Who is JB Gilreath?  

• Barry Gilreath was born in Anniston, Alabama in 1967.  His family relocated to NW Georgia, where a young Barry developed his love for the outdoors and rural life.  He is an avid hunter which inspired the song “Buck Fever”. 
• His love for country roots was influenced by many, including a grandfather, Russell Gilreath, in which JB Gilreath wrote "Papaw Pride".
• Barry resides in Florence, Alabama. 

When did he write his first song?  

• According to Barry's mother, he wrote his first song when he was eight years old, pecking out a tune on a piano in their family home in Cloudland, Georgia. 
• Over the years Barry has written poems and lyrics for personal enjoyment, but in January of 2025 he began sharing and creating musical accompaniment to craft his original songs. 

Where does JB Gilreath get song ideas?

• The songs Barry writes are the product of over five decades of life experience.  He has seen highs and lows in his own life and through the lives of others, and these life experiences provide plenty of opportunities to create his lyrics.   
• Barry believes that people write their own song by the choices that they make in life and that a few of these are fortunate enough to rewrite their life's song as they grow.

How does he craft his lyrics?

• Gilreath enjoys telling stories through the ballads that he writes.  “Love Don't Care” is an example of a ballad about a man and woman from two different walks of life who fall in love.  It is their differences that drew them together.  In contrast, his song “Loving You Means Setting You Free”, Gilreath shows how that differences can sometime push us apart.  In this ballad he employs a paradox regarding general assumptions as to how “love” should respond, as he tells the story.
• Another method he has used in his writing is seen in “Shoals Creek Revival”, where Gilreath selected key words typically associated with a religious context and applied those words in a different setting - Life on the creek in the summer. 
• Many of his original songs are about his memories, experiences, values and people that he has known over the years.  His song “Wished I Had Another Life Here” is about Gilreath himself, though he believes others will relate through their own life experiences.

What musical influences did he have in his life?

• JB Gilreath graduated high school in Rossville, Georgia in the mid 80's and was drawn to both country and rock music from that time. Foreigner, Lionel Richie, the Eagles, Kenny Rogers and the Oak Ridge Boys were some of his favorites during those days.
• Barry's father, a former school band director, was also a big influence in music.  He learned music theory and the mechanics of song leading from his dad.  His father was a musician and played the acoustic and steel guitar and his mother often played the piano in their home while he was growing up.

Who demoes the songs that he writes?  

• JB Gilreath created the Colt Rivers Band as a means to present and brand his original songs in a musical package.  Gilreath writes his original lyrics and then employs special software and equipment to craft the unique sound.  After extensive editing and rewrites, he is able to produce the final product as presented in his original songs. 
• These soundtracks are included on this website for interested parties, including music artists.  These are provided in this medium for demonstration purposes and for their potential use under a music label for production and distribution.  Interested parties may contact JB Gilreath for more information about partnering with him on their music project.  

Who creates his music videos?

• JB Gilreath creates his own videos to provide a visual production of the lyrics that he writes.
• When new videos are produced, they are added to this website.  
• All music demoes and music videos are promoted under Country Wave Productions, a private label belonging to Barry that he uses only for promotional purposes.