Born in Chesterfield, John grew up in Mosborough, a village 6 miles from Sheffield. He began playing the trumpet and cornet at the age of 5, and at the same time started to learn the piano. Throughout his formative years he played with Rhodian Brass from Chesterfield, and the Sheffield Youth Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Rod Kirkham.
He has worked professionally as a Solo Trumpet player for 30 years, and has released 11 solo albums. He also plays keyboards and makes his own backing tracks. The CDs have been purchased the world over and his recordings are often played on BBC Radio 2.
Recent engagements as a soloist include Kensington Palace, The Albert Hall, London and The ICC, Birmingham, the Good Old Days Show from Leeds City Varieties Theatre, and Bernie Clifton’s Family Laughter Show from the North Pier Theatre in Blackpool. John also enjoys performing at fundraising concerts in Churches. He also appears regularly at various Warners Holiday Resorts all over the UK.
When John gets time, he performs with various orchestras, including the Bert Kaempfert Tribute Orchestra, The National Concert Orchestra of Great Britain, The Kings of Swing, the Memphis Belle Orchestra.John also played on the soundtrack of The Full Monty, with Stocksbridge Brass Band, from Sheffield, one of Britain’s best selling films! He has a wide performing experience including live TV, Solo Concerts, Weddings, Funerals, Corporate Functions and Shopping Centre Entertainment, and has worked with a large number of Pop and Soul artists including Jimmy James and the Vagabonds and Dina Carroll. His travels take him all over the U.K. and he does about 60,000 miles per year! He has been married to Gill for 27 years and they have 3 children Emma, Tom and James and 3 dogs.
Many testimonials can be seen at www.johnbarkertrumpet.com but John was particularly thrilled when Author Jilly Cooper took the time to write: “Your CDs are absolutely lovely and have given us huge joy on our drives around England and at home in the kitchen this morning. I think you play quite beautifully with great accuracy and empathy, a lovely sound and huge tingle factor. Thank you very, very much.”