Sidney Barnes (musician)

Sidney Alexander Barnes Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. He has been active in music since the early 60s with Rotary Connection and as a staff writer with Motown during their time with the New York Office and credits on albums with George Clinton, The Jackson 5, The Supremes, and B.B. King. Barnes has appeared on over 150 albums and CD compilations.

Barnes was born in Virginia, USA.

Barnes formed several doo wop groups in high school, and sang with Marvin Gaye and Herb Heemster of Peaches & Herb. He released a solo recording "Wait My Love". In 1963 he and his group The Serenades were signed with Berry Gordy. They made a few recordings, but the group was not financially successful. Sydney joined Motown Records staff as a songwriter. In 1964 Barnes composed and recorded with J.J. Jackson and worked for Blue Cat Records on songs for The Shangri-Las.

In 1966 Sydney returned to Detroit and joined George Clinton at Golden World Records. During this partnership Barnes worked on "I Bet You" for The Jackson 5. When Golden World Records was sold to Motown, Barnes signed with Chess Records and was signed onto Rotary Connection.

Between 1971 and 1999 Barnes worked on TV, radio jingles, recordings and occasionally toured in the west and midwest United States. He took part in a project with Jerry Goldsmith on the soundtrack for Love at First Bite as well as Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend. Barnes has continued writing and performing in a smaller scale since 2000.

In 2000 Barnes married and moved to North Carolina. He currently resides in Asheville where he performs locally when not travelling and performing with George Clinton.

• "Come See Me" The Pretty Things
• "I Bet You" The Funkadelic
• "I Cant Shake it Loose" The Supremes
• "I'll Bet You" The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson
• "Long Live Our Love The Shangri-Las
• "Watch Yourself" B.B. King

• I Have my Faith, EP, 2005

• "Sidney Barnes: the northern soul legend". Cross Rhythms, November 13, 2005

• 1966 Get the Phone The Pretty Things Composer
• 1968 Lucille B.B. King Composer
• 1967 Rotary Connection Rotary Connection Vocals and composer
• 1968 Aladdin Rotary Connection Vocals and composer
• 1968 Love Child The Supremes Composer
• 1970 ABC The Jackson 5 Composer
• 1970 Dinner Music Rotary Connection Composer and Vocals
• 1976 MotherShip Connection Parliament Voices
• 1978 Love at First Bite Original Soundtrack Voices
• 1993 Go Fer You Funk George Clinton Vocals
• 1996 Best of the Shangri-Las The Shangri-Las Composer
• 1996 Testing Positive George Clinton Vocals, producer
• 2002 Journey Jerry Brunskill Vocals
• 2003 Black Midnight Sun Lucky Peterson Composer