About Me
A natural storyteller with a deep compassion for the lost and forgotten voices of our culture, Barb Ryman expects music to be more than entertaining. With a crystallinr voice and skillfully played guitar, she delivers a rich mosaic of contemporary folk, drawing from country blues, Celtic balladry, old-time gospel, and folk rock. Her latest CD, Earthbound, is reflective of the breadth & depth of her writing, and is receiving play on folk programs across the nation including the nationally syndicated, Midnight Special. From the Cedar Cultural Center in Minnesota, to Uncle Calvin’s in Texas, to the Portland Folk Society in the West, to Club Passim in the East, Barb draws in audiences with her captivating live concerts as she tours the U.S.
Ryman is distinguished for her ability to write music that heals. Having lost her father, a navy pilot, when she was four, she was intuitively drawn to the healing professions and became an accomplished speech-language therapist helping children with special needs develop communication skills. Barb went on for her masters in counseling psychology, facilitated grief groups and delved into other spiritual pursuits. This background seamlessly integrated itself into her music, making her concerts both entertaining and restoring.
Her career launched in 1996 when the Minneapolis Star Tribune ranked her CD, Lay Me Open, a top ten release across all genres, and the St. Paul Pioneer Press proclaimed “You can’t help being amazed at the power of her presence and the sound of her voice. You can’t help but listenâ€. Now with five CDs, her latest, Earthbound, features guest musicians of Prairie Home Companion fame, Peter Ostroushko, Adam Granger, and Prudence Johnson. Since her start, Ryman has received nine nominations for Minnesota Music Awards including Songwriter Of The Year, Recording Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Female Vocalist. In 2002, the American Composers Forum awarded her the coveted McKnight Composer Fellowship. Also known for her topical humor, ABC television bought rights to her satirical song “All American Dysfunctional Family†to promote a 2006 sit-com pilot. In 2007, she was a New Song Winner at the Winfield Folk Festival, a major U.S. festival. For more information about Ryman’s music visit www.barbryman.com
MEDIA REVIEWS:
"You can't help being amazed at the power of her presence and the sound of her voice. You can't help but listen."-
Jim Walsh, St. Paul Pioneer Press
"Barb Ryman proves herself a strong vocalist, talented composer, and an astutely irreverent student of the human condition." -
Dirty Linen
"Rymans songs of faith display wonder, awe and acceptance." -
Sing Out!
"A heart-on-sleeve triumph" -
Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Charming vulnerability and a rare knack for detailing the profound truths of everyday life. Her clear, ringing voice was reminiscent of Sandy Denny or Iris Dement."-
Jim Meyer, Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Ryman has a clear and winsome voice, a ready sense of humor, and a short story writers flair for detail." -
Tom Surowicz, Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Besides an unaffected sense of humor, Ryman possesses a sharp eye for social criticism and a truly moving compassion for human struggle..." -
City Pages (Minneapolis/St Paul)
"After 18 years of listening to singer-songwriters in this business, I can tell when someone stands out. Barb Ryman is IT." -
Gorge Maida, WCVE Radio, Richmond VA
"Ryman delivers an honest and straightforward performance traveling over emotional peaks and valleys with remarkable fluidity." -
St. Paul Pioneer Press
"Her voice is like a soft haunt from a ghost just stopping by to give you a gentle massage. But while the spirit may visit only temporarily, the feel stays with you for days."
Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, SD
"Magnificent melodies and brilliant singing"
RadioTeutoburger Wald, Germany
CD Falling Down To Heaven..."what an emotional, sweetly acoustic trip it is" -
David Kleiner, Minor7th.com
