Béla Fleck

Béla Fleck (born July 10, 1958 in New York City, New York) is an American banjo player. He is most well known for his work with the band Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, which he has described as "a mixture of acoustic and electronic music with a lot of roots in folk and bluegrass as well as funk and jazz."

Related Topics:
July 10 - 1958 - New York City - New York - American - Banjo - Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

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Fleck was drawn to the banjo when he first heard Earl Scruggs play the theme song for the television show Beverly Hillbillies. He received his first banjo at age fifteen from his Grandfather (1973)., Later, Fleck would enroll in New York City's, High School of Music and Art where he would study French Horn. Almost immediately after high school, Fleck traveled to Boston to play with Jack Tottle and Mark Schatz in Tasty Licks. It is with Tasty Licks that Fleck would play on his first major album. During this period, Fleck would release his first solo album (1979): Crossing the Tracks. It was Fleck's first foray into progressive-bluegrass composition.

Related Topics:
Earl Scruggs - Beverly Hillbillies - Mark Schatz - Tasty Licks

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Fleck would play on the streets of Boston with bassist Mark Schatz until the two formed in 1981. Fleck toured with Spectrum until 1981. That year, Fleck was also asked by Sam Bush and company to join New Grass Revival. Fleck performed with New Grass Revival for nine years. During this time, Fleck recorded another solo album, "Drive." It would be nominated for a Grammy in the then first-time category of Best Bluegrass Album (1988).

Related Topics:
Mark Schatz - Sam Bush - New Grass Revival

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After a 1988 phone call with bassist Victor Wooten, Fleck and Wooten formed Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, rounded out with harmonica player Howard Levy and Wooten's percussionist brother Roy "Future Man" Wooten, who plays synthesizer-based percussion. Saxophonist Jeff Coffin joined the group with the album Left of Cool.

Related Topics:
Victor Wooten - Howard Levy - Roy "Future Man" Wooten

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With the Flecktones, Fleck has been nominated for and won several Grammy awards. Fleck has shared Grammy wins with Asleep at the Wheel, Alison Brown, and Edgar Meyer. He has been nominated in more categories than any other musician including country, pop, jazz, bluegrass, classical, folk, and spoken word, as well as composition and arranging.

Related Topics:
Grammy - Asleep at the Wheel - Alison Brown - Edgar Meyer

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In 2000, Fleck collaborated with long-time friend and playing-partner Edgar Meyer to record an album of classical material played on the banjo along with an assortment of accompanists, including John Williams, Evelyn Glennie, Joshua Bell and Gary Hoffman. Perpetual Motion won two Grammy's in 2000 for Best Classical Crossover Album and Best Arrangement for Fleck and Meyer's arrangement of Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum by Debussy. Fleck and Meyer have also composed a Banjo Concerto that has been played numerous times with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.

Related Topics:
Edgar Meyer - John Williams - Evelyn Glennie - Joshua Bell - Gary Hoffman - Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum - Debussy

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Fleck names Chick Corea, Charlie Parker, and the afore-mentioned Earl Scruggs as influences. He regards Scruggs as "certainly the best" banjo player of the three-finger style.

Related Topics:
Chick Corea - Charlie Parker - Earl Scruggs

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Solo and with the Flecktones, Fleck has appeared at Telluride Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival, among others.

Related Topics:
Telluride Festival - Montreal Jazz Festival - Toronto Jazz Festival - Newport Folk Festival

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