THE BILLY BARNES FOUNDATION
Mission Statement - Letter of Intent
Created in 2019 as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit arts organization, The Billy Barnes Foundation serves to engage in charitable and educational activities supporting and promoting the musical arts and music education through his work and perpetuate the memory and legacy of it's namesake, Billy Barnes.
​
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mr. Barnes started playing piano at the age of three and his parents encouraged his interest in the entertainment business. A skilled and versatile composer and lyricist, Mr. Barnes created a series of critically acclaimed revues in the 1950s and 1960s in Los Angeles and on Broadway. Some of his best-known songs include "(Have I Stayed) Too Long at the Fair," which was recorded most notably by Barbra Streisand on her second album, and "Something Cool," originally recorded by jazz vocalist June Christy and has become a jazz standard. Both hits were written while Mr. Barnes was attending UCLA.
Mr. Barnes went on to find success in television, writing music for all 140 episodes of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” as well as “The Carol Burnett Show,” “The Danny Kaye Show,” and “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” among others. His special material appeared in numerous shows with songs written for famous performers such as Liza Minnelli, Cher, Goldie Hawn, Lily Tomlin, Jo Anne Worley, Diana Ross, Sandy Duncan and many, many others. Mr. Barnes was nominated for an Emmy Award six times during his career. However, the full extent of Mr. Barnes’s contribution to the American musical landscape in theater, television, film, and live music venues has never been fully recognized, and this is something the Billy Barnes Foundation aims to rectify.
The Billy Barnes Foundation was established in 2019 with the mission of engaging in charitable and educational activities supporting and promoting the musical arts and music education through Mr. Barnes’ work, and celebrating the legacy of its namesake. The Foundation believes in building and educating an audience for future generations to be an important part of its mission and seeks to attract, educate and serve a young, diverse audience through music and theatre education.
The Billy Barnes Foundation, as a relatively young foundation, is in the process of expanding its mission. To maximize its impact on future generations, and in honor of Billy Barnes’, the Foundation will fund several scholarships and programs which will contribute to the present and future development of music and performing arts. As the Foundation grows, it will expand its support of musical performance and education to students in high school through other initiatives.
Mr. Barnes made a substantial contribution to American music and culture through his artistic output, and the Foundation believes his legacy is best honored by nurturing future generations of composers, musicians, and singers. By supporting these artists, the Foundation will ensure that the legacy of Billy Barnes will live on, and that new composers and performers will emerge who can contribute to the vitality of American music.
​​
The Foundation believes building and educating an audience for future generations to be an important part of its' mission and seeks to attract, educate and serve a young, more diverse audience through music and theatre education.
Board
Founding Member William Epstein has more than 20 years of experience and specializes in transaction-related opinions and other valuation services. He has provided financial advice and independent opinions to Fortune 500 and middle-market clients.
​
Mr. Epstein has provided fairness and solvency opinions in connection with many types of transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations, exchange offers, spinoffs, distressed financings, leveraged buy-outs and a variety of related party transactions. He has testified several different venues as a designated expert regarding and in support of transaction opinions.
​
Before joining Lincoln International, Mr. Epstein was an executive director at BRG, Capstone Valuation Services, LLC, and previously was a national director at American Appraisal Associates, responsible for the firm’s global Opinion Services Practice; and a managing director with Navigant Capital Advisors, in charge of Navigant’s fairness opinion services. Prior to joining Navigant, Mr. Epstein spent more than 16 years with Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin as Southwest director for fairness and solvency opinions and was a member of Houlihan’s National Transactions Review Committee.
​
Mr. Epstein has previously served on the board of Children's Medical Center, Dallas.
​
​​
​​
Founding Member Richard Tyler Jordan served for 30 years as a Senior Publicist with the Walt Disney Studios motion picture marketing division, where he worked on over 500 feature films. In addition to his many published books, including the Polly Pepper mystery series, and untold numbers of feature articles, he also wrote the nonfiction book, “But Darling, I’m Your Auntie Mame!” a history of the fictional character created by author Patrick Dennis. He lives in England.
​
A native of Northern Ireland, Member at Large David E. Kernaghan achieved distinction as an officer with the Royal Air Force. He left military service after twenty years and become a successful financial planner. He subsequently established a flourishing business in property management. He resides in England.
​
​
​
Founding Member Sean Monroe is a highly skilled and effective corporate transactional lawyer specializing in complex mergers and acquisitions, joint venture, private equity, and corporate finance transactions, including fund formation and investments, portfolio company acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures and restructurings, venture capital and early-stage formation and investment transactions, and executive employment and compensation arrangements. Sean has particular expertise in advising entertainment and media clients in all aspects of transactions in these industries, including such matters as motion picture financings, television business acquisitions and investments, digital and new media venture formations and other investment, disposition, and licensing matters involving these businesses.
​
Ancillary to his core practice, Sean has extensive experience with federal and state securities laws and regulations, state corporate laws, and general corporate matters and corporate governance, with related experience in tax, intellectual property, employee benefits, ERISA, environmental, and bankruptcy practice areas.
​
Sean’s entertainment and media clients include motion picture and television studios, entertainment finance companies, high-net-worth investors, producers, and executives in the entertainment, media, and sports industries. In addition, Sean frequently represents producers, financiers, and distributors of digital content, private equity and hedge funds, early-stage and venture-backed companies and startups. Sean’s non-entertainment clients include global financial services providers, real estate development and acquisition companies, family offices and investment advisors providing third-party fairness and solvency opinions.
​
​
​
Founding Member Robyn Spangler has spent her career in the entertainment industry working both in front of and behind the camera. Ms. Spangler holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music and theatre receiving a full scholarship in music and was also awarded an additional vocal scholarship her senior year. She has worked for major entertainment companies including Taft Broadcasting and Gaylord Entertainment as well as WTTV Channel 4 Fox in Indianapolis. Behind the camera she has experience in marketing, public relations and sales working at several PR firms including Columbia Pictures Entertainment and Walt Disney Feature Films Division as well as several private publicity firms.
​
More recently, she has returned to performing on the club, big band and symphony circuit. You can hear her music on all major streaming platforms and on jazz stations around the US.
Ms. Spangler has previously served on the board of Children's Medical Center, Dallas.
​
​
Advisory Board​
​
Dianne Fraser has produced and performed in multiple stage musicals and is active as a concert producer. She regularly presents and performs in live musical events, including benefit concerts for non-profit organizations such as The Billy Barnes Foundation, Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund), The Help Group, Music for Autism and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness.) Her debut album YOU AND I – THE WORDS AND MUSIC OF LESLIE BRICUSSE was released to critical acclaim on the Blujazz record label in December, 2023. Dianne is a partner in management/production company Industry Entertainment Partners where she represents writers in film and television, as well as develops film and TV projects. Prior to joining Industry she was Vice President of Series Packaging and TV Literary at ICM. She joined ICM from boutique literary agency Major Clients Agency, which she co-owned.
​
​
Dan Glosser has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Adelphi University. Shortly after he took a position with Rodgers and Hammerstein Musical Theatre Licensing Office in Long Island City, NY. The connections he made there quickly lead him to being a professional pianist and musical director for regional theatre, dinner theatre, Off-Broadway, and cabaret. Around this time he met Onna White and Joan Rivers both of whom became mentors and friends. He ended up serving as Music Coordinator for Fox Televisions "The Late Show with Joan Rivers," provided music clearances for Dick Clark Productions, music department at Paramount Pictures Television, The Disney Channel, Orion Television and Manager of Music Clearance for CBS Television Distribution. Some of the shows he has work on include "The All-New Mickey Mouse Club," "Name That Tune," "The Arsenio Hall Show," "Entertainment Tonight," "The Insider," "The Dr. Phil Show," "Rachael Ray," "Judge Judy," and "The Talk" among others.
​
​​
Honorary Board​​​​​​
Eileen Barnett began her professional career in her hometown of Chicago. At 16, she played Maria in WEST SIDE STORY with Dorothy Dandridge. Once she arrived in New York, Eileen's first job was in COMPANY as a pit singer. From there she appeared off-Broadway in a Kuri Weill revue and toured in several production of JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS.
​
She first starred on Broadway in the Tony Award winning musical, NINE and she appeared in the national tour of FOOTLOOSE.
​
Next was Hollywood where she worked steadily on TV and in movies. She became a contract player on DAYS OF OUR LIVES and had guest appearances on CRIMINAL MINDS, BLACKISH, MED MEN, HARRY'S LAW, WORKAHOLICS, ER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, S.W.A.T., and THE GILMORE GIRLS. She had a recurring role on KNOTS LANDING. A complete list of credits can be found on IMDB.
Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, Eileen began her association with Billy Barnes. She appeared with Billy and Marvin Laird at STUDIO ONE. Eileen appeared in Billy's show MOVIE STAR which played at the Westwood Playhouse (now the Geffen) and was costumed by Bob Mackie. Other Los Angeles theatre credits include KISS OF THE SPYDER WOMAN, THE YOUNG MAN FROM ATLANTA, PUTTING IT TOGETHER, JACQUES BREL, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, RADIO GALS, THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, QUEEN OF THE STARDUST BALLROOM, LOVE AND SHRIMP, RUMORS, PASSION, LADY IN THE DARK, WOMEN ON THE VERGE, LITTLE WOMEN, and GREY GARDENS.
​​
You can hear Eileen on her CD EILEEN BARNETT LIVE AT THE CINEGRILL, BROADWAY WITH A BEAT, and on BILLY BARNES' DIVAS.
​​
​​
​
Jane A. Johnston is a long time friend and performance partner of Barnes for over fifty years starting in 1959 when she became a replacement in THE BILLY BARNES REVUE singing Billy's hit, HAVE I STAYED TOO LONG AT THE FAIR.
She has experienced a long and varied career appearing in numerous plays and musicals on, off Broadway and throughout the country starring opposite such luminaries as John Raiit, Howard Keel, Van Johnson, Dean Jones, Sid Caesar, Jerry Orbach and was nominated for a Sarah Siddons award in Chicago for her portrayal of , Nellie Forbush in SOUTH PACIFIC opposite Giorgio Tozzi. TV roles include two appearances on SEINFELD, MURPHY BROWN, HOMEFRONT, LA LAW, and a recurring character of Princes Isabelle on WHEN THINGS WERE ROTTEN among others.
Jane's first Broadway show was with Ethel Merman in the forgotten HAPPY HUNTING and her last was as Jenny as a replacement in the original COMPANY and the national tour. Known as a connoisseur of Neil Simon roles, she starred in the National tour of CHAPTER TWO for over a year. She and Barnes collaborated in a cabaret show in 1985 and in 1998 Jane persuaded Billy to accompany her on a gig in new York City where she was the recipient of The Backstage Bistro Award for Best female vocalist as well as "One of the ten best acts of the year" by Time Out and In Theater Magazine.
​​
Jane proudly served on the Board of Actor's Equity for 13 years and was recently honored by The former Actors Fund for her service on the board for over 50 years.
​​
Jane can be heard singing on BILLY BARNES' DIVAS album.
​​​​
​​
​​
Jo Anne Worley's crazy brand of humor landed her a four-year stint on the highly successful, innovative television series ROWAN AND MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN. Her instinctive comedy timing and irrepressible laugh made her a favorite with audiences. Jo Anne is the girl who put the "laugh" in LAUGH-IN.
​
She first appeared on Broadway in THE BILLY BARNES PEOPLE at the Royal Theatre. More recent Broadway credits include THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, THE WIZARD OF OZ, and GREASE as well as FOLLIES for the Encore Series and ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY at the Ziegfeld Theatre. Jo Anne has appeared in the National companies of ANNIE. CERNICAL, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, and THE WIZARD OF OZ. She has toured extensively with (to name a few): MAME, HELLO DOLLY, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, ANYTHING GOES, CALL ME MADAM, NUNSCENSE, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, and GYPSY for which she won her 5th Drama-Logue Award. She recently appeared in the Los Angeles production of WICKED as Madam Morrible and has appeared at the Mark Taper Forum with Billy in AN EVENING WITH JO ANNE WORLEY & BILLY BARNES.
Ms. Worley's work runs the gamut from television, movies, and stage productions, to stage shows, commercials and cartoons, including the voice of the Wardrobe in the Academy Award Winning BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
On television she recently appeared on THE WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE, JESSIE, and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.
Jo Anne serves as president of ACTORS AND OTHER ANIMALS, a charitable organization which promotes humane treatment for all animals.
​
Listen for Jo Anne on the BILLY BARNES' DIVAS album.
​
​
​
​
​​
​
​
​
​