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BIO

 Lifelong artist and educator, Brian Barrentine is the creator, voice and face of FunikiJam World Music - winner of the 2016 Parent’s Choice Award for Best Music. Barrentine has been cast in numerous musicals on Broadway and Off; played Elvis in “Elvis the Musical” European Tour; written the Gymboree Music Program;  served as Early Childhood Director at Brooklyn Conservatory;  and acted in national commercials and TV shows like The Good Wife, Madam Secretary, and Law & Order SVU.  When he is not on stage or in the recording studio, he enjoys creating new works, singing jazz at NYC hot spots, and traveling.

Bran began his singing career at age 6, Wrote his first book at age 7, and started staging neighborhood parades, plays,  and festivals at age 8.  Today? He pretty much does the same thing. Plus some touring and acting.

 

From Southern churches and classical concerts to concert halls of Europe and  Nashville's Ryman Auditorium . From the Country Music Hall of Fame, to the Marble Church and  Le Cirque, Brian thrives in many genres including jazz, broadway, standards, country, gospel, rock & roll, and pop. 

 

Along the way, he deveopled a keen interest in early childhood arts education, so he devotes much of his time and enegy to creating and producing the FunikIJam troika of World Music tour, Off Broadway Family Musicals  and weekly music & movement classes.

 

You might also recognize Brian as "Dad" or "Husband" or "Law enforcement official" from national commercial campaigns and television shows like The Good Wife, Madam Secretary, Law & Order SVU, Perfect Murder and more.. 

 

 

 

Joining AEA and SAG as a teen, SIGNATURE STAGE ROLES include  Captain Jam: FunikiJam World Tour, Elvis; Elvis the Musical European Tour, El Gallo: the Fantasticks American Master Festival, Narrator: Aladdin National Tour, and Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music.  

 

HOBBIES include travel, fitness and art.  

 

TREASURED MEMORIES

  • painting with Howard Finster in Paradise Gardens,

  • directing high school choirs in Appalachia  

  • singing through high shool at Six Flags Over Georgia

  • hippy dippy years at Bennington College. 

  • touring Europe as Elvis in ELVIS the musical

  • starting FunikiJam in  Nashville

 

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