Vinnie Barrett


Vinnie Barrett is an American songwriter and musician.

Career

Barrett graduated from Armstrong High School in Washington, D.C. She studied music at Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia. She started the singing group Vinnie Barrett and the Unlimits in local clubs around Washington D.C., and sang with the Flowerettes, a back up group for Phil Flowers. Syreeta Wright, Valerie Simpson, Diane Warren and Carly Simon were her inspiration for becoming a songwriter. She started writing music at the age of nineteen.
Barrett went to Philadelphia in 1969 where she was privileged to work with Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Thom Bell
. Her first solo-written song, "Just Can't Get you Out Of My Mind", appeared on the album Spinners.
She wrote popular songs such as, "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely" ; "Sideshow" and "Three Ring Circus", both performed by Blue Magic; "Love Won't Let Me Wait" performed by Luther Vandross, Major Harris, and other artists ; and "Just as Long As We Have Love", performed by Dionne Warwick, and several other artists. Barrett was listed in "Who's Who for Songwriting."
Barrett's last hit song of the late 1990s was "Tranquility", performed by Al Johnson. "Recipe for Love" : songs are "Unconditional Love" performed by Ron Tyson
and "Before the Real Hurting Starts" performed by Ron Tyson and Freda Payne.

Awards

Barrett won 5 Gold and 4 Platinum records; 4 Gold Albums and a Diamond album by Super Artist,"Shaggy". Barrett received an AFTRA award in 1975; Best Rhythm and Blues award for "Love Won't Let Me Wait"; 9 Broadcast Music Inc, awards for airplay; The BMI Millionaires award for "Love Won't Let Me Wait". The BMI Millionaires award for "Sideshow". The BMI Millionaires award for "Sideshow".
The latest award given in March 2019 is a BMI millionaires award for 2,000,000 Airplays for "Love Won’t Let Me Wait".
RIAA Certified Platinum Video Award "Luther Vandross: Live at Wembley"
Platinum Album, CD, cassette for "Luther Vandross: The best of Love"
Platinum Album, CD, cassette for "Luther Vandross: Any Love"
RIAA Certified Gold Album for Spinners album)|Pick of the Litter] by The Spinners
Nominated for two Grammy Awards for "Love Won't Let Me Wait" and "Sideshow".

Singles

Columbia records
Atlantic records
Cheri records
ATCO records
WEA Musik GmbH
  • The Magic of the Blue Three Ring Circus, You
RCA Victor
MGM records
CBS
On-U Sound
  • Aiming at Your Heart Just As Long As We Hav
Casablanca records
Germain records
  • Just Don't Want To Be Lonely
Rhino records
  • Soul Hits of The '70s – Didn't It Blow Your Mind Vol. 15 Love Won't Let Me Wait.
  • Can You Dig It? The '70s Soul Experience Sideshow, Love Won't L.
Frituna
Reggae 92 Side Show, Just Don't
Jimco records
  • Love Songs Love Won't Let Me Wait.
Disky
  • Reggae Fieber Sideshow.
Jive records
  • Chris Brown Young Love.
Edsel records
Collectables
  • The Magic of the Blue Three Ring Circus, You

Notable songs

  • "Meantime"
  • "Sideshow" / Barrett, Vinnie )
  • "Bulls Eye" / Eli, Bobby / West, Kanye Omari / Johnson, Syleena )
  • "U Turn Me"
  • "Young Love" / Eli, Bobby / Hilson, Keri / Thomas, Damon / Mason, Harvey / Que, J. / Dixon, Antonio )
  • "Lady in Red" / Harris, Norman Ray )
  • "Lonely Lover"
  • "Playing Game" / Barrett, Vinnie / Holmes, Cecilia / Kent, Clark )
  • "Man And Woman"
  • "Leave Me Alone"
  • "Sweet Tomorrow" / Barrett, Vinnie )
  • "Not Like It Was" / Eli, Bobby )
  • "Paradise ", Bruce Hawes, Robert Miller, Anthony Cruz )
  • "Just A Little Bit" / Freeman, John / Eli, Bobby / Lyon, Andre / Valenzano, Marcello / Milian, Christina )
  • "Talking To Myself" / Barrett, Vinnie )
  • "Three Ring Circus" / Eli, Bobby )
  • "Got To Get You Back" / Eli, Bobby )
  • "Don't Cross The Line" / Eli, Bobby )
  • "Let's Go All The Way"
  • "The Cold, Cold Walls"
  • "Save Your Love For Me"
  • "Telling It Like It Is"
  • "Love Won't Let Me Wait" / Eli, Bobby )
  • "A Plain Simple Love Song" / Hooker, Frank Ruppert )
  • "Walkin' In The Footsteps"
  • "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely"
  • "Who Knew My Luck Would Change" / Eli, Bobby )
  • "Love Is Just Around The Corner"
  • "To Get Love You Must Give Love"
  • "Just Can't Get You Out of My Mind"
  • "You Won't Have To Tell Me Gooodbye" / Barrett, Vinnie / Hendricks, James Edward )