Charles Barry Skeete Sr.

Born in Corona, Queens, New York, Barry took up the drums at an early age, following in the musical footsteps of his father, Charlie Skeete, who was a well-known jazz-age pianist and band leader. He served as a Corporal in the U. S. Marines from 1967 – 1970, as well as serving in the Army National Guard and the Navy Seabees. He proudly learned to operate heavy machinery and drive trucks, using this ability to work with the NYC Department of Sanitation, drive big rigs and work in the construction industry.

Barry realized his dream of playing jazz and R&B music as percussionist with the Fred Johnson Jazz Group for over 15 years, making notable appearances at the Clearwater, FL Jazz Festival in 2000 & 2005, and opening for headliners such as Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Boney James and Rick Braun. As a duo, Barry and Fred provided the background music for readings by Deepak Chopra and Coleman Barks and have co-produced countless Sound Sculpture Improvisational Performances and multi-national musical presentations.

In 2007, Barry started “Barry’s Rhythm Party” and “Drum With Me”, facilitating interactive musical activities at Assisted Living Facilities & Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers in Pinellas and Hillsborough County as well as local, community drum circles. Combining his musical talents with those of his wife Catherine and other World Music performers, Barry was the primary percussionist for The Red-tailed Experience, and a founding member of the kirtan and World Music group, Bhaav, providing music for many local devotional and celebratory events. Most recently, he and Daniel Bremer are the co-founders of Outside of the Box (OOB), constructing unique, handmade cajons (box drums) for distribution to talented youths that might otherwise not have a percussion instrument to play.

He is the much beloved Husband of Catherine Dana Costa; loving Father to Gianna, Charles Barry II, Antonio, Daniel, Enrique and Trevor; Grandfather to nine granddaughters, five grandsons and Great Grandfather to one great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by his father Charles McClellen Skeete,, mother Helen [Greene] Skeete, and brother Leighton Todd.

Funeral services will be held at the Bay Pines National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd N, St. Petersburg, FL 33708, with full military honors on September 7, 2018 at 1:30 PM. A Celebration of Life will be held at Sacred Lands Preservation, 1620 Park Street N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710, on September 30, 2018 at 6:30 PM. All are welcome to honor and celebrate the life of Charles Barry Skeete.