As a teenagerin Chicago, Goldberg sat in with Muddy Waters,Otis Rush, andHowlin' Wolf. He playedkeyboardsin the band supportingBob Dylanduring his 1965 newly 'electrified' appearance at theNewport Folk Festival. He formedThe Electric Flagwith Mike Bloomfieldin 1967, and later formed the Barry Goldberg Reunion in 1968.
Goldberg's songs (some of which co-written withGerry Goffin) have been recorded by manymusiciansincludingRod Stewart,Gladys Knight,Joe Cocker,Steve Miller,Bobby "Blue" Bland,Gram Parsonsand B. J. Thomas. Goldberg's first professional recording session was "Devil With The Blue Dress On" / "Good Golly Miss Molly" byMitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels. Among thealbumshe contributed to are Charlie Musselwhite's Stand Back ( Downbeat Magazines top forty blues albums of all time) Phil Spector's produced albumsDeath of a Ladies' Man, Leonard Cohen and the Ramones' End of the Century, The Flying Burrito Brothers' The Gilded Palace of Sin, Super Session which featuredMichael Bloomfield,Stephen Stills, andAl Kooper, Lemmonheads It's A Shame about Rayand The Byrds Artificial Energy.
Goldberg also has co-producedalbums by Percy Sledgeincluding Blue Night(Grammy nominated and WC Handy soul album of the year) as well asShining Through the Rain, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, The Textones plus Bob Dylan'sversionof Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready".
In 1992 he played keyboards with the Carla Olson &Mick Taylorband, which resulted in the live CD Too Hot for Snakes, featuring the talents of artists likeIan McLagan, andJesse Sublett, andJohn "Juke" Logan.
In 1994, Goldberg and Saul Davis producedBlue Night byPercy Sledge, which featuredBobby Womack,Steve Cropper,Mick Taylor,Greg Leisz,Bob Glaub,Ed Greene,Mikael Rickfors, the Waters... and songs written by Rickfors, Gregg Sutton, Pat Robinson, Carla Olson, theBee Gees,Quinton Claunch,Fats Domino, andOtis Redding 2004: Shining Through The Rain by Percy also co-produced by Davis and Goldberg, featuring Larry Byrom, Denny Freeman, Clayton Ivey,Ed Greene,Phil Upchurch, Bob Glaub, the Waters,Jakob Dylan... and songs by theBee Gees, Mikael Rickfors, Carla Olson,Jackie Lomax, Earl Carson, Bobby Moore.
In 2002, he was featured on the Bo Diddleytribute albumHey Bo Diddley - A Tribute!, playingpianoon the songs "Pills", "I'm A Man" and "Before You Accuse Me". (produced byCarla Olson). Carla also produced Barry's "Stoned Again" album which featured Denny Freeman, Mick Taylor and Ernie Watts.
In 2005 thru present, he tours with the Chicago Blues Reunion featuringNick Gravenites,Harvey Mandel, andCorky Siegel. Their debut CD reached #2 on the Billboard Blues Chart and received a four star review from Rolling Stonemagazine's David Fricke. On July 7, 2009 Goldberg's self-titled 1974 album was reissued with never before released tracks and a restored sound. The album was produced by Dylan and Jerry Wexler.
In 2013, Stephen Stillsrecruited Goldberg in founding a new band dubbed The Rides, culling some of Stills best work from the past, adding guitaristKenny Wayne Shepherdand session drummer Chris Layton. Goldberg co-wrote four songs on their first album titled,Can't Get Enough, released that year. The feature track is "Word Game". Much of the album reflects the work Stills did on theSuper Sessionalbum with Mike Bloomfieldin 1968.
Goldberg appears on the Carla Olson album Have Harmony, Will Travel playing Hammond B3 organ on Del Shannon's Keep Searchin' sung by Carla andPeter Caseand piano and organ on the Little Steven song, All I Needed Was You, sung by Scott Kempner (Del-Lords).
The long awaited film "Born In Chicago" documenting Chicago blues will also be released soon. It'll premiere at theSXSWFilm Festival in March. Goldberg has been working on this project for the last few years. It includes unique contributions byBob Dylan,BB King,Buddy Guy,Hubert Sumlin,Eric Burdonand many others. Barry produced three tracks on the new EP by The Voice (U.S.)Season One semifinalist, Nakia, with longtime friend, Johnny Lee Schell."Can't Get Enough," the album by the Rides ie Stephen Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Barry was nominated for a 2014 Blues Foundation WC Handy Award for "Best Rock / Blues Album."
