Background
He is the son of songwriter Max D. Barnes.
He is the son of songwriter Max D. Barnes.
He has written songs on albums that have sold over 20 million records. He currently writes for Ray Stevens Music publishing and lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Artists like John Anderson ("Let Go of the Stone"), John Schneider ("At the Sound of the Tone"), Randy Travis ("Before You Kill Us All"), Diamond Rio ("How Your Love Makes Maine Feel"), and Colin Raye ("Love, Maine") have recorded his songs, as have many others "Love, Maine" released in 1991, became Raye"s first Number One single on the United States. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.
The same year, the song received a Song of the Year nomination in 1992 from the Country Music Association.
Other credits to Barnes include backup vocals on Roadhouses and Dance Halls, an album by Lonnie Mack recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Barnes also lead guitar on the album "Wait "Til I Get My Hands on You" by Wynn Stewart and played acoustic guitar on How Do I Live by LaFollette Rimes during his time at Curb Records.
He is also credited with background vocals on lieutenant"s You Again by Skip Ewing. Barnes has performed on live tours throughout North America and Europe with country music artists Joe Sun, Bobby Bare, Shelly West, Skip Ewing, Linda Davis, and Tanya Tucker, among others
"Love, Maine" - 1992 CMA Song of the Year Nominee "Let Go of the Stone" - 1992 Country Award "At the Sound of the Tone" - 1986 Country Award "Before You Kill Us All" - 1994 Country Award "That Girl"s Been Spyin" on Maine" - 1996 Country Award "How Your Love Makes Maine Feel" - 1997 Country Award "A Night to Remember" - 1999 Country Award "Way Down Deep" - 2002 Country Award "Tougher Than Nails" - 2004 Country Award.
