Who We Are: Rodney Barbour

Countless people have heard of — or heard the music of — the worship and arts director of Crestview Presbyterian Church in West Chester Twp.

Since the early 1970s, Rodney Barbour has been touring the world giving organ demonstrations to churches. He paid for college by playing various instruments for the traveling Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, as well as Holiday on Ice shows. Starting in 1987, he played live organ music for Cincinnati Reds games at Riverfront Stadium until live organ music was replaced by a computer program. And to top it off, in his spare time he often entertained diners at the Springdale Music Palace before a fire destroyed the restaurant.

Now, Barbour is in charge of an adult choir of 50 people and a handful of other musical programs including a hand bell choir, youth choir, two children’s choirs, a brass choir and special music programs. It might seem like a quiet position after the years of constant performances, but Barbour still is a start to church members. This summer, he will star as a crocodile hunter and leader of the Bayou Band in the church’s Vacation Bible School program.

“I’m able to use all of these experiences, I think, to be a better musician and help people enjoy and participate in all the musical styles,” he said.

Barbour, who grew up in West Virginia, will marry his high school sweetheart, Cheri Smith, this fall. Both were drum majors their senior years. Neither married, but both pursued music education in college. She owns a restaurant in West Virginia, but will be moving to Cincinnati.

A new dream they share, he said, is to potentially open another restaurant with an organ, so both can continue their passions of serving others through food and music. But don’t expect him to play organ at his own wedding. Breaking tradition, he said they might just hand out Kazoos to guests and have them hum the music themselves.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5067 or lhilty@coxohio.com.