The Jamaican born, Toronto raised artist Claudja Barry is an accomplished international singer, songwriter, and actor. After a brief stint in group, Boney M, Barry first struck out on her own with 12-inch single, Sweet Dynamite. These tracks and sophomore album, The Girl Most Likely, made her a massive success in the disco genre. Her third album only further excelled her career with song “Boogie Woogie Dancin’ Shoes”, placing in the top 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1979. Her melodic notes and trance beats has made her a massive success in the world of pop music and earned her many chart topping hits.

Barry has been nominated several times at the illustrious Juno Awards, winning Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year, in 1979. Other accolades include a nomination for an American Music Award and becoming the first inductee into The Black Music Hall of Fame alongside jazz legend Oscar Peterson. In her worldly travels she has also won the silver prize at the Tokyo Music Festival, placing only behind Dionne Warwick. The glamorous and multilingual singer has graced the stage at some of the world’s most renowned venues. These include Studio 54 (NYC), The Saint (NYC), The Palace (Paris), Budokan Hall (Tokyo), The Verona (Italy), Backstreet (Atlanta), and the Rainbow (London). More recently, in 2018 she was the recipient of the Legends of Vinyl Award in New York.

Not only is Barry an accomplished musician, but has brought her talent to several acting roles as well. Studying at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York City, she has since appeared in the off-Broadway production of A Murder at the Church and When the Rattlesnakes Sounds. She took her acting skills to Europe, appearing in London’s production of AC/DC in the Royal Court Theatre, which won the Evening Standard Critic’s Award for Best Play. She took part in several other plays in England and in Germany, acting in a musical adaptation of Othello in Berlin. Barry has also appeared on screen in television roles and has more recently taken up producing and filmmaking. She produced film Losing Paradise and Music, a 2013 film screened in many countries, including Canada.

Claudja Barry continues to wow audiences and is currently working on a new music video and CD release, featuring Sylvester’s hit track, Mighty Real.

Awards

• 1979, Juno Award, Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year
• Silver Prize, Tokyo Music Festival
• Inductee into the Black Music Hall of Fame
• 2018, Legends of Vinyl Award