A chance encounter at Cook Children’s Medical Center is all it took
to set Todd Barrow on his mission to revamp classic country with his
signature modern twist. One day, an American Idol contestant was slated
to perform for the patients at Todd’s place of employment, but the audio
tech was nowhere to be found. When he heard the call, “Can anybody here
run sound?” Todd answered. In walked Texas Music Hall of Fame Honoree
Sonny Burgess just as Todd was setting up the live rig, and the two
musicians struck up a conversation. Sonny told Todd about his work with
Charlie Pride and Randy Travis, and asked Todd if he might lend his
technical skills to help build the recording studio sponsored by Garth
Brooks and Troy Aikmanhe that had in the works. This serendipitous
encounter yielded a coffee meeting to review the blueprints for the
project, and before long, Sonny was meeting Todd for coffee weekly to
discuss music. Eventually, he became Todd’s mentor, forever changing the
course of Todd’s career.
Now, Todd Barrow is making a name for himself as a country artist to
watch. The Texas singer-songwriter has racked up more than a few
accolades, from a PRSA Award of Excellence, to an Akademia Award for
Best Country Album, and an artist spotlight in Alternative Roots
Magazine, American Pride Magazine and AVA Radio. He has appeared on
television shows including Good Morning Texas with Jerry Matheny and
Texas Music Café on PBS. He’s even shared the stage and studio with some
of country music’s heaviest hitters, from CMA musicians in Miranda
Lambert’s band to Fort Worth Producer of the Year Bart Rose. But it’s
more than just Todd’s success to date that makes him such a compelling
country artist. What’s most readily apparent in Todd Barrow’s music is
his heart.
Todd’s music is no country for old men. While he undoubtedly draws
his sonic influence from titans like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, his
melodies skew modern. He plays almost every instrument, from piano to
guitar, mandolin, harmonica, and drums, and the multi-instrumentalist
doubles as a songwriter for himself as well as for other artists. “”If I
can put a smile on someone’s face through song, well that just means
the world to me,” he says. “I try to get to the real heart and soul of a
song. To me, it’s not just words but a story, and I do my best to
portray that with every line. That’s my main draw to country music; the
stories, the people, and the sincerity that comes from the heart.”
It’s precisely that heart that has won over audiences around the
world. Todd Barrow’s recent single, “The House That Love Built”,
co-written with Sonny Burgess, was featured on RightNow TV and was
honored by PRSA Fort Worth for its fundraising efforts on behalf of the
Ronald McDonald house. Todd was featured in the lineup for Bo’s
Extravaganza festival at John Schneider’s Studio, alongside such artists
as Kid Rock and Tom Wopat from Dukes of Hazzard. He has received radio
airplay from Italy Radio 6.75 for his single “Hot Southern Night”.
Todd Barrow just released his latest single, “Hell and Back,” written
by longtime Nashville songwriter Lonnie Ratliff, and is hard at work on
new music in the studio. Todd is a proud member of the Harry Fox
Agency, the Country Music Association, the International
Singer-Songwriters Association, the Texas Music Office, BMI, the Fort
Worth Songwriters Association, American Music Podcasting, the NSAIDFW
Songwriters Association, the Dallas Songwriters Association, the British
Country Music Association and the Bayou Country Music Association.