Artist Biography: Mr. Jeff Barker

Jeff Barker was born in England and began piano studies at age 5. He later attended the Manchester School of Music majoring in piano.

While still in his teens his interest shifted to the Theatre Pipe Organ and, as a result, he joined the Theatre Organ Club and the Cinema Organ Society. He was able to gain access to some of the organ equipped movie houses around his home town of Manchester and soon found himself playing for "Organ Interludes" at such places as the "Odeon" in Sale, the "Carleton" in Salford, and the prestigious "Odeon” (formerly the "Paramount") in Manchester City Center.

In the mid sixties Jeff came to America to play a summer season on the Wurlitzer organ installed in the Surf City Hotel, a New Jersey shore resort. He decided to stay in America and is now a US citizen.

He has played most of the important organs in the United States and England and has been a featured organist in three American Theatre Organ Society conventions. He most recently played for the newly formed Theatre Organ Society International at the Byrd Theatre in Richmond, VA.

Jeff has a long association with Mr. Nelson Page, owner of Majestic Star Entertainment of NJ, a past board member of the American Theater Organ Society, and operator of “Big Screen Classics” at the Lafayette Theater in Sufferin NY. Jeff has been Mr. Page’s organist for over 17 years. He also has played the Robert Morton theater organ located at the Palace Theater in Lake Placid NY for the Adirondack Film Society since 1990 and is also the crew lead on the restoration of the Palace’s organ.