While San Diego’s musicians have not been immune to the current downturn in music sales, the live music scene continues to be healthy. A clear indication of this is the number of musicians who relocate to our city each year and join in the musical community. One such transplant is singer-songwriter Barbara Nesbitt, who performs at The Mission Bay Boat & Ski Club on July 21 as part of the entertainment at a picnic organized by music promotion company Listen Local.
Originally based in Norfolk, Va., Nesbitt won regional acclaim in the area performing with various bands, including Cradle, Rare Daze and The Perpetrators. She also gigged solo, winning 9-Volt Magazine’s Acoustic Performer of the Year Award in 2001.
Nesbitt credits her love of music with the childhood discovery of a box of old rock ‘n’ roll 45s. Singing along to classic songs by Sam Cooke, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and others, she imagined herself in front of an audience.
“Finding these records was hugely inspirational,” she said. “I didn’t think I could actually sing, but they made me want to be a performer.”
At the age of 15 she found herself part of Virginia’s burgeoning jam-band scene, taking up guitar when she decided to begin composing songs.
By 2005, she was ready to explore new options with her music. That year, on the recommendation of a friend, Nesbitt made the move to San Diego. It quickly proved to be a fortuitous move. Within months of arriving she had won the Cream of the Crop singer-songwriter competition and was nominated for Best Female Singer in the annual Honoring Acoustic Talent Awards
While Nesbitt was known for her work in various groups during her time in Virginia, her decision to work as a solo artist in San Diego was pragmatic.
“I did that because I moved to a place where I didn’t know anybody,” she said.
Though most of her performances are just voice and guitar, she does occasionally perform with a backing group consisting of Marcia Claire (bass), Bill Coomes (drums) and Mike Spurgat (guitar).
Nesbitt has recorded with her previous bands, and music fans have also heard her in recent months on numerous other artists’ CDs, including Tim Flannery, Keller Williams, Sven-Eric Seaholm, Michael Tiernan, Cathryn Beeks and Sweet Tooth.
This month she’ll release her solo debut album, “A Million Stories,” with contributions from legendary multi-instrumentalist Dennis Caplinger and balladeer Jeff Berkley.
All the musicians involved in the project are San Diego-based with the exception of acclaimed session bassist Freebo. Best known for his work with Bonnie Raitt, as well as Ringo Starr, Crosby Still & Nash and many others, Nesbitt was thrilled to have him contribute to her song “Horrible Moon.”
A longtime fan, she found out that Berkley had worked with the bassist previously and used him as a liaison. While Freebo was present for a whole session with Nesbitt in the studio, the total time actually spent recording was brief.
“We had some sushi, and he played the song in about 10 minutes. He’s just that good,” Nesbitt said.
“A Million Stories” consists of 14 radio-friendly songs that include touches of Americana, pop, country and rock, topped by the hook-heavy tune “Stranger Things.”
While Nesbitt has high hopes for her new CD, she acknowledges that the music business is a tough proposition at the moment.
“What keeps me going is being in a real inspired place as well as playing, writing, singing and recording a lot,” she said.
For her, a strong work ethic is still the key to any level of success.
“The basics are still the driving force, and they don’t go away just because much of the industry sucks,” she said.