Michael Barnett began studying double bass with his father, a fine musician and teacher during his high school years and was soon performing professionally in clubs in the Joplin, Missouri area. After attending Yale University, he was based for several years in Kansas City, Missouri where he worked with and learned from many of the great players from the classic era of Kansas City Jazz.

Mr. Barnett was a member of the house orchestra at the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Playboy Resort Hotel for nearly 20 years accompanying most of the great names in jazz and pop music. He has been invited to jazz festivals throught the United States and Canada, performing with a long roster of notable musicians. Mr. Barnett toured extensively with the late Pearl Bailey and Louie Bellson, and in recent years toured even more extensively with Peter Nero.

Mr. Barnett has been Peter Nero's principal bassist for over 18 years.