In the late 1890′s the family line of Gutierrez del Barrio musicians started making an impact in the world of music. Pre TV and Film, the family had already won awards in Musical Theater and Opera before composing music for film in the late 1920′s.
Family members Ramón & Conception Requena Gutiérrez del Barrio and Alejandro Gutiérrez del Barrio, were composers and conductors in Argentina. Ramón & Conception Requena Gutiérrez del Barrio also owned and taught at the family music conservatory in Mendoza (still in action today- Instituto Musical Gutierrez del Barrio).
Conception Requena Gutiérrez del Barrio was regarded as one of Argentina’s top Opera singers as she was the vocal coach at the conservatory. Ha, would you believe that there’s even an original song posted on YouTube of the late Alejandro Gutiérrez del Barrio.
His father, Jorge del Barrio is one of the music industry’s long time composer, arranger, orchestrator and conductors that has seen 60 years in the business. Still to this day at 77 years old, he just wrapped up Sheryl Crow’s Christmas CD, HBO’s John Adams and the hit movie Kit Kittredge: An American Girl. Other more recent projects include Toby Keith, Five For Fighting, Shelby Lynn -Jorge At Capital Records Session 2007.
His uncle Eduardo Gutiérrez del Barrio is know in the Latin Jazz Fusion world for the music created in Latin Jazz Band Caldera as well as co-writer of Earth Wind & Fires super hit “Fantasy”. In 1990 he released one of the most compelling instrumental piano CD’s called Free Play produced by friend Herb Alpert and featured musicians like Peter Erskin, Charley Haden, Abraham Laboriel , Hurbert Laws, Pino Marrone and Alex Acuña. In 1991 Eddie also participated with Herb Alpert in the writing and production of Stan Getz last album Appassionato . In 2005 Eduardo Gutiérrez del Barrio was commissioned to write an orchestrated jazz piece that was performed by the LA Philharmonic at the Disney Hall in Los Angeles. The title of the Jazz Mass was Misa Justa.
And finally, Gibi is not the only one in his family making landmark moves in the entertainment world. His brother, Ramon Del Barrio has had a major presence across the U.S. for more than 25 years. Del Barrio did the musical staging and choreography for the 2006 Academy Award-winning film in the Best Live Action Short Film category, West Bank Story. He was the principal choreographer and co-director for the musical Sisterella, written and directed by Larry Hart and the only musical Executive Produced and presented by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Sisterella won eight N.A.A.C.P. Theater Awards, including Best Musical, Best Director and Best Musical Staging and Choreography www.sisterella.com Among the many high-profile events and programs to his credit, he directed the tenth anniversary of The American Choreography Awards , and he was the live-show director/choreographer for the first reality show on Prime Time network television, ABC’ reality series, Making the Band.
