Barbara Cloyd's first performance was at the age of three singing "Frosty the Snowman" with the Sunday school choir and she's been hooked ever since. The daughter of a drama teacher and a politician, she is at home both performing on the stage and working with people behind the scenes. After getting a degree in Theater from the University of Iowa she abandoned her plans to be an actress for the lifestyle of a singer/songwriter. With her four channel Peavy PA she spent a few years playing clubs in St. Louis but found that writing songs was becoming more important to her than performing the cover tunes she needed to play in order to work.

In 1983 she made the move to Nashville, a town she had never been to before and where she didn't know anyone. Within a few days of arriving she knew she was home. Three years later she was hired to organize and run the Open Mic at the Bluebird Cafe, which was well on it's way to becoming the world-renowned songwriter's venue it is today. Her struggle to perfect her craft as a writer paid off in 1993 when she had the hit single "I Guess You Had to Be There" recorded by Lorrie Morgan.

Over years of performing at and hosting writers nights in Nashville, Barbara's energetic personality and genuine love for songwriters has endeared her to the community. She has served as a workshop moderator for the Nashville Songwriters Association and was the creator and host of the long-running Country Song Contest at Gibson Cafe which helped many writers make connections in the music industry. She has hosted popular writers nights at local venues such as Radio Cafe, The French Quarter and The Broken Spoke. Currently she books all the early shows at the Bluebird Cafe, writes a question/answer column for thestagehand.com, is a board member for the Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival and a mentor for Just Plain Folks. 

In 2001, in response to continual requests for help from developing writers, she founded a consultation service which she named "Ready for the Row." Through workshops, classes, recorded critiques and individual sessions she is helping new writers to develop their writing skills and navigate their way through the maze of the music business.

Because of her growing reputation for being able to spot talent there are many Nashville publishers eager to listen to writers she recommends. She secured initial appointments at Almo Irving Music for Bret Jones ("Better Man, Better Off," "Little Past Little Rock") and Anthony Smith (Mercury Recording Artist and writer of "Run," "I'm Trying" & "Didn't I") where both have both enjoyed significant success. The introductions she made for singer/songwriter Marcel after his performance on the Bluebird Cafe Open Mic opened Music Row doors for him the led to his artist deal on Mercury Records.