Download "Blow Your Cool"
   Winner of 2018 best self-produced record competition from The MN Blues Society!

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Bio:
Twin Cities based harmonica man Paul Barry has been playing professionally since the 70’s. In the 80’s he befriended the great William Clarke and became a protégé of the late, legendary blues man. In the 80’s and 90’s Barry played in two of the Twin Cities best blues bands Bobby Johnson and the Crowns as well as with Dave McRae and the Blues Exchange.

Early in 2016 Paul Barry released an album’s worth of material from 1992 where he backed the great former Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf sideman, Otis “Smokey” Smothers.  This was Smothers last studio recording.  The album That’s Alright was a wonderful surprise to the blues world and received high marks from blues critics and fans.  Barry subsequently released two albums :"Talk Is Cheap" in 2017 and "Blow It Cool" in 2018.  Both albums received high praise from critics and fans and "Blow It Cool" was selected as Best Album of 2018 by the Minnesota Blues Society.  Barry and his band, Paul Barry & The Ace Tones play are based in the Twin Cities and play in local clubs and festivals. in and around the area and state of Minnesota.

Reviews:
“With 'Blow Your Cool' Paul Barry positions himself definitively between the better blues harpists we know. Barry proves how pure blues can still be… “ 
Rootstime Belgium

"Real blues is out there as evidenced by this fine recording. Sometimes you just have to search it out."
Blues Blast Magazine, July 2018

"#1 New Blues CD for the week of June 2, 2018 Smokestack Lightnin"  WUCF 89.9 FM Orlando,FL

​"Excellent Minnesota based band that plays true to the sound.  Paul Barry is an excellent harp player who shows his love for WILLIAM CLARKE"- Bluebeat Records

"Top Ten (#9) Album of 2018".   Blues Junction
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​"Paul Barry is an absolute bear on harmonica. What he does best, he does with the caliber of the best in the field. The Paul Barry Blues Band knows Talk is Cheap, but hot harmonica speaks louder than words!" - 
Blues Blast Magazine

​"I taught Paul many things on the harmonica and he has become a fine player in his own right"- William Clarke