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Arthur Barrow (born February 28, 1952) is a multi-instrumental musician, best known for his stint as a
bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...
player for
Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestra ...
in the late 1970s and early 1980s.


Early life

Barrow was born in
San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, Texas in 1952 and grew up in
Alamo Heights Alamo Heights is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States, that is surrounded by the city of San Antonio. At the time of the 2020 census, the population of Alamo Heights was 7,357. It is part of the Greater San Antonio metropolitan area. ...
. His father played piano and organ, as had his father, Arthur Barrow of
Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...
, a strict piano teacher and organist. When he was 13, he washed neighborhood cars until he had saved enough money to buy his first electric guitar (an Alamo) and his first amplifier (a Kent). He learned how to play music by ear by copying surf guitar records like
The Ventures The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band formed in Tacoma, Washington, in 1958, by Don Wilson (musician), Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. The band, which was a quartet for most of its existence, helped to popularize the electric guitar acro ...
, and later,
Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...
, and still later,
Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestra ...
. He played in local bands through junior high and high school during the 1960s. He began to study classical organ in 1970. While attending Alamo Heights High School, Arthur Barrow cut his musical teeth playing lead guitar in rock bands such as The Restless Ones (Jesse Childs on bass, Mike Maxwell on drums, and Jim Collins on rhythm guitar) and The Wisdom (Ian "Toby" French on vocals, Raymond Tolbert on bass, Tom Graham on keyboards, James Yeverino on drums, and Jim Collins on rhythm guitar) playing fraternity parties, high school dances, and small concerts in the San Antonio area. His fellow band members knew that Arthur was "marked for greatness" due to his outstanding talent and ability to quickly learn songs and teach them to the other band members. (''source''?). He attended
North Texas State University The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public university, public research university located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Its main campus is in Denton, Texas, Denton, with a satellite campus in Frisco, Texas, Frisco. It serves as the ...
(now
University of North Texas The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public university, public research university located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Its main campus is in Denton, Texas, Denton, with a satellite campus in Frisco, Texas, Frisco. It serves as the ...
) in
Denton, Texas Denton is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Denton County, Texas, Denton County. With a population of 139,869 as of 2020, it is the List of cities in Texas by population, 20th-most populous city in Texas, the List of Un ...
from 1971 to 1975 where he studied composition and organ. He began teaching himself bass guitar in 1974 while at school there. He spent many hours in the electronic music labs learning about analog synthesis on the Moog modular systems there. He graduated cum laude, receiving a bachelor of music degree with a major in composition, specializing in electronic music.


Professional career

In 1975, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a professional music career, with one of his main goals being to play in Frank Zappa's band. He took whatever kind of musical work he could get - night clubs, weddings, high school dances, a few sessions. He met
Robby Krieger Robert Alan Krieger (born January 8, 1946) is an American guitarist and founding member of the rock band the Doors. Krieger wrote or co-wrote many of the Doors' songs, including the hits " Light My Fire", " Love Me Two Times", " Touch Me", and " ...
in 1976 and recorded synthesizer with
The Doors The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, comprising vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most influential and controversial rock acts ...
on the album '' An American Prayer''. He formed a jazz group with Bruce Fowler and
Don Preston Donald Ward Preston (born September 21, 1932) is an American jazz and rock keyboardist. He is best known for being a member of the original version of Frank Zappa's band The Mothers of Invention during the late 1960s. He continued to work with Z ...
called Loose Connection in the latter 1970s. They made some recordings in
Echo Park Echo Park is a neighborhood in the east-Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles, California. Located to the northwest of Downtown Los Angeles, Downtown, it is bordered by Silver Lake, Los Angeles, Silver Lake to the west and Chinato ...
and performed a few times in
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
. They did some recordings in
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...
with
Vinnie Colaiuta Vincent Peter Colaiuta (born February 5, 1956) is an American drummer known for his technical mastery who has worked as a session musician in many genres. He was inducted into the ''Modern Drummer'' Hall of Fame in 1996 and the ''Classic Drumme ...
in December 1978. In mid-1978, he passed the audition and began playing bass in Frank Zappa's band. In 1979, he also took on the duties of being the "clonemeister", or band rehearsal director. The band rehearsed for eight to ten hours a day, five days a week. He would run the rehearsals for the first half of the day, then Zappa would take over when he arrived. He did four tours with Zappa and can be heard playing bass, guitar and keyboards on about a dozen recorded albums. In the early 1980s, he co-wrote music, recorded and toured the U.S. with Robby Krieger. They had a live band then for a short time called Red Shift that did only a few recordings and gigs in the LA area. By this time, having a 1/2" eight track tape recorder, an electric piano and some synthesizer gear, he focused a lot of attention to writing and recording music at home. He began working with
Giorgio Moroder Giovanni Giorgio Moroder (, ; born 26 April 1940) is an Italian composer and music producer. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Disco", Moroder is credited with pioneering Euro disco and electronic dance music. His work ...
in the mid-1980s on albums and film sound tracks, including '' Scarface'' (1983) and ''
Top Gun ''Top Gun'' is a 1986 American action drama film directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, with distribution by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., and was inspired ...
'' (1986). He did keyboards, programming, bass, and arranging for a wide range of artists including
Joe Cocker John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances featuring expressive body movements. Most of his best-known singles, such as "Feelin' Alright ...
,
Diana Ross Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Known as the "Queen of Motown Records", she was the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown#Major divisions, Motown's most suc ...
,
Billy Idol William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Idol achieved fame in the 1970s on the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of Generation X ...
,
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
,
The Motels The Motels are an American new wave band from Berkeley, California, that is best known for the singles " Only the Lonely" and " Suddenly Last Summer", each of which peaked at No. 9 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, in 1982 and 1983, respectively. ...
, and others. He opened his own Lotek recording studio in the Mar Vista district of Los Angeles in 1985. Through the latter 1980s and into the 1990s he has produced albums and composed sound tracks for films and television at his studio. He has composed and produced three solo CDs and he is currently working on a fourth CD as well as other projects, like the Strange News from Mars - feat.
Tommy Mars Tommy Mars (born Thomas Mariano on October 26, 1951) is an American keyboard player known for his work with Frank Zappa. Mars began piano lessons at age eight, and later his instrument range expanded to various keyboards and synthesizers. Mars ...
and Jon Larsen, and The Mar Vista Philharmonic, featuring
Tommy Mars Tommy Mars (born Thomas Mariano on October 26, 1951) is an American keyboard player known for his work with Frank Zappa. Mars began piano lessons at age eight, and later his instrument range expanded to various keyboards and synthesizers. Mars ...
, Bruce Fowler,
Vinnie Colaiuta Vincent Peter Colaiuta (born February 5, 1956) is an American drummer known for his technical mastery who has worked as a session musician in many genres. He was inducted into the ''Modern Drummer'' Hall of Fame in 1996 and the ''Classic Drumme ...
, and other
Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestra ...
alumni, on the Zonic Entertainment label. In 2010, he recorded an album with Robby Krieger called ''Singularity'' which was nominated for a Grammy. It includes performances by
Vinnie Colaiuta Vincent Peter Colaiuta (born February 5, 1956) is an American drummer known for his technical mastery who has worked as a session musician in many genres. He was inducted into the ''Modern Drummer'' Hall of Fame in 1996 and the ''Classic Drumme ...
, Bruce Fowler, Walt Fowler and Sal Marquez among others. Most of the album was co-written by Arthur Barrow and Robby Krieger and recorded at Barrow's studio. In 2012 and again in 2015, Barrow did residencies at The University of North Texas in connection with a class on Frank Zappa which included concerts of Zappa'a music. View the 2015 concert here: He also did a Zappa residency and concert at The University of South Dakota in 2013. In 2016, he published a memoir called "Of Course I Said Yes!" subtitled "The Amazing Adventures of a Life in Music." It describes his musical history from his youth up to the time of publication.


Selected discography


Solo

* "In the Mood" (1985, artist, arranger, producer) - 12" dance remix of the
Glenn Miller Alton Glen "Glenn" Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band conductor, arranger, composer, trombonist, and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Army Air Forces ...
classic for MCA records. * ''Music for Listening'' (1991) * ''Eyebrow Razor'' (1995) * ''AB3'' (1999, artist, composer, arranger, producer, engineer, keyboards, bass, guitar, percussion) * ''On Time'' (2003, artist, composer, arranger, producer, engineer, keyboards, bass, guitar, percussion)


Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestra ...

* '' Joe's Garage Act I'' (1979) * '' Joe's Garage Acts II & III'' (1979) * '' Tinsel Town Rebellion'' (1981) * '' Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar'' / '' Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More'' / '' Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar'' (1981, 15 tracks recorded in 1979 and 1980) * '' You Are What You Is'' (1981) * '' Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch'' (1982, on “No Not Now” and the first half of "I Come from Nowhere") * ''
The Man from Utopia ''The Man from Utopia'' is the 36th album by American musician Frank Zappa, released in March 1983 by Barking Pumpkin Records. The album is named after a 1950s song, written by Donald and Doris Woods, which Zappa covers as part of "The Man fro ...
'' (1983) * ''
We're Only in It for the Money ''We're Only in It for the Money'' is the third album by American rock music, rock band the Mothers of Invention, released on March 4, 1968, by Verve Records. As with the band's first two efforts, it is a concept album, and satirizes left-wing po ...
'' (1968, overdubbed bass tracks c. 1983) * '' Cruising with Ruben & the Jets'' (1968, overdubbed bass tracks c. 1983) * '' Them or Us'' (1984) * '' Thing-Fish'' (1984) * ''You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore'' (select tracks on '' Vol. 1'', '' Vol. 4'' and '' Vol. 6'') * ''
Guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...
'' (1988, two tracks recorded in 1979) * ''
Trance-Fusion ''Trance-Fusion'' is an album by Frank Zappa. Released posthumously in 2006, 13 years after the musician's death, the album forms the third in a trilogy of instrumental albums which focus on Zappa's improvised guitar solos, after '' Shut Up 'n Pl ...
'' (2006, one track recorded in 1979) * '' Buffalo'' (2007, recorded in 1980) * ''Any Way the Wind Blows'' uthorized bootleg* ''Saarbrücken 1978'' uthorized bootleg* "I Don't Want to Get Drafted" b/w "Ancient Armaments" (single)


The Doors The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, comprising vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most influential and controversial rock acts ...

* '' An American Prayer'' (1978)


Robby Krieger Robert Alan Krieger (born January 8, 1946) is an American guitarist and founding member of the rock band the Doors. Krieger wrote or co-wrote many of the Doors' songs, including the hits " Light My Fire", " Love Me Two Times", " Touch Me", and " ...

* ''
Versions Version may refer to: Computing * Software version, a set of numbers that identify a unique evolution of a computer program * VERSION (CONFIG.SYS directive), a configuration directive in FreeDOS Music * Cover version * Dub version * Remix * Versi ...
'' (1982) * ''
Robby Krieger Robert Alan Krieger (born January 8, 1946) is an American guitarist and founding member of the rock band the Doors. Krieger wrote or co-wrote many of the Doors' songs, including the hits " Light My Fire", " Love Me Two Times", " Touch Me", and " ...
'' (1985) * '' No Habla'' (1989) * '' Door Jams'' (1989) * '' Singularity'' (2010)


Joe Cocker John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances featuring expressive body movements. Most of his best-known singles, such as "Feelin' Alright ...

* '' 9½ Weeks'' (1986, movie soundtrack) - "You Can Leave Your Hat On" * ''
Teachers A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...
'' (1984, movie soundtrack) - "Edge of a Dream"


Billy Idol William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Idol achieved fame in the 1970s on the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of Generation X ...

* '' Charmed Life'' (1990, keyboards, bass, arranger)


Diana Ross Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Known as the "Queen of Motown Records", she was the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown#Major divisions, Motown's most suc ...

* "Touch by Touch" (from the 1984 album '' Swept Away'', co-writer, keyboards, bass, arranger)


Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreogr ...

* '' Dream Street'' (1984, co-writer of the title song)


Keith Emerson Keith Noel Emerson (2 November 194411 March 2016) was an English keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He played keyboards in a number of bands before finding his first commercial success with the Nice in the late 1960s. He be ...

* Musical transcription and unreleased recording. Bass


Jon Larsen /

Tommy Mars Tommy Mars (born Thomas Mariano on October 26, 1951) is an American keyboard player known for his work with Frank Zappa. Mars began piano lessons at age eight, and later his instrument range expanded to various keyboards and synthesizers. Mars ...

* 'Strange News from Mars' - a surrealistic concert, feat. Bruce Fowler, Jimmy Carl Black, etc. * ''Willie Nickerson's Egg'' (2011) - a surrealistic audiobook.


The Motels The Motels are an American new wave band from Berkeley, California, that is best known for the singles " Only the Lonely" and " Suddenly Last Summer", each of which peaked at No. 9 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, in 1982 and 1983, respectively. ...

* '' Shock'' (1985, keyboards, bass)


Nina Hagen Catharina "Nina" Hagen (; born 11 March 1955) is a German singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her theatrical vocals and rise to prominence during the punk and Neue Deutsche Welle movements in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She is ...

* '' Fearless'' (1983, keyboards)


Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

* '' Love Life'' (1984, " No More Words" and "Dancing in Berlin") * " Take My Breath Away" - Oscar-winning single from ''
Top Gun ''Top Gun'' is a 1986 American action drama film directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, with distribution by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., and was inspired ...
'' soundtrack (1986). Keyboards, bass, arranger.


Charlie Sexton

* '' Pictures for Pleasure'' (1985, keyboards, bass, co-writer, arranger. 12" Remix of "Impressed")


Scott Merritt

* ''Violet and Black'' (1990, producer, arranger, bass, keyboards)


The Untouchables

* ''Agent Double O Soul'' (1988, producer, arranger, co-writer)


Oingo Boingo Oingo Boingo () was an American new wave music, new wave band formed by songwriter Danny Elfman in 1979. The band emerged from a Surrealism, surrealist musical theatre troupe, The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, that Elfman had led and wri ...

* 12" Remix of "Stay" (1986)


Mona Lisa Overdrive

* Mona Lisa Overdrive (1993, artist, co-writer, arranger, producer, engineer, keyboards, bass)


Silent film music

* '' Torrent'' (1926, starring
Greta Garbo Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; 18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish-American actress and a premier star during Hollywood's Silent film, silent and early Classical Hollywood cinema, golden eras. Regarded as one of the g ...
) * '' The Boob'' (1926, starring
Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, 190? was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway theatre, Broadway. Crawford was signed to a motion-picture cont ...
) * ''
The Cameraman ''The Cameraman'' is a 1928 American silent film, silent Romantic comedy, romantic comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and an uncredited Buster Keaton. The picture stars Keaton and Marceline Day. It was Keaton's first film under contract to ...
'' (1928, starring
Buster Keaton Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent films during the 1920s, in which he performed physical comedy and inventive stunts. He frequently ...
) * '' The Last Warning'' (1928, starring Laura La Plante)


Films (keyboards, bass, arranger in varying degrees)

* '' Scarface'' (1983) * '' D.C. Cab'' (1983) * '' Twilight Zone: The Movie'' (1983) * '' Heavenly Bodies'' (1984) * '' The NeverEnding Story'' (1984) * '' Electric Dreams'' (1984) * '' The Breakfast Club'' (1985) * ''
Top Gun ''Top Gun'' is a 1986 American action drama film directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, with distribution by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., and was inspired ...
'' (1986) * ''
Iron Eagle ''Iron Eagle'' is a 1986 action film directed by Sidney J. Furie who co-wrote the screenplay with Kevin Alyn Elders, and starring Jason Gedrick and Louis Gossett Jr.Mann, Roderick"Sidney Furie leads the cheer for 'Iron Eagle'." ''Los Angeles ...
'' (1986) * '' Quicksilver'' (1986) * '' Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers'' (1989) * ''
The Doors The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, comprising vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most influential and controversial rock acts ...
'' (1991) * '' Waxwork II: Lost in Time'' (1992) * '' Saviors of the Forest'' (1993, documentary)


TV shows (music/lyrics)

* '' Misfits of Science (1985-1986, an American
superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...
fantasy television series that aired on
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
from October
1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a n ...
to February 1986) * '' Fast Times'' (1986, television mini-series) * '' The Great Eclipse'' (1992, TV movie) * '' The Florida Panther''


References


External links

* * * * *
United Mutations: Arthur Barrow
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrow, Arthur 1952 births Living people Musicians from San Antonio University of North Texas College of Music alumni Guitarists from Texas American male bass guitarists 20th-century American bass guitarists 20th-century American male musicians