Bio
What makes Barry Tognolini's music so different from other pianists is his sensitivity, depth of feeling, and his power and passion for what he is playing. His amazing arrangements of the well-known and his original compositions take the listener on an incredible musical journey.
Raised in a home where his mother played the piano, Barry was always surrounded by music and began lessons when he was eight years old. At the age of thirteen, he became a regular guest on a TV variety program showcasing young talent in Perth, Western Australia - his home town. His live performances since then have included concerts before tens of thousands to cabaret shows, intimate private weddings, parties and special dinners for Royalty, Parliamentarians, and Heads of State. He has even had the honor of performing with Celine Dion in a concert for children in Perth.
Barry was the first Australian to be invited to perform for the Aga Khan at his famed resort, the Costa Smeralda in Sardinia, Italy. After a five month season there, he returned to Australia, however, it was not long before he was flown to Washington, DC for the first of two surprise birthday parties for fans in the USA. In Australia, he was now referred to by New Idea magazine as their “pianist to the rich and famous”.
On his return to Perth at the request of his many fans, Barry recorded his first CD. Several months after its launch, significantly high sales volume attracted the attention of Sony Music Australia, and Barry was immediately offered a contract. He became Sony's first contemporary-pop pianist signed to the label. His second album was released twelve months later and peaked at #11 on the music charts within weeks — a feat not often seen with an instrumental album. Barry recorded his third album, "Just Me," as a result of so many requests from fans to record a solo piano album. To celebrate its launch, Barry performed his first headlining concert in the Perth Concert Hall to a sold-out audience. Later that year, he ventured overseas once again, performing in various parts of Europe and the USA. For Barry, the most memorable performance of this tour was a concert in Tirano — a little village high up in the Italian Alps where his ancestors once lived.
After visiting New York and meeting with the entertainment director of Cunard, Barry was invited to perform on the QE2 as a guest entertainer. His popularity with the passengers resulted in an invitation to also perform for the Princess and Crystal cruise lines on a number of ships in various parts of the world. One of the passengers was so impressed with Barry's performance he invited him to perform at his wife's birthday party ... in Florida. Later that year, back in Australia, Barry was a special guest at the New South Wales Premier's Concerts in the Sydney Entertainment Center — an event that attracted over thirty thousand patrons.
Following a concert in Houston TX, Barry decided to relocate to the USA. After a tour with the African Children's Choir in Malaysia, he made the move to New York. From his home on Long Island, he continues to write new music and is now working with Steinway.
Barry's latest recording project, "Treasure Road," is a 24-track double CD collection featuring a blend of solo piano, orchestrated, well-known, and original compositions. The launch, showcased on the QVC shopping network, was received with wonderful response throughout the USA.
To celebrate the eightieth birthday of Dallas oil magnate T. Boone Pickens, an exclusive private dinner and concert was held at the Dallas Country Club. Barry Tognolini performed along with an amazing lineup of world-class artists. Under the Music Direction of David Foster, the concert also featured Andre Bocelli, Sara Brightman, Lara Fabian, and Katherine McPhee.