Béla Fleck
Béla Anton Leoš Fleck (born July 10, 1958) is an American banjo player. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, he is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.
Early life and career details
Béla Fleck was born in New York City, and is named after Hungarian composer Béla Bartók, Austrian composer Anton Webern and Czech composer Leoš Janáček. He was raised by his mother, a former school teacher, and claims he did not meet his father until he was in his 40s. He 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 in 1973. Later, Fleck enrolled in New York City's High School of Music and Art where he studied the French horn. He was a banjo student under Tony Trischka.
Shortly after high school, Fleck traveled to Boston to play with Jack Tottle, Pat Enright, and Mark Schatz in the group Tasty Licks. During this period, Fleck released his first solo album in 1979, Crossing the Tracks, and made his first foray into progressive bluegrass composition.
Podcasts:
Béla Fleck
ALBUMS
- Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn released: 2014
- The Impostor released: 2013
- Across the Imaginary Divide released: 2012
- Throw Down Your Heart: Africa Sessions, Part 2 released: 2010
- The Melody of Rhythm: Triple Concerto & Music for Trio released: 2009
- Throw Down Your Heart, Tales From the Acoustic Planet, Volume 3: Africa Sessions released: 2009
- The Enchantment released: 2007
- Drive released: 2005
- Music for Two released: 2004
- Live 7-30-2002 released: 2002
- Perpetual Motion released: 2001
- Fiddle Tunes for Banjo released: 1999
- The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Volume 2 released: 1999
- Uncommon Ritual released: 1997
- Tabula Rasā released: 1996
- Deviation released: 1995
- Tales From the Acoustic Planet released: 1995
- Solo Banjo Works released: 1992
- Places released: 1987
- Daybreak released: 1987
- Inroads released: 1986
- Double Time released: 1984
- Natural Bridge released: 1982
- Crossing the Tracks released: 1979
- 1999-09-05: Strawberry Festival, Yosemite, CA, USA released:
- 1998-01-17: Seattle, WA, USA released:
Perpetual Motion
Released 2001- Keyboard Sonata in C major, K. 159
- Two-Part Invention No. 13
- "Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum" from Children's Corner
- Mazurka in F-sharp minor
- "Prelude" from Partita No. 3 for Solo Violin
- Etude in C-sharp minor
- Mazurka in F-sharp minor
- Three-Part Invention No. 10
- Melody in E-flat
- Presto in G minor I after Bach
- "Prelude" from Suite for Unaccompanied Cello No. 1
- Three-Part Invention No. 15
- Moto Perpetuo
- Keyboard Sonata in D minor K. 213
- Two-Part Invention No. 6
- "Adagio Sostenuto" from "Moonlight" Sonata
- Two-Part Invention No. 11
- Seven Variations on "God Save the King"
- Three-Part Invention No. 7
- Moto Perpetuo (Bluegrass version)
The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Volume 2
Released 1999- Blue Mountain Hop
- Buffalo Nickel
- When Joy Kills Sorrow
- Spanish Point
- Polka on the Banjo
- Clarinet Polka
- The Over Grown Waltz
- Ode to Earl
- Home Sweet Home
- Valley of the Rogue
- Plunky's Lament
- Maura on a Bicycle / Stout and Molasses / Way Back When
- Dark Circles
- Old Jellico / Puddle Jumper / Dead Man's Hill
- Katmandu
- Do You Have Room?
- Foggy Mountain Special
- Major Honker
Solo Banjo Works
Released 1992- Ruben's Wah Wah
- 2Fourteen
- Liberec
- Free Improvisation #2
- Assunta
- Old Joe Clark / June Apple
- Max and Gus
- Beaumont Rag
- Kingfisher's Wing
- Earl Scruggs Medley
- Jeff Davis Medley
- Yaha Yaha
- Beatles Medley
- The Rings of Saturn
- Green Willis / Whiskey Before Breakfast / Killer Bees on Caffeine
- Oma and Opa
- Solaris
- Flapperette / Red Pepper-Spicy Rag
- Triplet Fever
- Bach Violin Partita in D Minor (BWV 1004)
- Did You Ever Meet Gary Owen, Uncle Joe?
- Middle Eastern Medley
- Twisted Teen
- Au Lait
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