At 73, Barry is proof that the songwriting spirit never fades. A member of Talent Is Timeless since March 2022, he came second in the Annual Contest Lyrics Only Category with his song That’s My Boy.
The song began, he explains, with a self-imposed challenge: “It began with a self-induced prompt for the title, and how I could turn around its meaning.” While he had confidence in the piece, seeing his name recognised was a thrill:
“I had a lot of confidence in the song, but nothing compared to seeing my name on the ‘podium.’ It’s been around for years, and I was just happy as a clam to see it get some recognition.”
Barry’s songwriting roots stretch back to the early 1990s when producer Craig Carothers pushed him and his musical partner to include original songs on an album. With the encouragement of co-writer Lisa Aschmann, Barry discovered a new creative path.
A pivotal moment came in 2000 when he met his wife, singer-songwriter Julianna Waters. “She kinda blew my socks off — the real deal, if you will. We started collaborating right away and made two trips to the Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Contest as finalists. We’ve been a musical partnership ever since – calling ourselves Heart and Hammer.”
Together, they released two albums — a highlight of Barry’s career — along with honorable mentions and awards, including recognition in last year’s Talent Is Timeless contest. That success helped reignite his drive:
“Getting back into the idea of writing some more came back after last year’s confidence boost from this contest. (Saskia convinced me.)”
Barry admits he sometimes sets the bar too high, which can stifle creativity. But his advice for others over 50 is simple and encouraging:
“You’ve still got a voice and a song in you if you dig long enough.”
With decades of music, collaboration, and now a contest win to his name, Barry’s story is a reminder that the journey of songwriting is lifelong — and full of rewards at every stage.
You can Connect with Barry on Talent Is Timeless here: https://www.talentistimeless.com/members/barryc/
Talent Is Timeless is a global community of 29,000+ songwriters aged 50 and over, proving that creativity doesn’t come with an expiry date. Our members connect with like-minded artists, participate in monthly songwriting challenges, attend expert-led masterclasses, and compete in our annual contest—with winners recording at iconic studios like Abbey Road. Whether you’re returning to music after years away or writing the best songs of your life, you’ll find encouragement, feedback, and genuine connection here.