About Del Barber
Delainey Doucha Barber is a Canadian independent folk, folk rock, Americana, and alternative country singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. Barber has been nominated for and won a number of awards including a being nominated for a 2011 Juno Award for Love Songs of the Last 20 in the category of Roots & Traditional Album of the Year - Solo. Later in 2011 he won two Western Canadian Music Awards for Independent Album of the Year and Roots Solo Recording of the Year. In 2012, Barber was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award in the category of Solo Artist of the Year. In 2013, he once again won the Roots Solo Recording of the Year for Headwaters at the Western Canadian Music Awards. In 2020, he was nominated for a Juno Award in the category of Contemporary Roots Album of the Year.
Barber was born on October 14, 1983, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to Boyd Barber and Jean Doucha. Growing up in the St. Norbert neighbourhood of Winnipeg, he took up the guitar. By the time he was sixteen, he was writing music and performing in different bands. One summer, after working to save up money, he recorded the songs he had written. This was first glimpse of Del writing and producing his own music. After his first self recording became a hit among his friends, they encouraged and convinced him to play a live show. Despite his early success, Barber was doubtful about this being a viable career choice. But as he finished school and moved on to college, he would continue with music.
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, Ryan Adams, and Rancid. Del is also influenced by authors such as Farley Mowat, Wendell Berry, Jack Kerouac, and Kathleen Norris.
Barber continued recording music while attending Covenant Bible College. From there he would start playing shows all across North America. During his one year at North Park University studying philosophy, he would continue to write music. He would then make his way back to Winnipeg to continue studying 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. Where the City Ends was nominated in the category of Roots Solo Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. In 2010, Barber released his second album entitled Love Songs for the Last 20. 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 - Solo for Love Songs for the Last 20. On April 11, 2011 Barber appeared as the musical guest and interview on the CBC Radio One show 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. The album was co-produced with Sam Kassirer in which thirty demo tracks were recorded before ten were chosen for the album. In support of the album, Barber embarked on a cross Canada tour opening for Old Man Luedecke. Barber had an album release show at the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg on October 26. He was nominated in the 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards in the category of Solo Artist of the Year.
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