George Barrett: CEO Rediscovers His Musical Roots

George Barrett accomplished lots in life. He played varsity soccer at Brown University, taught at Horace Mann, and was CEO of a Fortune 25 company.

But in 2016, he had a chance to play with The Who’s Roger Daltrey.

“Finally, I felt like I was home again,” says the 1973 Staples High School graduate.

As CEO of Cardinal Health — the Ohio-based multinational distributor of pharmaceuticals, medical  and lab products — Barrett often traveled with his guitar.

But, the former Orphenian — who had sung professionally in New York, and considered a musical career — said, “I was hesitant to perform in public. I didn’t know how that would be seen.”

The Daltrey gig — at a company event — was a turning point. “People saw a side of me they hadn’t known,” Barrett says.

Encouraged, he began performing with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and jazz and chamber groups.

Now — at the age of 68 — he’s released his first record. Fittingly, it’s a collaboration with Grammy Award-winning producer/composer/arranger — and 1971 Staples grad — Brian Keane.

George Barrett (Photo/David McClister)

Barrett and Keane first met playing youth sports in Westport. Now, at Keane’s Monroe studio — and with an all-star band of musicians and backup singers — they’re together again.

Barrett and his 4 siblings — all musically talented — were part of a noted local family. His father Herb was a psychologist; his mother Lou was a Staples High School English teacher and poet.

George Barrett, Staples basketball star.

Barrett grew up as both a musician and athlete. Starring in soccer, basketball and baseball at Staples, he was always encouraged seeing Orphenians director George Weigle — with whom he toured Europe — at his games.

“No one forced me to make a choice. I was celebrated for doing both music and sports,” he says. He felt similarly supported at Brown, where Barrett — whose parents had helped build Temple Israel — moonlighted singing in church choirs.

After college he taught history and music, and coached soccer and baseball, at Horace Mann, the prestigious New York prep school. Meanwhile, he played music in Greenwich Village clubs like the Bitter End, did session work and recorded jingles.

“It was a crazy life,” he notes.

But while he loved “the music part of business” — being on stage — he did not enjoy other aspects. Offered a chance to move to Los Angeles, as part of the late-’70s soft rock scene, he said no.

A series of unexpected events — including going into business with his then-wife’s family — led to a career he’d never envisioned: pharmaceuticals. The dual history and music major had taken only one business course at Brown, but he earned an MBA at New York University.

The small family business exposed him to everything. Ten years later, Barrett ran the firm.

It was then acquired by a company in Norway. The CEO asked him to run its American subsidiary, in Baltimore.

Barrett was 34 years old. He “learned to lead” from older employees. “They gave me a great gift,” he says.

In 1998 he began running US operations for Israel-based Teva, the world’s largest manufacturer of generic drugs. Eight years later he was offered its CEO spot. But instead of relocating to Israel, he joined Cardinal Health, an American firm, as vice chairman. Two years later, he was named CEO.

Barrett calls his decade there “an incredible experience. I worked with great people. It was a blessing.”

Yet all along, music was never far from his heart. So despite his post-Cardinal Health work — teaching at the Columbia University School of Public Health and NYU Business School, policy work in Washington, consulting, and board work with Brown, the Business Roundtable and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — when he was looking for a second (okay, fifth or sixth) act, he asked Keane for an honest assessment.

Brian Keane

They talked, played and made a demo tape.

“I think there’s something there,” Keane said.

That was all Barrett needed to hear.

Tapping into Keane’s vast network of musical contacts, Barrett worked on an album. His goal was to cross genres and age brackets.

A year and a half later, “Not Alone” has just been released. There’s a single from the album too — and a video.

“It feels like a rebirth,” says Barrett, of his first time back in a studio in decades. “I’m hearing my music now — with real horns and guitars and backup singers — the way I was hearing it in my head. Everyone has been sensational.”

The response from fellow musicians has been important. He recorded with, among others, jazz legends Cyrus Chestnut and Eddie Gomez, Billy Drummond, Dave Mann, Joe Bonadillo, “Saturday Night Live” drummer Sean Pelton — and his brother, cellist Dan Barrett.

Keane accompanied Barrett on guitar. Backup singers toured with Bruce Springsteen.

“I had been away from that community for so long. I was wondering: Am I a businessman with a hobby, or a real musician? Their welcome was very gratifying,” Barrett says.

“Not Alone” has been released on all platforms. It crosses genres: Americana, bluegrass, gospel, country, blues, classical, rock, funk and jazz. Most of the songs were written by Barrett, though it includes Richard Rodgers covers.

Barrett does not want to be known as “the singing business guy.” He hopes his music “speaks for itself, and for me — organically and gently.”

Though he’s never been active on social media, he now has a music website, an Instagram and a Facebook page. “That’s another learning experience,” he laughs.

Speaking of learning: At 68, does Barrett see his age as a deterrent?

“It’s less about age, than stage of life,” he counters. “If I was younger, I might do a national tour. But I’ll just perform selectively now.”

Still, he is “as excited and enthusiastic as when I was 24. I enjoy music as much as I ever did.”

Keane and Barrett have talked about performing in Westport. His ties here remain strong. “When I sit at the bench at the beach dedicated to my parents, my youth comes flooding back,” Barrett says.

That youth includes playing at long-gone venues like Grassroots, on Post Road West just over the bridge.

“You don’t realize until you leave just how special this community is,” says Barrett.

It’s a community where the artist who just released “Not Alone” grew up.

And never felt alone.

(Click here for “Not Alone,” on a variety of streaming platforms. Click here for George Barrett’s music website.))

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