简介：PittsburghnativeBarryLevenson'slifelongloveaffairwiththebluesbeganatanearlyage.Atfourteen,anolderfriendplayedhimsomeofBuddyGuy'sVanguardrecordsandLevensonimmediatelyfellhopelesslyandpassionatelyinlovewiththisgreatAmericanartform. Afterplayinginnumerousbluesbandsinhishometown,Levensonlandedajobdoingstudiowork,whichhestilldoestothisday.HethenmovedtoBostontostudyarrangingattheBerkleeSchoolofMusic.WhileinBoston,hebecamethehouseguitaristatBoston'spremierrhythmandblueshotspot,theSugarShack,backingupnumerousR&Bandsoulgreats.Lookingforabetterclimate,bothmusicallyandweatherwise,LevensonnextmovedtothesunnyclimesofSouthernCalifornia,whereheimmediatelybeganworkingwithsuchbluesgreatsasBigMamaThornton,PeeWeeCrayton,PercyMayfield,LowellFulsonandJ.D.Nicholson.Ofthisexcitingandfruitfulperiod,Levensonsays,“IwasluckytogetinonthetailendoftheincredibleL.A.bluesscenebecausewithinafewyears,mostofthesegreatartistshadpassedon.”LevensonthenformedhisowngroupcalledtheAutomatics,whichlandedarecordingcontractwithfamedKentRecordswherehewasthehouseproducer. Theguitarist'snextstepwastolandadealwiththeprestigiousEuropeanjazzandblueslabel,StoryvilleRecordsunderhisownname.Levenson'sfirstrelease,HearttoHand,receivedcriticalravesandwasoneofthemostpopularinstrumentalreleasesofthedecade.AtthisjunctureinLevenson'scareerhewashiredasaproducerandA&RmanforStoryville,findingundiscoveredandoverlookedtalent,thenproducingandrecordingthem.ThiswasthenfollowedbytheClosertotheBluesreleasewhichgarneredaninvitationtotheprestigiousBluesEstafetteFestivalinHolland.Levenson'slatestreleaseforStoryville,HardTimesWon,earnedhimaHandyAwardnominationforBluesSongoftheYear.Hewasalsoincludedon2DeltaLaserlightcompilations,BluesGuitarHeavenalongwithMuddyWaters,TBoneWalkerandMikeBloomfieldtonameafew;andBluesforaRainyDaywithTBoneWalker,BuddyGuyandBobbyBland.OtherhighlightsofLevenson'scareerincludeworkonWilliamClarke'sGrooveTimeCD,numerousbluesfestivalsinEuropeandtheUnitedStates. LevensonstillresidesinSouthernCaliforniaandisanindemandstudioguitaristwhoseworkhasappearedinmanymovies,televisionandcommercials.HegigsregularlyaroundSouthernCaliforniaandisnowplayingwithoneofAmerica'sgreatestandmostlovedbands,CannedHeat.