MAMA 2022
Lifetime Achievement Award
There are few people in the Modesto area that have been seen and heard singing, playing, introducing, supporting that Kyle Barker. If you have been to a fundraiser, you have seen the Kyle Barker Band. If you have been at a Graffiti festival, or out to dinner or at a night club or bar, you have experienced Kyle Barker. Whether it be a solo gig at the State Theatre on the organ, or backing the amazing Sensations, or any other version of the Kyle Barker band, you have seen his show.
After high school Kyle got married and moved to California and settled in Modesto, in May of 1969, starting a new job at Sherman Clay in McHenry Village selling musical instruments.
Kyle has been performing in Modesto since 1969, and one of his first gigs was at the SOS, Sportsman of Stanislaus. He arrived in town on a Wednesday and played his gig on Friday. He played regularly at the SOS until 1975 as the house band. This was a legendary time at the SOS, when global sports figures and celebrities would be invited guests, like 6 Million $ man, Lee Majors and many others.
During this time he started playing casuals. The Kyle Barker Band with John King and Nic Lemmo formed in 1981. Penny White came on board in 1984 and the rest is history.
The most notable combination as been with the Sensations, with Penny White, Debby White, Shelly and Claudia Streeter Bellani and others through the years. Some events will be the full Kyle Barker Band and some will be just a couple. Kyle has been a regular doing his own thing as a solo performer.
Barker’s Music has been a staple for local musicians for lessons, equipment, advice and so much more. As a member of North Modesto Kiwanis, Kyle booked the music at the American Graffiti Festival for many years.
The Kyle Barker Band played nearly every nightclub, restaurant, ballroom, or theatre in our region from the Vintage, the Tree Frog, Minnie’s, the SOS and so much more and even as the organist at the State Theatre from time to time.
The band has played corporate and receptions gigs from the Fairmont Venetian Room in San Francisco to all the Country Clubs and Banquet Halls in the Valley. He is still playing and can be found regularly at the Chef’s of New York.
Needless to say, this is only a fraction of the experiences of Kyle Barker.
We are proud to celebrate Kyle Barker at the MAMA Awards for his lifetime of musical achievement.
