Arthur Leon "Tiny" Barge was born in Norindividual, VA on Friday, January 27, 1950. Harry S. Truman was president, the Cold War remained in complete swing and Rock N Roll was just about to be born.As a child Leon prospered up in a house filled via music. His father sang with the acdeclared Norfolk State Choirand also his uncle, saxophone excellent Gene "Daddy G" Barge, was beginning what wregarding come to be a legendary career.Leon picked up the trumpet while in elementary college and also created his incredibly initially bands, Ricky and also the Raptures and also the Constellations, in junior high. He shortly added saxophone and piano to the list of tools he played proficiently and also started composing his own songs.It was at this time he gained the nickname "Tiny" while playing halfback on his colleges intramural footsphere team.It was shelp he played favor a "Tiny" Bobby Mitchell.The name stuck.At home Daddy G and The Church Street Five were intricately affiliated in arising the Norindividual Sound that created Gary US Bonds and also Jimmy Soul. Also the nearby Beach Scene that featured General Johnson and also The Showmen, The Tams and also Bill Deal and the Rhondels had actually a tremendous influence on Tiny as a young budding musician and also writer.He started his skilled career in 1966 as soon as he joined the Washington D.C. team the El Corols Band also and also Sjust how.

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Before Tiny joined the El Corols they had actually currently opened up mirrors for Stevie Wonder and also James Brown and also had actually toured backing soulmale Garnett Mimms. After Tiny came on board they arisen an extra original sound and also taped his songs "Chick Chick" and "You Gotta Be An Angel". Both songs were played on the Washington D.C. stations WOOK and the historic WOL Radio that was remembered in the movie "Talk To Me" starring Don Cheadle.The renowned El Corols performed at many type of of the famed show palaces up and also down the Eastern Seaboard and ongoing to show up on concert stages via greats such as The Temptations, The Stylistics, Jerry Butler, Johnny Taylor and also The Intruders.During their regime the El Corols aided launch the careers of Carter Jefferchild and Sir Joe Quarterguy.The El Corols" spectacular phase shows and also choreography lugged them a great amount of notoriety and also established the version for future Tiny Barge endeavours from then on.
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When El Corols" talent agents Jeff and also Buddy Rubin introduced Tiny to songwriter Fangette Willett a prolific creating duo began. Under Fangette"s guidance Tiny was able to even more hone his skills as a writer and arranger.Throughout this time Tiny created some of his the majority of influenced songs. Songs that later on were taped by some of the worlds most prestigious entertainers.Fangette wrote hits for Londoner, Tammy St. John and also Folksingers The Chad actually Mitchell Trio as well as many type of good R&B numbers for Wtransform Jackboy and Lou Rawls. She went on to work-related as a staff writer for Motvery own Records in Detroit.
The Rubin brothers developed Washington Talent Agency and also hired Tiny as a studio and live show producer. Tbelow he taught showmanship to the brand-new agency"s performers while he was attfinishing the College of Maryland.One of the teams he operated through was aptly dubbed Inspiration. Over time Tiny joined the group and also returned to the concert stage.Inspiration videotaped and also toured showrooms about the country for the next four years. They took pleasure in radio play on the east shore via the Fangette/Barge complace "Little David." The single was backed by Tiny"s song "Spectrum."When Inspiration played some engagements for the Al Schultz Agency out of Chicago, Tiny struck up a friendship through one of the agency"s top representatives, Bobby Lee.
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One night, after one of Inspiration"s final mirrors, Tiny was approached by producer Cecile Barker that at the moment stood for Peaches & Herb Productions. Cecile was extremely impressed through Tiny"s original material, consisting of the teams variation of "Eexceptionally Time I See A Butterfly". Soon afterwards Cecile Barker and his production companion Tony Camillo formed their very own CB Productions. Tiny was readily available a creating deal that was amplified by Cecile"s agreeing to assistance him in his own band also.Thus Synergism was born.A tough functioning and also stylish road band also Synergism toured frequently and also it was below that Tiny first took on the roll of lead singer and front man for the band. Expectations soared as Tiny was able to develop numerous promising recordings for the team.This was the beginning of the Disco era and also the songs Tiny had composed for Synergism were conveniently extended by the Tony Camillo developed team Creme D"Cocoa. Tbelow is still varying opinions over which versionsof the songs were the a lot of appealing. But Creme D" Cocoa had the backing of Barker & Camillo"s Venture Records label and also appreciated a great amount of airplay. Appearances on the Don Cornelius TV present Soul Train aided rise Creme D"Cocoa"s visibility and popularity.Sadly what was a vast success for Creme D"Cocoa expected simply the oppowebsite for Synergism. It was not very long until the band also members went their separate ways.Throughout this time Tiny started an affiliation through the Al Schultz Agency as a producer of live stage reflects. Coaching other acts on the roster to the finer points of arranging music, choreography and also phase existence.
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One of the groups that Tiny produced and also choreographed was The Fabulous Hubcaps .Soon he was available an possibility to join the excellent oldies group. Here he was exposed to a a lot broader human being of Pop music and also recalls this duration as among the a lot of enjoyable in his career.At first beginning as saxophone player Tiny shortly stepped in for the bands lead singer who was reextending from a serious automobile accident.Tiny left the team once the injured singer changed, yet not prior to introducing the band to the dynamic Kathie Martin. The lively female singer and saxophonist was one of the first sensational women in rock and also continues to be via the Hubcaps to today.
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The next revolve of events uncovered Tiny Barge joining the establiburned touring band also Lightkraft. This expected moving away from the east shore for the first time and settling in Coloraperform Springs, CO.After years of touring by means of booking agent Bobby Lee Lightkraft had actually finally discovered a house in Colorado. Tiny and also the band also put down some genuine roots as soon as they opened up their own nightclub called the Showtime Lounge.As a residence band also Lightkraft on a regular basis played the Showtime together with other national and also neighborhood acts.Lightkraft"s dynamic floor mirrors found adoration in the Rocky Mountain state and came to be a welcome staple of the culture in Coloraexecute Springs.One talented neighborhood that Tiny befrifinished was a young guitar player named Rich Mouser.On a whim Tiny and also Rich videotaped a novelty song Tiny had actually created several years prior to referred to as, "They Won"t Let Me Play My Rock N Roll Guitar In The High School Marching Band". The song became a hit on regional radio stations and also a regular favorite on the legendary Dr. Demento Radio series. Then for the video variation of the song Tiny endetailed the talented young comedian Jeff Valdez. With Lightkraft"s backing and collaboration of the entire marching band from nearbyCoronaperform High School the hilarious video quickly came to be a favorite on regional tv.
When Lightkraft ultimately marketed their interemainder in the Showtime Tiny and Rich put together the nostalgic band Victrola. The band also played a mixture of musical formats mostly attracted from the "50s and also "60s chart toppers that were coming ago right into fashion for the Baby Boomer generation.Along through Victrola"s timeless Rock N Roll Tiny added the Motvery own and beforehand Soul hits that he had grvery own up with and also the band also quickly ended up being one of the many renowned acts via the Colorado audiences.As Tiny preserved up his writing Rich Mouser was start his brilliant career as a recording engineer. The two created many kind of of Tiny"s songs and commercial jingles and documents for other local artists.
To develop their many recording sessions it became necessary for Tiny and Rich to work in their very own recording environment. With Each Other they started Passage Studio on the west side of Coloraperform Springs.To accommodate their flourishing jingle organization they began Bo Jingles Productions. Several of the adds they produced are still on the air now.As recording customers kept coming and Victrola ongoing their engagements Rich eagerly sought his career as an audio engineer.Over time he chose to look for greater opportunity in Los Angeles, CA. Today Rich owns his very own studio in Pasadena and also is a respected and sought after producer and also engineer.
When Rich moved amethod Tiny relocated his recording facility to an upstairs loft in what had actually been originally the Waycott Opera House in a quaint, historical part of Coloraperform Springs. His new studio he christened Emerald City and started working on his strategy for the following phase of his performing career.Until currently Tiny had actually been a assistance member or front guy for many kind of various bands. This time he wanted a team that he could contact his very own that played the good Soul classics that Tiny hosted so dear. He wanted a group that might dance and sing favor the Temptations while they played together prefer the Stax-Volt Rhythm Section. To execute this he brought together an assortment of eleven talented and seasoned players that reflected a diverse cross section of culture. Musicians who were able to share Tiny"s vision of a true, authentic Soul band also.The brand-new band took its name from a renowned movie that featured a sound track of classical Soul hits. They called the band Tiny Barge and The Big Chill.
The Big Chill was the perfect show band at the perfect time for Coloraexecute. The excitement in the community was only surpassed by the excitement and power generated by the band on phase.Tiny kbrand-new from his years of experience that playing in a permanent band also is a real commitment and that families and also other interests are often reason for a members departure. Regardmuch less of a teams popularity that"s simply the facts of life for a band leader.But this time via Tiny as leader and also featured vocalist, his tried and true song list, his expert criteria and the band"s steadfast reputation The Big Chill became an on going endeavor that would thrive for the next two decades.In that time Tiny has actually efficiently navigated his band also via numerous local, local and also national triumphs. Alengthy the way the list of esteemed Big Chill alumni and friends has grown, offering so many wonderful and treasured memories.

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Tiny Barge and The Big Chill are saw on phase in Aspen by the enchanting Christine McVie of Fleetlumber Mac (piano, right) and the illustrious Steve Winwood (guitar, center).
Today Tiny Barge and The Big Chill proceed to be the toast of the Rocky Mountain region. They have participated in plenty of festivals and also concert events consisting of engagements at Walt Disney World. Their Soul and also Oldies testimonial has been a fixture of the nationally acasserted Country Jam USA and also Counattempt Thunder USA concert series. The group has been among the many sought after charity money raisers and also was the featured act for eleven years at the John Elmethod Celebrity Golf Standard. The band also also had the distinctive honor of perdeveloping at the NFL Hevery one of Famer"s official retirement celebration.