Ethel “Beatty” Barnes made her singing debut in the famous Convent Avenue Baptist Church in New York City at the age of three. Ethel is a graduate of C. W. Post, Long Island University, where she obtained her B.A. Degree in Music Education, specializing in Vocal Technique and Performance. Ethel has sung in distinguished places, nationally and internationally. Ethel has been a featured performer in various Broadway and off-Broadway shows such as The Prodigal Sister, Bingo Long, Blues in the Night, Sugar Hill, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Eubie!, Dreamgirls, and ''Showboat. Her movie credits include The Cotton Club and Garbo Talks. Ethel has also recorded for numerous other artists including George Benson, Billy Ocean, Jonathan Butler, Joe Kurasz, Tyrone Brunson, The Reddings and Louis St. Louis.
In 1996, while in the cast of Showboat, Ethel was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. Unfortunately, even after surgery and neurological therapy, Ethel could not return to her career in Broadway.