[1] In 1975 Barenberg briefly began playing electric guitar with a jazz rock group, Carried Away.

This group also played backup on Barenberg's debut solo effort, Cowboy Calypso, in 1980.

In 1986 Barenberg moved to Nashville, where he has played often with Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer and Maura O'Connell, and done much work as a session musician with Béla Fleck, Hazel Dickens, Mel Tillis, and Randy Travis, among others.

[2] "Russ Barenberg is one of the most melodic instrumentalists and composers in contemporary bluegrass and acoustic music.

Best known for his own unique style of flatpicking, Barenberg often uses his other three fingers to enhance rhythm and melody and create a more textural sensitivity.