Patrick (or PJ as his friends call him) Barth began his musical career at a very early age. His older brother Chris was a drummer and he sat PJ in front of the set when he was just two or three. Immediately PJ knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Chris seeing PJ take to music carved out a piece of wood to look like a guitar so when he played drums, his little brother could play guitar and sing along with him. ironically, PJ began playing a real guitar at age 15. He never looked back. He spent years playing in the basement honing his craft and finding his true voice in the blues and soul music. Listening to Jimi Hendrix, BB King and Buddy Guy CD's he soaked up every guitar lick he could figure out. By age 22, PJ was ready to show what he could do at local open jams. Soon after he joined numerous bands around Milwaukee and Chicago and played everywhere he could. His humble demeanor and letting his abilities to speak for itself earned him quick respect and a solid reputation for always throwing down, and hanging with the upper echelon players.
His love for all music has made him a true asset in almost any genre. From blues, to rock, to soul and R&B, to country and funk, PJ firmly holds his own. Strongest influences include: Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Cropper, Eric Clapton and Ray Charles. Along with playing guitar, his singing is incendiary. He has a mix of old gospel and blues influences along with his own take on them. PJ played in Milwaukee's premier power trio, The Stratatones with Rick Holmes and Dave Braun. They were nominated for a Wisconsin Area Music Industry award for Best Blues/Soul/R&B Group. PJ got an oppurtunity to sit in at BB King's Blues Clubs in Nashville and was asked to visit the Memphis club on historic Beale St. to meet the owner. He was able to sit in with the Memphis band, and was offered a full time position with the company. PJ went back to Milwaukee and sold all his possesions and threw the rest away. He moved to Memphis with three guitars, three suitcases and his car. PJ is currently a Featured Artist and House Guitar Player for BB King's Blues Clubs in Memphis TN, and Orlando Fl. He is honored to be playing with The BB King All Star Band, and fronting the BB King Pure Blues Band.PJ Barth has played with and opened for legends such as BB King, Buddy Guy, Steve Cropper (Booker T and the MG's), Robben Ford, Coco Montoya, Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Leroy and Teenie Hodges (Al Green Band), Koko Taylor, Gary Hoey, Greg Koch, Bernard Purdie, Kenny Neal, Ruby Wilson, Preston Shannon, Sean Costello, Tinsley Ellis, Johnny Lang, Guitar Shorty, Joe Cocker, Indiginous and many more
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