Bio

2022 has been quite a year for emerging UK country music superstar Preston D Barnes. Since his debut single hit the No.2 spot in the iTunes Country Music Charts within three days of its release, the former soldier from Lancashire has been on a whirlwind journey. Three subsequent singles have gone on to surpass all expectations including the most recent climbing to No.1. His rise to prominence has been quite unprecedented and he has now been nominated for the Best UK Male Vocalist at this year’s UKCountryRadio.com Awards!

Preston D Barnes (real name David Barnes) is a British Army veteran who served for over 20 years. He served the first 16 years of his Army career travelling the world to over 38 countries, performing music within The Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers.

In 2012 he was selected to become an Instructor at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall where he trained over 400 soldiers to become competent in Military skills and ceremonial duties.

In 2003 he was deployed to Iraq as a Chemical Decontamination Unit (COLPRO) in support of 16 Close Support Medical Regiment on OP TELIC 1. As a unit they treated over 2500 casualties in 93 days as well as peace keeping duties thereafter.

Preston left the Army in 2017 and immediately decided to focus on his new-found music opportunities by capturing the nation’s hearts when he took part in the hit TV show The Voice UK. Viewers learned that Preston had a successful career in the British Army as a highly qualified musician and became a firm favourite, securing a place on Ricky Wilson’s team (Team Ricky). The journey took him to the final knock out stages.

Since then, Preston has performed the National Anthem, live at Twickenham stadium for the Army vs Navy Rugby Match (which was broadcast on Sky Sports) and again, at Wembley Stadium for the NFL game alongside Gene Simmonds (American Rock Band – Kiss). He was also invited to perform as a backing singer on the re-release of ‘In the Army Now’ by Status Quo.

Preston has always been a Country music fan and in 2019 was approached by new Country music record label Sonic Boom Records and is currently recording his first solo album after the successful release of 8 singles in the last 16 months, 4 of which have reached NO1 in the iTunes Country Charts.

Preston D Barnes is a patron of: –

The Holly Clacy Foundation (Recognise, Educate & Reduce Stress in Children)

No Duff UK, a Military Mental Health Charity alongside Denise Welsh & Gail Porter