Gene Barge was born in 1926 in Norfolk, Virginia. His interest in music started when he played clarinet in his school band and developed further when he took up the saxophone at college. After graduating in 1950, Barge began playing professionally, making his first recording in 1953 as a member of the Griffin Brothers. Two years later he released an instrumental entitled “Country” on Chess Records’ Checker label, which entered the R&B chart, reaching number one hundred! He joined Chuck Willis’ band and later collaborated with Gary “U.S.” Bonds on his hit single “Quarter To Three”, which went to number one.
During this time, Barge was also teaching English and instructing his school’s band at East Suffolk High School in Suffolk, Virginia. Then, in 1964, he was appointed as a session musician, arranger and producer at Chess. For the next seven years, he worked with the Dells, Fontella Bass, the Radiants, Little Milton and others. He was in the horn section that played on Fontella Bass’ hit “Rescue Me” in 1965.
Soon after that success, he recorded an instrumental album “Dance With Daddy ‘G’” that was released on Checker. It was a time of great success for instrumental tracks, based on the latest dance crazes, and the album highlights Barge’s smooth, stylish technique on the saxophone.
He was also able to work outside the Chess labels, with occasional session work at Brunswick Records, where he sat in on recordings by Jackie Wilson and the Chi-Lites.
When the work at Chess came to an end in 1971, Barge went to Stax Records, joining their Gospel label Gospel Truth, and later helped launch the career of Natalie Cole. He has toured with many major acts, including Fats Domino, Bo Diddly, Ray Charles, the Rolling Stones and Natalie Cole, and has appeared in several notable films.
