Ryan RnB Barber with Orange Krush

Ryan “RnB” Barber is a producer, singer/songwriter and emcee originally from Wilkesboro, NC. Ryan was born with music streaming through his veins as his entire family were members of the church choir, and at an early age his father & uncle immediately exposed him to the R&B greats such as The Whispers, Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, Michael Jackson, The SOS Band, and The Isley brothers among many others.

At the age of nine Ryan began his musical journey by following his family’s footsteps and joining the choir, while at the same time absorbing his heart & soul with Hip Hop, R&B and smooth jazz. At the age of sixteen Ryan joined his high school ensemble, regularly sang the national anthem at the ballgames, and also developed the love for drums and percussion when he joined the high school marching band, however, he never fit-in with the “in” crowd and was often told that he was talentless and would never amount to anything….but that would soon change. Talented and self-taught, Ryan “RnB” Barber started making his own beats in 2000 using a keyboard and following some of his musical influences such as Gerald Levert, Will Downing, Teddy Riley, Brian Mcknight, Outkast, DJ Quik, J Dilla, and A Tribe Called Quest and many more.

In 2004, Ryan received a call from his cousin Milton “DJ Deacon” Cockerham; who heard some of the music that Ryan was producing, and asked if he would help with production and vocals on Deacon’s compilation, Snatch a Knot Vol.1. The experience of being on a compilation album inspired Ryan to produce and record his own solo album titled “Matters of the Heart” which was released in 2007. At the end of that year, Ryan received another call from banjo player Adrian Trbovich, who asked him if he would like to sit in with his banjo/hip hop fusion band, Turbo Pro Project. He immediately became a permanent fixture in the band, contributing beats, keys & vocals, and still found the time to release another album in 2008, entitled “My World Misunderstood”.

In March of 2009 Ryan decided to leave his hometown and move to Asheville, NC to further his music career, and he has done just that. August of 2009 saw the release of Ryan’s third album entitled Reinvented, and his fourth album, The Perseverance compilation, was released January of 2011 featuring various vocalists and himself, vocalizing over Mr. RnB’s smooth but funky and “head-noddin’ foot tappin’ production. One of Ryan’s most notable accomplishments is being featured as producer on the critically acclaimed album, Land of Sheep, Ran by Pigs, Ruled by Wolves, by Washington DC’s own W. Ellington Felton.