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GARY FLETCHER of THE BLUES BAND- at BULLFROG BLUES CLUB AT THE ALMA
Gary Fletcher is best known as a member of The Blues Band, although his songwriting
talent is respected by many. The band?s encore anthem, Gary's composition "Green Stuff",
has been a constant in their live set since the "Ready" album was released in 1980,
and has been covered by bands throughout Europe. The album, "Stepping Out" features Gary's song "Stepping Out On Main",
another big winner with audiences.
In the mid '70s Gary joined blues rock band, Sam Apple Pie, later known as The Vipers,
and a couple of years later - enter Dave Kelly.
Gary had played with Dave Kelly in late 1978 in The Wildcats, which also included Wilgar
Campbell, the ex Rory Gallagher drummer. Impressed by Gary?s prowess both as a musician
and songwriter, Kelly asked Gary to join a new band he was putting together, which also
featured Paul Jones & Tom McGuinness (ex Manfred Mann), plus ex John Mayall drummer
Hughie Flint. The Blues Band were born - and the rest is history.
The success of The Blues Band was almost instantaneous and they were soon playing to
packed houses, appearing on TV and radio regularly throughout Europe, and headlining at
Glastonbury. Over twenty albums & countless tours later the demand continues to grow for
their special & personal interpretation of the blues.
Concurrent with over nearly 30 years with The Blues Band, Gary Fletcher has continued to
write and record his own material, and has contributed songs to records by other artists. He is also currently performing with and has written for The Dave Kelly Band, and his own band, The Gary Fletcher Band.
Gary started to perform solo after receiving positive audience reaction to the tracks on
recent Blues Band albums on which he has sung lead. A couple of songs sung by Gary are
now a regular feature of The Blues Band?s shows. To step forward to the lead vocal microphone after so many years working behind the band?s legendary two principal voices, Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, was a daunting task, but Gary has been enjoying the opportunity to stake his claim as a singer-songwriter in his own right.
The Official Gary Fletcher Bootleg Album CD features many of the tracks are songs Gary
wrote for The Blues Band, including the anthemic 'classic' "Green Stuff", "Bus To Nowhere"
and "World Gone Crazy".
Gary draw on the blues both in terms of his own material but also covers with songs from
the likes of Robert Johnson, Louis Jordan, Sleepy John Estes, Ray Charles and even J.J.
Cale. This promises to be a night to remember!
Gary Fletcher appear at The Bullfrog Blues Club at The Alma Arms in Highland Road
Southsea on Wednesday March 21st 2007. Doors open 8.p.m.- tickets £7 - in advance on line
from . - or on the door.
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