I was raised in Detroit, Michigan. I started playing music when I was 5 years old and started playing gigs at age 8. My dad would sneak me into the night clubs to play in my uncle's band among others. At age 16 I joined Sonny Freeman’s band (BB Kings former drummer) and developed a love for Blues and Jazz. Shortly after moving to California I started performing with such artists as Cornelious Bumpus, Mary Wells, Chester Thompson, Gatemouth Brown, Sonny & Terry, Charlie Mustlewhite, Andy Narrell, Ron Thompson and John Hammond to name a few. I'm currently promoting my self titled CD "Barretta".