Dustin Barber

Dustin Barber, known to his friends as "Dusty," began playing guitar at age 7 in Ft. Worth, Texas, where he was born. His father Sam bought him an electric guitar and taught him classics such as "Walk Don't Run" and "Wipe Out," which he leveraged to win elementary school talent shows. Soon after, he was playing complicated classical pieces.  In his early teens, he moved to Jacksonville, FL, and became heavily influenced by "Guitar Gods" such as Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai. He vowed to practice 8 hours a day, and did so for many years. By the time he was in high school, he was known as a consummate shredder and began performing with some of the hottest Heavy Metal and Rock and Roll bands in the city.  

His first big opportunity to tour internationally, surprisingly, was with a Southern Rock / Country band. This required that he set aside his Charvel and pick up a Telecaster, but as a fan of Chet Atkins, Ricky Skaggs, and Albert Lee, with whom he studied, he had no trouble combining his progressive rock skills with blistering country chops.

After honing his craft in a number of regional cover bands, he was interested in taking his skills to the next level. He moved to Los Angeles, toured with national acts, took lessons with artists such as Frank Gambale, did studio sessions, and performed with his friend, child prodigy drummer Jacob Armen. These experiences, along with his Berklee College of Music sessions, opened his eyes to complex music theory as well as unique, non-traditional scales and styles of music and playing.

Upon moving back to Jacksonville, FL, he joined a number of Jazz groups, and became a fan of Mike Stern, Lee Ritenour, and George Benson. He was honored to take several master classes with one of his heroes, the legendary Pat Martino, and played with his brother in a popular Contemporary Jazz band called Surge, which produced several albums.

The commercial jazz sound of the time allowed him to integrate Latin American rhythms and styles. He became a fan of Strunz and Farah and Acoustic Alchemy, and soon became versed in Flamenco style. Along with Walter Eaton of the Classics IV, he produced an album of Latin material and later published his much loved song, Manana en Madrid.

He spent much of this time performing with artists such as the Groove Inc Band, Alphonso Horne, and Segue, become well versed in motown, funk, and R&B styles. During this time, he toured all of Korea, performing for US troops and Koreans alike as part of the US Army MWR program.

Recently, he toured with Jimmy Parrish and the Ocean Waves Band, which allowed him to lend Caribbean, Reggae, and contemporary Island flavors to his style.

Presently, Dusty is touring the world with the Godfather of Soul, the legendary Al Green. Performing on stages from London to Madrid and television shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, he has remained incredibly busy in 2008. This experience has brought his talent to the forefront, and has proved that he is one of the most versatile guitarists in the nation.

Barry Olsavsky

Barry Olsavsky -arranger, composer, and lead panist, performs on Invader Lead, Double Seconds, vocals.  Barry began his musical training at the age of 9 studying with Frank G. Forgione, founder of the US Navy Show Band known as the Goodwill Ambassadors and a former student of Frank Holt, percussionist with the John Phillips Sousa Band. In 1985 Barry obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Percussion from the University of North Florida where he studied with Charlotte Mabrey, former Principal Percussionist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Barry worked with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra for 20 years as a section percussionist which included performances in Carnegie Hall, as well as touring performances around the US.  

Barry worked with many of the top names in the Classical and Pop world including Luciano Pavarotti, Doc Severinsen, Chuck Mangione, Bernadette Peters, The Four Tops, Kansas, The Temptations, Tony Bennett, Lou Rawls, and James Taylor to name a few.  After a long career with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Barry retired in 2004. He has done extensive study with the builder and tuner Ellie Mannette and Alan Coyle of Coyle Steel Drums, and has spent many years traveling to Trinidad and Tobago researching the background, music, and culture of Pan and Trinidad. In 1998 Barry was an artist/clinician at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC 98) in Orlando, Florida in November of 1998 and again at PASIC 01 in Nashville, Tennessee in November 2001.

Barry also served as production coordinator and producer of Caribbean Sounds’ 6 recording projects.

1993 release of “Panic Attack”

2000 release of “J’Ouvert Comin”

2004 release of “Evolution”

2007 release of “The Covers and “Caribbean Sound Christmas”

2008 release of “Beyond the Islands”

The DVD "An American Carnival" released in 2011.

Barry currently spends much of his time with this national touring group. When he is not touring with Caribbean Sound Barry also performs with Steel Bamboo, touring with The Conch Fritters and performing as a soloist with Tropico Steel Drums.  In addition, Barry is Executive Director of CST Entertainment Productions LLC, the parent company of Caribbean Sound. During the school year Barry is a percussion clinician at Freedom Crossing Academy and Palm Valley Academy in St Johns County, Florida working with the percussion students in the band programs. Barry currently has endorsements with Sabian Cymbals, Gon Bops Percussion, Salyers Percussion and Encore Mallets.