SUNPIE AND THE LOUISIANA SUNSPOTS
Bruce Sunpie Barnes is a veteran New Orleans musician, former Park Ranger with the National Park Service for 30 years, actor, photographer, book author, former high school biology teacher, former college football All-American, and former NFL player (Kansas City Chiefs). Sunpie Barnes' many careers have taken him far and wide. He has traveled to over 50 countries playing his own style of what he calls Afro-Louisiana music incorporating Blues, Zydeco, Gospel, Caribbean and African influenced rhythms and melodies. He is a multi-instrumentalist, master accordion and harmonica player, also piano, rubboard, talking drum, and dejembe. He learned accordion from some of the best Zydeco pioneers in Louisiana including Fernest Arceneaux, John Delafose, and Clayton Sampy. Along with his musical group Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots, he has performed at festivals and concerts across the US and around the globe. Sunpie has recorded 6 critically acclaimed CDs with his compositions currently featured in 16 Hollywood film productions.
In addition to this musical work Sunpie is also a member of the Paul Simon band and finished a 58 city arena tour "Paul Simon and Sting Together" which spanned 34 countries (2014-2015). He is deeply involved in New Orleans parade culture and co-authored the 2015 critically acclaimed book "Talk That Music Talk" passing on Brass Band music in New Orleans the traditional way. Over 300 of Sunpie's photographs are featured in this book.
Sunpie is the Big Chief of the North Side Skull and Bone Gang, one of the oldest existing Black Carnival groups in New Orleans. Sunpie is also an active member of the second line parading organization Black Men of Labor Social Aid and Pleasure Club.
In addition to this musical work Sunpie is also a member of the Paul Simon band and finished a 58 city arena tour "Paul Simon and Sting Together" which spanned 34 countries (2014-2015). He is deeply involved in New Orleans parade culture and co-authored the 2015 critically acclaimed book "Talk That Music Talk" passing on Brass Band music in New Orleans the traditional way. Over 300 of Sunpie's photographs are featured in this book.
Sunpie is the Big Chief of the North Side Skull and Bone Gang, one of the oldest existing Black Carnival groups in New Orleans. Sunpie is also an active member of the second line parading organization Black Men of Labor Social Aid and Pleasure Club.
