Country music guitarist / vocalist / songwriter from Ellicott City. Since childhood Barth had always admired Hank ‘The Singing Ranger’ Snow. As a teenager while working for Western Union in Ellicott City he met country music guitarist Reuben Gibson who was traveling from Sneadsville, TN, and purchased a guitar from him for nine dollars. During the war years Barth was stationed in Canada where he actually met Hank Snow and other country stars.
Back from the service Barth continued writing music and he performed at local clubs with many local musicians. In 1949 he and organist Ray Ensor performed the song “My Mother” on Bill Dyer’s Star Discovery Hour on WMAR-TV.
In the early ‘50s the Hippodrome Theater was host to live music concerts and talent shows. At one such show in 1950 featuring country stars Minnie Pearl and Tex Ritter, Barth, backed with the house band, performed the “Shenandoah Waltz” and placed second out of 45 contestants.
Barth later worked at radio station WBMD and worked with many of the top country stars including Jim Reeves, and L.C. Smith… He made television appearances on the Buddy Deane Show, and Don Owens’ show along with a host of nationally known performers including Roy Clark, Earl Taylor, and the Louvin Brothers…
In 1961 Barth was contracted to record six singles for Mt. Ranier (D.C.) based Rebel Records. His original songs featured backing musicians Jimmy West, Butterball Paige, Burley Joe… Due to a contract dispute only two singles were released.
Barth toured and performed at clubs throughout the east coast. Locally he frequently performed at Whitey Johnson’s Zebelean’s night club.
Record releases by Stinson Barth:
1961 Rebel 232 The Story of My Wife / Before the Eyes of The Whole Town
1961 Rebel 235 That Woman Barbara / I’ll Forget You Woman
