Barbara Nesbitt is an Austin-based singer-songwriter. Her voice is clear and wistful with a bit of grit. Barbara has played for decades. In February 2023, surgery with the help of the Musician Treatment Foundation kept her career alive.
Music reached Barbara before she had a band of her own. Her mother led a band and played for a living, then disappeared from the family when Barbara was young. Music became Barbara’s link to her. She listened to anything within reach. Barbara found a stash of old records from the 1950s and 1960s in the basement and learned every line of every song.
At fifteen, Barbara lived on her own. She fell in with a group of musicians, took a job at a bookstore, and rented a room in their house. They handed Barbara her first microphone. She sang along at their rehearsals, and they asked her to join them.
Barbara built her sound in the Norfolk/Tidewater region of Virginia, then in San Diego, and eventually in Austin. She was inspired by the many talented musicians she met along the way and was even sometimes discouraged by their talent.
A few years ago, injuries set in. Barbara tore a tendon in her left elbow and later learned that she had four more torn tendons. Everything became painful. Holding chords hurt. Moving equipment hurt. Even picking up her glass of whiskey, which she jokes was medicinal.
The Musician Treatment Foundation offered to help her get expert care. Dr. Alton Barron, the orthopedic surgeon who founded MTF in 2017, operated on her elbow in February 2023. He repaired all of Barbara’s torn tendons. She started playing again within a few weeks.
“MTF has treated me like family. Dr. Barron has been an absolute treasure.”
More About Barbara Nesbitt
Barbara has deep appreciation for MTF and the affordable care she received. She successfully continued with her music career. Last year, Barbara released her latest album Lucky Street, available on Spotify and Apple Music. If you want to catch her on tour, go to Tour | Barbara Nesbitt for upcoming shows. See her at the MTF Elvis Costello Tribute Show in early September!
Visit https://www.barbaranesbitt.com/ to keep up with Barbara.