Biography.guide
Home › People › Musician › Robert Barry
Portrait of Robert Barry

Robert Barry

1932 – 2018

American musician

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

About Robert Barry

Lived 1932 – 2018 (aged 85). Robert Barry was an American musician, jazz musician and drummer.

Robert Barry (December 4, 1932 – January 8, 2018) was an American jazz musician. He was a percussionist who played with Miles Davis, Gene Ammons, and Johnny Griffin but was best known for his work with Sun Ra and the Sun Ra Arkestra.

Early life and career Barry was born in Chicago. He graduated from DuSable High School, where he studied under Captain Walter Dyett.

Barry joined the Sun Ra Arkestra in the 1950s, appearing on albums such as We Travel the Space Ways, Nubians of Plutonia, and Sun Song. However, when the Arkestra moved to New York City in 1961, Barry stayed in Chicago, ending his tenure with the band.

Discography As co-leader Duets 2001 (Thrill Jockey, 2001) with Fred Anderson Chicago Overtones (hatOLOGY, 2005) with Daniele D'Agaro, Jeb Bishop, and Kent Kessler

With Lin Halliday and Ira Sullivan Where or When (Delmark, 1994)

With Sun Ra Jazz by Sun Ra (Transition, 1957) Super-Sonic Jazz (Saturn, 1957) Angels and Demons at Play (Saturn, 1965) The Nubians of Plutonia (Saturn, 1966) Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra Visits Planet Earth (Saturn, 1966) We Travel the Space Ways (Saturn, 1967) Atlantis (Saturn, 1969) Continuation (Saturn, 1970) Music from Tomorrow's World: Chicago 1960 (Atavistic, 1960 ) Spaceship Lullaby: Chicago 1954–60 (Atavistic, 1954–60 )

With Ken Vandermark's Sound in Action Trio Design in Time (Delmark, 1999) Gate (Atavistic, 2006)

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

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Robert Thomas Barry

People in Robert Barry's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Robert Barry's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Robert Barry?

American musician

When was Robert Barry born?

Robert Barry was born on 4 December 1932 in Chicago.

When did Robert Barry die?

Robert Barry died on 8 January 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.

What was Robert Barry's occupation?

Robert Barry was a musician, jazz musician and drummer.

What nationality was Robert Barry?

Robert Barry was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Robert Barry

· Wikidata: Q2156462

· DBpedia: Robert Barry (musician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Robert Barry. https://biography.guide/robert-barry-musician/

MLA: "Robert Barry." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/robert-barry-musician/.

Chicago: "Robert Barry." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/robert-barry-musician/.

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

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:04 UTC