Michael Barrick is a central Ohio native who grew up on a farm in Bucyrus, graduating from Ashland College.
He started his career as a trumpet player, and performed for ten years as a member of the United States Air Force Jazz Band, touring and recording in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.
After three years, he switched to bass guitar, and those of us who have heard him play are sure glad he did! Barrick and his wife decided to settle down in the Old Brooklyn area of Cleveland in 1994. After being in town for only two days, he met guitarist Michael Bay, who offered him the opportunity to sit in as the bassist for the Wednesday night jam session at the Parkview Nite Club, a former speakeasy that is an icon of the Cleveland blues scene.
Together with Parma drummer Jim Wall, the Bad Boys of Blues were the most sought-after rhythm section in town. Mike Barrick became well-known in the blues community, and often interacted with Butch Armstrong.