Barry Drake

A mediocre singer-songwriter, who recorded three forgettable albums in the early-1970s, Barry Drake has found his true calling as a lecturer on the history of rock and roll. Named "Campus lecturer of the year", by the Natrional Association for Campus Activities, in 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000, and, by Campus Activities Magazine, in 1994, 1995 and 1998, Drake has thrilled college students with his tales of early rock. A native of New Jersey, Drake grew up in New York, where he attended scores of concerts including a show by Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in 1957. During the "folk scare" of the early-1960s, he played nearly every night in Greenwich Village coffeehouses, sharing the stage with such artists as Richie Havens, Freddy Neil, Tim Hardin and Loudon Wainwright III. Relocating to San Francisco in June 1967, Drake became a regular performer at Bay Area coffeehouses, where such performers as Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, Country Joe MacDonald, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady and David Grisman would often sit in. Returning to the East Coast, in December 1968, Blake settled in the artistic town of Woodstock, New York. Signing a recording contract with Capitol, he released his debut album, Happy Landing, in 1971. Unfortunately, the landing was anything but happy as the album failed to generation much attention. His next album, Road Song, released on his own label, Catskill Mountain -- did just as poorly. It took another decade before Drake released another album, Solo Survivor, in 1982. Lecturing about rock and roll since 1984, Drake has conducted lectures on the music of the 1950s, 60s', 70's and 80s. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide