Gary Giddins described him as "small, wiry, and moon-faced with glittery eyes, and dark hair slicked back and parted in the middle.

[4] In the same year, Al Rinker and Bing Crosby became members of Paul Whiteman's Orchestra as a singing duo.

However, a band member who knew Barris suggested that they add him to make a trio and The Rhythm Boys were formed in April 1927.

The Rhythm Boys left Paul Whiteman the same year and joined Gus Arnheim's Cocoanut Grove Orchestra.

[8] In 1932, Barris signed a contract to star in six shorts for Educational Pictures, similar to Bing Crosby's launch into films.

In The Lost Weekend (1945), he is the nightclub pianist who humiliates Ray Milland by singing "Somebody Stole My Purse".

An unusual change of pace for Barris was his comedy role in The Fleet's In (1942), as a runty sailor named Pee Wee who perpetrates malapropisms in a surprisingly deep voice.