H.R."Sonny" Barrient, Sr.

1962 Graduated and worked the entire summer for a New Orleans Construction company building a telephone building on the island of Pilot Town at the mouth of the Mississippi River.  In the fall of '62 I attended Louisiana State University on a state scholarship to study engineering and psychology.
 
1964-'66 Married Barbara Macloud; left LSU (never did finish) to start a family.  I went to work for the Illinois Central Railroad as a Yard Clerk.  I was promoted to Office and Rate Clerk.  My first son, Herman Jr. (Mac) was born November 21, 1965.
 
1966-'71 Left ICRR to become the first office manager for the original Good Hope Refinery.  The plant produced jet fuel for the Army and Air Force during the Vietnam War.  During this time, Barbara and I were divorced; married Mary Terreil and had my second son, Dino, on May 13, 1971.
 
1971-'83 Left Good Hope Refinery in early '71 to follow a dream I had since early childhood.  I started playing music in my childhood, but I landed my first paying job when I was a junior in high school (1961).  I started my career as a drummer at Firmin's Seafood in New Sarpy making $10 a night.  Firmins was a restaurant by day and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 6 pm he removed the checkered tablecloths, put a lit candle on the table, and it became a "nightclub" from 6 pm to the wee hours of the morning.  As long as there were paying customers, we kept playing; after hours we would play for the hat.

In 1965, I changed my stage name to "Sonny Bee" continuing as a drummer, drumming, singing and opening the show for a star.  In 1972, I created the "Sonny Bee Show."  I hired a drummer and started playing guitar and became the featured singer along with my sister, "Lollipop."  I joined the Musician's Union and was the opening act for many country music stars including Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Jimmy C. Newman, George Jones & Tammy Wynette, Jerry Lee Lewis and many, many more.

In 1972, I left Mary and married Charlene Nastasi.  She had two daughters, Cheryl and Wendy, and together we struggled to raise all of them.

In 1969, I started writing songs and went to Nashville, Tennessee attempting to land a writing contract.  But, unfortunately, came home empty-handed.  Only one-in-a-million make it and I was now in that number.  So, I came home and continued my career in the music business working in local and regional clubs (full-time) until 1983.  At the time our children were readying for college.  My son, Mac, had aspirations of going to medical school and I was not making enough money to "pay attention."  I left the music industry with a broken heart and pursued another career (my son, Mac, attended and graduated from LSU Medical School).  I have continued to write songs and play music still today, but not for a living.
 
1983-'97 My father, being a carpenter, had taught me the tricks of the trade early in life, so I went to work for Charlene's brother, Barnard Siding, Inc. as a salesman selling residential construction from slab to roof.  During that period of time, I attended Tulane University at night to study Music Publishing Management to broaden my knowledge of the business side of the music industry.
 
1997-present In 1997, I left Bernard Siding.  Charlene and I started our own construction company called Factory Choice.  We concentrated our efforts in the River Parishes of St. Charles, St. John, and St. James.  We also have our own music publishing company called Char-Bee Music.  My son, Mac. and I built our own recording studio on his property in Hammond, La.  And I am going to attempt to sell my music "one mo' time."
 

1993 biography

Upon leaving school in ’62, I attended Louisiana State University for one year.  During that period of time I got married for the first time to Barbara Macloud and one year later we were blessed with our first son, Herman, Jr.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford marriage and school, so I left college and went to work for the Illinois Central Railroad for three years. I started as a Yard Clerk, worked by way into rate clerking and upon leaving I had been promoted to Assistant Train Master.

The next four years I worked at Good Hope Refineries, Inc.  I started there as the Office Manager and left with the title Assistant to the Plant Manager.  During that period of time I went through my first divorce and married for the second time to Mary Terrell, who gave me my second son, Dino.

As you know, I started my music career while still attending high school and for the next eight years it became an obsession that cost me both of my marriages.

Finally, in 1971, I left the oil industry, changed my name to “Sonny Bee” and pursued a full-time music career.  I began writing songs and poetry and fully enjoyed the life of a country music performer.  But, along with the excitement and glory of the entertainment world comes many, many pitfalls of life and I fell prey to all of them.

During that period of time, I met my third wife, Charlene, who hung on for dear life and helped save me from my own destruction.

In 1981, after receiving a strong message from God, I decided to walk away from my music business.  I continued writing but left the honky tonks.

I, then, joined Charlene’s family business, Bernard Siding, Inc., as a salesman and again enjoyed success.

At the present time, I’m still employed at Bernard’s and doing well.  A short time ago I organized a small music publishing company and I’m currently attempting to market my music.  I still enjoy entertaining on stage but I do so on a limited basis.