I’m Barbara Bergin, orthopedic surgeon by day, and you can occasionally find me gigging after hours in Austin, Texas, the Live Music Capital of the World! Bought my first stick, a Gibson B-25 Student Guitar, in 1968, with babysitting dollars. Back then I was earning a fat fifty cents an hour, so I would have to say that’s been one of the best investments I have ever made. You might think that since I started playing guitar when I was in the ninth grade, by now I should be quite the hand. But like many girls of my day, we were more interested in hanging with the boys, and the guitar was just a ticket to sitting at the table. I did learn how to play G, C and D, and was on my way to playing all the cool folk tunes you can play with those three chords, like Sloop John B.
Read MoreCollege, med school and orthopedic residency slowed me down a little. But with one of my first paychecks, I promptly purchased a sweet Martin D-38, and that lovely guitar set me on the path to Travis finger-picking, and learning a few more chords.
Despite being primarily a left-brainer, and honing the scientific skills of my career, music and story-telling have always been a passion. In 2007 I published my first novel, ENDINGS (Sunstone Press). I won a few awards and sold a bunch of copies. Didn’t quit my day job though. But second and third novels are in the works, along with my non-fiction work-in-progress, Sit Like A Man (S.L.A.M.)
I have a pretty healthy case of stage fright, so I was surprised when songs started coming to my head, along with the chords to back them up. If you write songs, I guess they must be sung, so I got involved with a music school in Austin called Girl Guitar. It’s based primarily on the concept of forming band classes for women, and they’re taught only by women. The six -week class sessions are followed by public performances, and I was on my way to performing my own songs. Dealing with stage fright is also a work-in-progress, but since I’m not quitting my day job, it’s not too worrisome.
Since I’m a story-teller, writing old-timey ballads, bluegrass and folk tunes just seemed to come naturally to me. The owner of Girl Guitar, Mandy Rowden, and many of her students are aspiring and accomplished musicians in their own right, and publishing music and cutting CDs is a happening thing around there. Always wanting to try something new, I recorded my first CD, Blood Red Moon, in 2018. I had the help of one of my teachers, Jane Gillman, who is also my producer, and my sound engineer, Merel Bregante. I’m so happy with my product. I’m sure more are to come.
In my spare time, I run a medical self-help blog: drbarbarabergin.com. As a cowgirl and rancher, I am also an experienced western equestrienne, in the sport of Reining. As of this summer, my new horse, Sneakers and I are in sync and looking toward regional championships in August.
And did I say I’m still not quitting my day job?
Blood Red Moon
The New CD
from Barbara Bergin
Available March 29, 2020
“Dr. Barbara Bergin…you have done something way above what I think you imagined you would do, but this is proof that you are headed down the right road.
Most of all, my biggest tip of the hat goes to your stories and your believable delivery of ‘em.”
– Bob Cheevers; Songwriter & performer
Reviews
“DAMN!!! A great record. I love your stories. They are so well thought out and complete. Very old fashioned and reminding me a bit of the ‘Oh Brother Where Art Thou’ sound track…again with Gillian Welch coming to mind.”
– Bob Cheevers, Songwriter & performer
“…this is a wondrous recording. A published novelist, Barbara has created an amazing group of cinematic musical vignettes. The musicians…a list of the best of the best. Blood Red Moon is worthy of patience. It’ll be here soon enough.”
– Merel Bregante, The Cribworks Digital Audio
“Bergin has a good, rich, true Texas voice that makes people listen. And the songs are great–‘Possum’s in the Corn” is just fun, and ‘Blood Red Moon” is a beautiful mix of longing and mystery.”
-Roy Edroso, Village Voice