David TV Barnes

Grammy-winning saxophonist David TV Barnes is credited as horn section leader and horn arranger on Sting & Shaggy’s 44/876 — the album that won Best Reggae Album at the 61st Grammy Awards. (Source: the album’s personnel listing on Wikipedia.)/home

David is a constant collaborator of producer Sting International (Shaun Pizzonia), the hitmaker who first called him for the 44/876 sessions. He has recorded sax on numerous Sting International productions, including "African Warrior" by Shaday.

TikTok: @davidt_vbarnes

The Sessions

The call came while I was waiting on a sandwich — Sting International rang me up, called me "Hornsy," and asked me to come play on the album. Tomorrow. I hung up calm and then panicked about pulling it all together in one day. I got my crew together, got out to Shaggy's studio in Long Island, listened to the songs, and wrote horn parts that fit the project. Hardest part was the clock — he called at 7pm, session was at 2 the next day. Sting International likes his projects done a certain way, but when he gives you creative freedom, he really lets you go. I learned a lot from the process. I worked with him again after that on his artist's song “African Warrior.”

Full circle: David's first gig was playing for Wynton Marsalis at Gracie Mansion. Years later, he arranged the horns and led the horn section on the Grammy-winning 44/876 — the same record Wynton's brother Branford played sax on.

Royal Albert Hall

His horn arrangements were performed for Queen Elizabeth II's 92nd birthday celebration at Royal Albert Hall, where the Queen personally praised them. David arranged and performed those horns on the Sting & Shaggy album.

The Recording Academy Certificate

David holds an official Recording Academy certificate recognizing his participation as a musician on the Grammy-winning recording 44/876. The certificate is displayed above.