Barry Eastmond

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Barry Eastmond
Birth nameBarry James Eastmond
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1985—present
Websitebarryeastmond.com

Barry James Eastmond is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and record producer. He has contributed to over sixty gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums with cumulative sales topping 80 million records.[1] Eastmond is an adjunct professor at New York University Steinhardt Performing Arts Department in songwriting and is also involved in the NYU Summer Songwriting Workshop.[2]

Career[]

Eastmond started his musical career as pianist.[3] Between the ages of seven and ten, he received classical music training at the Juilliard School of Music's preparatory school.[3] While in high school, Eastmond began playing in local top 40 and wedding bands in Brooklyn.[3] Soon, he became a touring pianist and keyboardist for female R&B singers such as Melba Moore, Phyllis Hyman, Angela Bofill, and Chaka Khan, eventually becoming Moore, Hyman, and Bofill's musical director.[3] At the same time, he worked as a session musician for production duo Gamble & Huff and established himself as a songwriter and arranger.[3]

In 1985, Eastmond wrote and produced singer Freddie Jackson's "You Are My Lady," his first professional producer credit.[3] The second single from Jackson's debut album Rock Me Tonight (1985), it peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, prompting Capitol Records to hire Eastmond as the album's main producer.[3] Eastmond's success with Jackson led him to work with Billy Ocean, Jeffrey Osborne, Phil Perry, Jonathan Butler, and Regina Belle.[3] In 1994, he and Gordon Chambers wrote Anita Baker's "I Apologize," which earned Eastmond his first Grammy Award.[3] In 1996, he was hand-picked by Sylvia Rhone to write and produce "Missing You," Brandy, Gladys Knight, Tamia, and Khan's song for the Set It Off soundtrack.[3]

Personal life[]

Eastmond is married to songwriter Maria Eastmond.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ "Barry Eastmond – Music Adjunct Faculty". steinhardt.nyu.edu. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  2. ^ "Interview". soulinterviews.com. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Smith, Shawnee (May 2, 1998). "Luky Was A 'Lady' for Eastmond". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  4. ^ White, Adam; Bronson, Fred (1993). The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits. Billboard Books. ISBN 9780823082858. Retrieved March 31, 2021.

External links[]

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