John Barrowman

Vocalist John Barrowman is one of few musical theater personalities to make a successful foray into a recording career. Though many on Broadway release a record at some point in their careers, seldom are they met with chart success and longevity. Barrowman was born in Glasgow but raised in Illinois. Throughout his high school years Barrowman performed in musicals, setting him on the path he would follow in college and beyond. Throughout college he worked as a performer at Opryland in Nashville before he landed a role in London playing Billy Crocker in Anything Goes. This would be the first of several leading roles for Barrowman. He starred in U.K.-based productions of Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera, Hair, and more. While developing a reputation as a West End star, Barrowman also developed a presence on British television. It was his TV acting that brought Barrowman back to the States, as he was featured on the CBS series Central Park West. The path that would lead him into the recording studio began with The Magic of the Musicals concert series, performing Broadway classics backed by internationally renown orchestras. Barrowman shared the stage with the Boston Pops, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra, to name a few. His debut full-length record, Reflections from Broadway, was released in 2000. The record that followed, Swings Cole Porter, earned him a slot on Billboard's jazz charts. Maintaining a busy theatrical career throughout, Barrowman continued to make his mark on the recording industry with the release of Another Side, which enjoyed a lasting presence on the British charts. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez, All Music Guide