Gary Fletcher

Gary Fletcher is a British blues musician, known for playing bass guitar with The Blues Band. He is also a songwriter.

Early life Born in London in the early 1950s, he became interested in blues music in the late 1960s, so he learnt to play his sister's acoustic guitar. Being left-handed, he turned the guitar over, without reversing the strings, so he learnt and continues to play "upside-down".

After his first band, The Breath of Life, he played in Streatham folk-rock band Garfield Row, who were helped by Glenn Cornick. After playing in several blues, folk-rock and country bands, he ended up playing and writing for rock band Panama Scandal. He joined blues band Sam Apple Pie in the mid-1970s, after they had already recorded both their albums, and shortly before they became The Vipers.

Fletcher and his friend Steve Gurl, who had played with Cornick in Wild Turkey, won a recording contract, whilst Fletcher, Gurl and Fletcher's wife Hilary, also won a publishing contract.

Career The Blues Band In 1978, Fletcher joined The Wildcats led by Wilgar Campbell (Rory Gallagher's ex-drummer), where he met Dave Kelly. Kelly invited him to play bass on his album Willing, and suggested Fletcher as bassist when Kelly, Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness and Hughie Flint formed The Blues Band in 1979. Fletcher has remained with The Blues Band from its inception.

Fletcher has written several numbers for the Blues Band, notably "Green Stuff" from the 1980 album Ready, which is still a common encore, and "Stepping Out On Main" from the album Stepping Out.

Side projects As well as The Blues Band, Fletcher has also undertaken side projects, writing and recording with other musicians, including The Dave Kelly Band and Christine Collister, Dave Kelly & The Travelling Gentlemen.

He formed The Gary Fletcher Band, a semi-acoustic band featuring Gary on acoustic and electric guitars, his son Jack on bass, John Evans on lead guitar and, depending on availability, Rob Townsend, Don James, or Pick Withers on drums/percussion. They are occasionally joined by Mark Feltham on harmonica. Their album Human Spirit (BGOCD 780) also included contributions from Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody, Dave Kelly and Paul Jones.

Discography Solo/Gary Fletcher Band Official Gary Fletcher Bootleg Album (2004) Human Spirit (2007) Giant From The Blue, Gary Fletcher Band (2011) In Solitary (2015)

With Dave Kelly Willing (1979) Feels Right (1981) Dave Kelly Band Live (1983) Mind In A Glass (1984) Making Whoopee - 1979/1982 (1993) Compilation album of Feels Right-time. Fletcher does not play bass on every song. Waiting For Bessie - 1984/1987 (1997) Compilation of Mind In A Glass/Heart Of The City - Dave Kelly Band's albums. Fletcher plays bass only on Mind In A Glass. Tex Comer is bass player on Heart Of The City.

With Christine Collister, Dave Kelly and the Travelling Gentlemen Live (2008)

With The British Blues All Stars Live at the Notodden Blues Festival (2007)

With The Blues Band Official Bootleg Album (1980) Ready (1980) Itchy Feet (1981) Brand Loyalty (1982) Bye Bye Blues (1983) These Kind of Blues (1987) Back For More (1989) Fat City (1991) Homage (1993) Wire Less (1995) 18 Years Old and Live (1997) : rerelease: Live In Poland (2002) Brassed Up (1999) Scratching My Screen (2000) Greenstuff Live at BBC 1982 (2001) Stepping out (2002) Few Short Lines (2011)

Compilations Best of the Blues Band (1999) Itchy Feet/Brand Loyalty (Reissue) (2001) Official Bootleg Album/Ready (Reissue) (2001) Be My Guest (2004) Thank You Brother Ray (2004) Best of the Blues Band (2005) Blues Band Box (2005)