Our Bio

Donnie Barbra, born and raised in Blount County in East Tennessee, became interested in music during the biggest musical explosion of all times, which included musical greats such as Elvis, The Beatles, and Patsy Cline to name only a few. So when Donnie picked up the guitar at age thirteen and began playing in bands, those bands were the sounds he tried to emulate. Donnie was especially fascinated with the harmony vocals of The Everly Brothers and longed to emulate that sound as well; not realizing that years later he would have that opportunity. Later, when Donnie heard the incredible finger style guitar playing of Merle Travis, he was hooked and the rock and roll was left behind.

Determined to play that style of guitar, he spent countless hours developing his own finger style technique, unaware that later it would fit into the plan. About this time Donnie met some friends who played bluegrass which was a style he had been introduced to by his Dad who listened to country and bluegrass greats such as Flatt & Scruggs, The Osborne Brothers, and many others. Being familiar with the bluegrass sound, Donnie joined the band as guitarist and lead vocalist.

Donnie met Debbie while he was playing bluegrass part-time and working full time at his day job. He decided to leave his job and pursue music full time and for a while Donnie and Debbie lost touch with each other. Later, when they were reunited, they discovered the common bonds they shared for music had grown into something much deeper. They were married in 1981 and made their home in Blount County.
Donnie was still playing with a bluegrass band but due to work schedules and other issues the band split shortly after Donnie and Debbie were married. At this time Donnie decided he was going to leave the music business although that decision lasted for about two weeks. Meanwhile Donnie had heard Debbie singing around the house.

Debbie, who was born in Roane County in East Tennessee, had many of the same musical influences as Donnie and was especially influenced by the harmony of The Everly Brothers and the incredible voice of Patsy Cline. Donnie decided maybe they could work up some songs together and he began teaching her to sing harmony. One night Donnie came home with a bass guitar, an amp, and a list of songs. He said he had found a mandolin and banjo player and they had a job in 2 weeks. From that point until today they have been playing together.

They have had several bands with several different members and each year it seems Donnie and Debbie have branched out a little more. Their song lists have always included tunes they both love and over the years they have done a variety of music such as swing, jazz, country, standards, bluegrass, and gospel. At the same time it was getting harder to keep bands together so they decided to take the group to its simplest form. The choice was made to do the music they love with just the two of them. The Barbras came into existence out of Donnie and Debbie’s love for a variety of music and the need to perform without constantly breaking in new band members.

The Barbra’s sound is centered around the vocals and the harmonies they both love and the basis for their music is the finger style guitar technique that Donnie spent so many hours perfecting years ago. This style of guitar playing works extremely well with Debbie’s vocals on the standards as well as all the other styles they both love performing.
Their fans call their style swing n’ folk.

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