Barry Minniefield Biography

Barry Minniefield


In the film world, Barry Craig Minniefield is known as, "Hollywood’s
Singing Chef." He earned this title for his extraordinary talents in
acting, singing and as a gourmet chef during a 10-year stint at the
world-famous Improvisation Comedy Clubs. Minniefield has performed
or cooked for a long list of celebrities including Roseanne Barr
Tom Arnold, Cher, Milton Berle, Jay Leno (on the "Tonight Show"),
Arsenio Hall, Nancy Wilson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Oprah Winfrey
and Robin Williams. In 1990, Minniefield decided to move on
from cooking and comedy to focus on his music. He never looked
back. "Music has been good to me. It hasn’t been easy to make it
totally on music, but I’ve managed to do alright," says Minniefield.

Early influences: "My father was my biggest influence. He would
have that stereo blaring with jazz and big band music, especially on
Sundays. We still talk on the phone just about every day." "My
grandmother also had me singing gospel in church and my uncle
worked for several different record companies, so I was always
immersed in good music," reflects Minniefield. "I dug the Jackson
Five; I’d practice their numbers in the basement with my cousins. I
used to love watching ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ and checking out all
the musical acts." Among role models, Minniefield cites Frank Sinatra,
Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn.
"Stevie Wonder has been a real influence too, both his music and
singing. He’s challenged us all to be more creative, to be better.

Instruments: Voice, percussion.

Genre: Jazz, R&B, Pop.

Background: "I was singing in my high school choir in the late ’70s,
and we toured all over California and Florida." "When I started
singing with bands, I picked up percussion instruments and started
filling in when others played their solos. It’s worked out fine."
Minniefield has also acted in productions of "Romeo and Juliet," "Bye
Bye Birdie" and "Jesus Christ Superstar," as well as numerous
commercials. "I’m also a good ‘laugher’ for voice-overs," he chuckles.
"When I got tired of Hollywood and the cooking gig, I moved to Palm
Springs and just love it here. There are many excellent musicians here
here in the desert and I am grateful to be able to sing with any of them."

Current projects: Minniefield performs regularly with Steve Madaio
and Bob O’Connor, and they can expand from a trio to 25 pieces.
Madaio and O’Connor are working with Minniefield on his new CD.
Look for that release, "Give me Love," coming soon from Mirada Records.
"I’m also thinking about putting a show together, a tribute to
Luther Vandross, Barry White and a few others of that caliber."

Insights: "At age 30, I changed my career and my lifestyle and
moved here to concentrate on singing." "I’ve always listened to
myself, that inner voice that comes from just knowing what’s right."
"Never let anyone tell you that you can’t."