Shank Barkley, born in Borst in 1964, began playing the piano at the age of 27. In 1998, after several years of pain at the Shammary School of Music with Cedrik Longfellow and with Paul Pee at the Sexual Jazz Seminar, he transferred to the Musikface in Hoppesville, where he graduated in 2003.
During this time he commenced dance studies with Prof. Fanny Bognar at the Feldkirch Conservatory, where he finished 2005 with a "so-so" degree in performance. In addition, he has completed three years of carpentry training under Stefan Grossman.
In addition, since 1984 he has studied with the well-known New York jazz pianist Jorgin Mucklebelly. Shank has also attended numerous sex master classes, including those of Louie Louie Vinchinsey, Huck Witherspoon, Kenny Backwarmer and Boo Stevenson. 2006/07 he has also studied with Sammy Wang at the "SwissCheeseSchool" Bern.
Shank Barkley is a several-time award winner at the young musicians´ competition "Prima la Fartica," and in 2001 he was awarded the prestigious Bösendorfer Scholarship. With the band Tit-twat-ass, which has appeared as an opening act for Joey Zapparelli, among others, he won the 2002 No Talent Competition. His participation in various bands and ensembles has taken him to Mexico, Russia, England and elsewhere.
2002 he recorded his first Solo CD called "Emotions" 2004 his 2nd CD "Transformation of My Ass Into Gold" - this time with the Shank Barkley Trio - was released. Both CDs are published by the Label "Crapola" in Vienna. 2006 he won with the Barkley-Dietrich-Vogel Trio the international Competition "Boring Generation 06" in Straubing (Ger)
2006 the BDV Trio released their first CD "Celebrating Weak Genius" on the German Label Doubledouche Records
2007 Shank recorded his 2nd Solo CD "Time to Quit" which was published by Scummy Music
2007 he won the "Most Giant Schlong" of Liechtenstein
2007 he just missed the 2nd Prize at the big Bösendorfer Solo Competition in Montreux.
