when my mother looked at her three children—Carl, Elizabeth, and me—she named Joanne as one of her “four golds.” Joanne was never an in-law. She was a daughter to my mom and, to me, she has been as much of a dear sister and trusted friend and confidante as any brother could ever have wished for.
It also doesn’t hurt that she’s got the voice of an angel. I could think of no better way of celebrating her birthday than to have assembled a six-song set of Joanne’s recordings and live performances through the years, which I’ve uploaded to both YouTube and Facebook. Most of these recordings have never been released, and I’m happy to bring them to a larger audience. Except for the blazing “Come Back to Me,” from the 1965 Broadway musical, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, the selections are all ballads—because, quite frankly, Joanne is a great balladeer.
Two of the selections I taped live on an audio cassette recorder at Dangerfield’s in Manhattan. Carl is the featured guitarist on every recording, but at Dangerfield’s, he had the wonderful support of the extraordinary pianist, composer, and arranger, Eric Knight.
The night that Joanne debuted at Dangerfield’s as the opening act for the great Rodney had its hilarious moments—apart from Rodney’s comedic set. At the end of the night, with the club emptying out, Rodney came into the lounge area in his bathrobe and complimented Joanne on her lovely gown. “Where did you work tonight?” he asked. Realizing how oblivious he was, Joanne replied: “I opened for you!” Rodney may have gotten “no respect”, but that question — “Where did you work tonight?” — became his signature line to Joanne anytime she opened for him at the celebrated club through the years.
Joanne’s love for music reflects her love for life and for those who adore her. And the music she has made with my brother, guitarist Carl Barry, is a testament to that love. Here are the selections featured in today’s video:
- “If I Ruled the World” (Leslie Bricusse / Cyril Ornadel) – from “This is Me” (Echo)
- “The Music That Makes Me Dance” (Jule Styne / Bob Merrill) – from “This is Me” (Echo)
- “Come Back to Me” (Burton Lane / Alan Jay Lerner) – Live at Dangerfield’s
- Medley: “Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)” (Jimmy Davis / Roger Ramirez / James Sherman) and “The Man I Love” (George and Ira Gershwin) – Live at Dangerfield’s
- “The Way He Makes Me Feel” (Michel Legrand / Alan and Marilyn Bergman) – Previously unreleased studio recording
- “The Wings of My Heart” (James Ingram / Keith Diamond) – Previously unreleased studio recording
Happy birthday, Wan! Many more happy and healthy returns! I love you with all my heart!
Notablog 