In 1964 he participated in the Castrocaro Festival, a famous contest for new voices, where he was noticed by Teddy Reno, who offered him a recording contract with ARC.

In the following year he participated in the Cantagiro for Young Newcomers, winning first place with the song[1] Il duca della luna (text by Giancarlo Guardabassi, music Caligiana, arrangement of Ennio Morricone, on backing vocals with the "Cantori Moderni" by Alessandroni).

Because of his extensive and melodic voice and polio affecting his legs since childhood (which forces him to walk with a cane), he is nicknamed the "Tajoli the sixties by the press.

Barberis started to make live performances accompanied by Flash, a group of three boys from Turin consisting of Marcello Capra on guitars, Angelo Girardi on bass and Mark Astarita on drums that in the next decade will play in Turin with known progressive groups, like the Procession and Venegoni & Co.

In the following year, 1966, he once again won first place at Cantagiro with Spiaggia d'argento and performed in many television shows, including "Settevoci", led by Pippo Baudo.