- In the film world, Barry Craig Minniefield is known as "Hollywood's Singing Chef." Barry earned the moniker for his talents in acting, singing, and, yes, preparing cuisine, during a 10-year stint at the world-famous Improvisation Comedy Clubs in Los Angeles. When Barry moved to Los Angeles and began a career as an executive chef at the Improv Comedy Club, he started singing karaoke, and a hobby in music turned into a passion and a profession. Minniefield has performed for and prepared gourmet cuisine for a long list of celebrities and entertainers, including Roseanne Barr, Tom Arnold, Cher, Milton Berle, Jay Leno (on the "Tonight Show"), Arsenio Hall, Nancy Wilson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Oprah Winfrey, and Robin Williams, to name just a few.
In 1990, Barry transitioned fully from cooking and comedy to music. He never looked back.
In 2015, Barry auditioned for NBC's The Voice - Season 8, vying for a spot on the show with 100,000 other potential contestants. He won a spot at the Blind Auditions, and his soulful rendition of Billy Paul's smash hit "Me and Mrs. Jones" caught the ear of Voice coach Adam Levine, who turned his chair and enlisted Barry onto his competitive twelve-person team.
At the (Round 2) Battle Rounds, Barry went toe-to-toe with fellow contestant Jack Gregori singing Dave Mason's "Feelin' Alright." Voice Coach Blake Shelton remarked that Barry's voice was "larger than life," while Christina Aguilera exclaimed "Barry... man, your soul was off the charts!" Pharrell Williams stated he felt Barry's singing had a "soulful essence" reminiscent of the great soul singers of the past and took Pharell back to his childhood while listening to records and "cuttin' the rug." Adam Levine decisively selected Barry to move on to the (Round 3) Knockout Round.
In Round 3, Barry was paired against Tonya Boyd Cannon. Barry sang Bobby Caldwell's "I Would Do For Love". The battle was close, with both Blake Shelton and Christina Aguilera stating they didn't know whom Adam Levine was going to pick. Pharell also lamented not having a steal, implying he would enlist whomever was not selected by Adam Levine. When it came time to choose, Adam Levine noted that both performers' strongest asset was the level of comfort they had on stage and how clearly they were having fun while performing. On Barry, Adam Levine said, "Who knew you could hit those powerful high notes with no falsetto? That's crazy!" and asked Carson Daily how could possibly even define "winner" in such a close battle. Ultimately, Adam Levine did not choose Barry to go on to the next round.
However, Minniefield's exposure on NBC's The Voice has ignited his career and brought him national attention. Now based in Palm Springs, California, Barry is the go-to choice for musical entertainment with pubic venues, special events, private parties, and other promotional outlets across Palm Springs and the greater Coachella Valley.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Ben Bloom
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