94-year-old crooner still hitting the high notes

PEABODY – They say people can relate best to those with common interests.For 94-year-old musician Tony Barrie of Saugus and pianist John Carmilia of Wakefield, their theory is that people need to be motivated to participate in life. If they?re lacking that participation, they have nothing, Barrie said.The partners travel to senior centers and continuing care facilities, such as Braeburn Gardens in Brooksby Village, and perform engaging songs that get the participants going.Barrie interacts with the crowd to make them feel important, and dedicates a song to audience members, saying, “This one is for you” and names that person individually.?They won?t forget that,” Barrie said. “It also makes them listen, because they heard their name called.”Carmilia, who plays a synthesizer, or an electric keyboard, said it brought back memories and great satisfaction being able to reminisce to old songs from the Big Band era of the 1930s and 1940s.?Fifty seniors in the room were moving their feet and swaying with the music,” Carmilia said. “They weren?t able to dance because of their age. Others closed their eyes and imagined dreams, where they revisited their youth.”Carmilia said if observers are 80 or 90 years old today, they would have been in their 20s and 30s then. They followed along with a singalong sheet in their wheelchairs, which had the lyrics listed.Barrie has partnered with various pianists since he first started to perform 75 years ago.?I?ve had some fine accompanists, including John Carmilia?s father,” Barrie said. “They?re all dying out.”Barrie said the key to his singalongs is to lean away from mainstream music.?I don?t want people to just sit there and listen to the music,” he said. “They can do that at home with a radio. The key is to motivate people to have fun.”During the performance, Barrie would also shout out invitations to participate such as “Everyone move to the music” and “Everyone dance, come on.”?It?s a terrific joy to us when those who are listening have a great time,” Carmilia said. “We also enjoyed our time here with them.”Familiar tunes the duo sang at Brooksby Village were: “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “Hail, Hail, the Gang?s All Here.”?I like to show versatility,” Barrie said. “God gave me the talent to interact with people and to make them feel important by participating in life. That?s what I do.”Barrie dresses in a standard black suit – tuxedo-style – with dress shoes reminiscent of the Swing era and Frank Sinatra?s wardrobe.A former engineer at General Electric in Lynn, Barrie was also a bandleader in downtown Boston when he was younger.Barrie has sung with some big names, including Jimmy Dorsey and Buddy Kaye. He was the featured singer at the Totem Pole in Newton.?It?s where you took your best girl,” Barrie said. “It was also the most romantic club in town.”One of those “best girls” caught his eye at one of his shows, and she later became his wife, Ann. Decades later, he said she is still a vital part of his music, providing encouragement and input.