Biography.guide
Home › People › Singer-songwriter › Barb Ryman
Portrait of Barb Ryman

Barb Ryman

b. 1951

American singer

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Barb Ryman

Born 1951. Barb Ryman is a singer-songwriter, singer, guitarist, musician and spiritual healer.

Barbara Ann Ryman (born February 3, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter and spiritual healer.

Her first album, Winds of Good Fortune, was released in 1993, and she has since released six more albums: Lay Me Open (1995), Like A Tree (1998), Falling Down to Heaven (2002), Earthbound (2007), Catch the Sunset (2012) and her most recent, Breathe (2019), respectively.

Musical career Ryman began playing at Twin Cities coffeehouses but as her career took off, she nationally toured the folk circuit playing at such venues as Boston's Club Passim, her hometown's The Cedar Cultural Center, Nashville's Bluebird Café, Portland's Folk Music Society, and Texas' Uncle Calvin's. Her music has since charted nationally on Folk-DJ’s top albums chart as well as on NACC. Ryman has been featured on The Midnight Special, a syndicated radio show, and The Morning Show. She headlined the first rural LGBT Pride, East-Central Minnesota Pride. In 2006, the ABC TV show Sons & Daughters licensed Ryman's song, All American Dysfunctional Family. Ryman had artist and album reviews published in the StarTribune, and on TwinCities.com, as well as national folk and world music media including Dirty Linen and Sing Out!. According to Sault Ste. Marie's SooToday.com, "Ryman lays insightful, witty lyrics into a rich mosaic of contemporary folk, gentle rock, and country blues, delivering it all with a clear, compelling voice. She gently charms every audience she meets with her sincerity and playful stage banter."

Awards Ryman was nominated for several music awards by the Minnesota Music Academy, including Songwriter of the Year and Folk Album of the Year. She was past winner of the McKnight Composer Fellowship from the McKnight Foundation (2002). She was a finalist in other competitions, such as at Big Top Chautauqua and at the Great River Folk Fest.

Personal life Besides being a performing songwriter, Ryman also carries out energy work on individuals and with rivers.

Ryman's son is comedian Tommy Ryman.

Discography Winds of Good Fortune (1993) Lay Me Open (1995) Like A Tree (1998) Falling Down to Heaven (2002) Earthbound (2007) Catch the Sunset (2012) Breathe (2019)

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

People in Barb Ryman's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Barb Ryman's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Barb Ryman?

American singer

When was Barb Ryman born?

Barb Ryman was born on 3 February 1951 in Corpus Christi, Texas.

What is Barb Ryman's occupation?

Barb Ryman is a singer-songwriter, singer, guitarist, musician and spiritual healer.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Barb Ryman

· Wikidata: Q113580462

· DBpedia: Barb Ryman

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Barb Ryman. https://biography.guide/barb-ryman/

MLA: "Barb Ryman." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/barb-ryman/.

Chicago: "Barb Ryman." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/barb-ryman/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:25 UTC