Barry McGuire
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Barry McGuire (born 15 October 1935) is an American singer-songwriter.
He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and moved to California in early childhood. At age 16 he joined the United States Navy, but was discharged ten months later for being under age.
After living as a drifter in his late teens and early twenties, McGuire got a job singing in a bar. In 1961, he formed a duo with Barry Kane. They both joined the New Christy Minstrels in the Spring of 1962. In 1963, McGuire wrote the Christys’ first and greatest hit single: “Green, Green.” He left the Christys in January, 1965, after recording the album "Cowboys and Indians".
As a folk-rock solo singer in the 1960s, he was best known for his hits "Eve of Destruction" and "Sins of the Family", both written by P.F. Sloan.
McGuire's LP, The Eve of Destruction reached its peak of #37 on the Billboard album chart during the week ending 1965September 25. That same day the single of that name went to #1 on both charts. McGuire was never again to break into the Billboard Top 40, qualifying him to hold down slot 183 in The Billboard Book of Number One Hits as well as pages 188 and 189 in The Billboard Book of One Hit Wonders.
The album This Precious Time was released in 1966, his second with Dunhill Records. It includes a version of California Dreamin' with The Mamas and the Papas singing backing vocals.
McGuire appeared in the 1967 movie The President's Analyst with James Coburn and in Werewolves on Wheels in 1971. He also starred for a year in the Broadway musical Hair.
McGuire converted to Christianity in 1971. In 1973, he joined the Myrrh label and released the album Seeds. This album is also notable for the backing vocals provided by the family trio that would become known as the 2nd Chapter of Acts. In 1974, McGuire released his second Contemporary Christian album Lighten Up, which included a remake of "Eve of Destruction". He toured with 2nd Chapter of Acts and "a band called David" and in 1975 this collaborative effort resulted in the live double album To the Bride.
In 1976, he left Myrrh, joining former Myrrh executive Billy Ray Hearn's new label Sparrow Records. He recorded seven albums on Sprarrow, the best known of which is Cosmic Cowboy, released in 1978. That year he also released a top-selling children's album Bullfrogs and Butterflies for Sparrow's subsidiary label Birdwing.
In the 1980s, McGuire left the music industry and settled for a time in New Zealand. He returned to the United States in the 1990s, teaming up with Terry Talbot and recording as Talbot McGuire. The duo released four albums between 1996 and 2000.
As of 2004, he now only takes engagements which include a few songs and talks on a mixture of topics by both McGuire and his wife, Mari. The McGuires reside in California.