Barry McGuire - Thriving After the Eve of Destruction

Barry McGuire

Thriving After the Eve of Destruction

by Bill Russo

In a single take, Barry McGuire recorded the anthemic folk song “Eve of Destruction” which became a world- wide smash. Reaching number one in the U.S. in the final week of September, 1965, it managed to slow down the ‘British Invasion’ by dropping the Beatles song  “Help” to the number two spot on the Billboard and Cashbox music charts.

Selling more than a million records almost overnight, the tune cast such a large shadow that Barry’s other great songs were overlooked or forgotten.  This situation resulted in some misinformed writers to pin the “One Hit Wonder” tag on a singer who has had major success over some five decades in the music business.

After seeing Barry McGuire’s name recently at the very top of such a list in the Microsoft News feed, I felt the need to set the record straight. 

Barry McGuire was a big star both before THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION and after THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION.

I’ll prove that statement in the next few sentences. Let’s start with 1963, two years before his ‘overnight success’ with Eve of Destruction.  During this period he joined the New Christy Minstrels.  In point of fact, he was the lead singer of the popular group which was the star attraction of the Andy William show on NBC-TV. 

Barry co-wrote and sang the lead on the global hit, “Green Green”.  The Minstrels with Barry in front toured the world and sold many millions of copies of both the 45 rpm single of the tune as well as the album in which it was included. 

In 1965 Barry left the minstrels and had incredible success with his monster hit as well as other tunes that made the charts.  We don’t know how many more folk and folk rock hits Barry might have had, because something happened to alter his musical style forever. 

In 1971 Barry became a Born Again Christian and concentrated on Christian music.  In this increasingly popular genre, he has released several albums and singles over the last 50 years including ‘Cosmic Cowboy’ which went to Number One on the Contemporary Christian Music Charts and stayed there for 35 weeks. 

After seeing Microsoft’s list of One Hit Wonders I searched out Barry’s website and reached out to him, explaining that I felt a bit of anger at the ‘B S’ of him being called a one hit wonder.  

Check out Barry’s website (www.barrymcguire.com) to view some great information his career, pictures, inside stories and how he managed to survive and thrive through a half-century in the music business.  

Barry's other website is also worth checking out.  It's called Trippin' the 60s... 

(http://trippinthesixties.com/)

Shortly after I sent a message to him, I received an e-mail from 

Barry and his wife of 36 years, Mari.  I’d like to share some of the 

contents with you.

“First of all, I’ve always loved what I’ve done.  Through my teenage years I followed my heart, working as a commercial fisherman, lying about my age at 16 years old and joining the Navy.  

They found out I was too young to be in the Navy, said they appreciated my patriotism, and told me I should go home and grow up.

 Once again I followed my heart into the construction industry working as a pipe fitter for six years, loving every minute of it, the men, the jobs, the locations.  Then at 25 years old I heard a folk singer in a little club in Laguna Beach.  I fell in love with the genre and the following week I bought a guitar. Within a month I was offered a job singing at a little club in Santa Monica. 

 I’ve never auditioned for a part.  People would see me and say, “Hey, can you come and sing in my club?"  Randy Sparks caught my show one night and invited me to become a part of his new group, The New Christy Minstrels.  

In 1963 Randy and I wrote Green Green, the NCM’s biggest hit.  I left the Minstrels in 1965, was dancing one night while the Byrds were on stage singing their new hit, Tamborine Man.  

A record producer, Lou Adler, saw me dancing, called me over to his table, introduced me to P.F. Sloan and two weeks later we recorded Eve of Destruction in one take.  Then I got a call from New York to come play the male lead in the Broadway musical, Hair.”  

Just 12 months after his star turn on Broadway, Barry’s life changed forever.  It was all due to a little paperback book.  Barry explains….

“The book was called “Good News for Modern Man.” I read it through and found the teachings of Jesus Christ to answer all of my Eve of Destruction questions.  It wasn’t religion, it wasn’t Christianity, it wasn’t “the church”, it was Christ within me.  I found my karmic debt had been resolved, (and believe me, it was quite a debt.)  

Continuing to follow my heart, which I discovered was where the voice of Christ whispered to me, I left LA to talk with Eddie Siroonian, my Armenian uncle who knew Christ.  

In 1972 I met a New Zealand girl who was on a similar path in Christ.  In 1973 we were married, and 46 years later, she’s typing these words as I speak them.

 So I guess the answer to your question, “How have I managed to do so well for so long?” is to be found in your own heart.  It’s The Christ within us who holds all the answers.  It’s just a case of surrender into the reality of each moment as they unfold around us.”

And so ends the comments from Mr. Barry McGuire – the MULTI-HIT WONDER.  
I deeply appreciate Barry taking the time to respond to me and Mrs. McGuire (Mari) for all the typing help.  

Be sure to visit Barry’s website to view the photos, read his stories, and view his store where he has made available a dozen different CDs new and old, and all autographed at no extra charge.

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