HAROLD FETHE

Music

Harold Fethe is a jazz and rock guitarist with skill, soul, and versatility. He was a founding member of Indigo Swing, a swing revival band that played top San Francisco venues during their mid-1990s heyday, and also appeared with his acoustic-rock band at the legendary Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, sharing bills with Boz Scaggs, John Lee Hooker, Maria Muldaur and others.

He has led small ensembles at venues such as the Carnelian Room atop San Francisco’s Bank of America Building; the 2007 San Jose Jazz Festival; the popular Bleu Ginger Asian fusion restaurant, and many others.

In 2005, recording sessions in Chicago with the late jazz legend Johnny Frigo on violin, pianist Joe Vito (who has worked with artists such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald) and Marian McPartland’s bassist Jim Cox, led to the 2006 release of Harold's debut CD. Released by Chicago’s Southport Records, Out of Nowhere received generous praise from critics nationwide.

Harold's "Jazz Cat" by Linda Manzer.
Harold's equipment and professional appearance are second to none. As a senior executive at an S&P 500 corporation, he found the time and resources to build a state-of-the-art guitar and amplifier collection. Comfortable in any attire and in upscale situations, he handles all aspects of each music date with taste, intelligence, and highest professionalism. See some more photos of Harold in action.

Fethe first worked professionally as a musician soon after he began studying guitar in high school, performing with a group whose members went on to musical careers in Roy Orbison's band, and in a chart-topping pop-rock group, The Classics IV. While majoring in literature at the University of Florida, he played in two different musical worlds: a series of successful rock bands on the fraternity circuit, and as the first house guitarist (and first non-Black staff musician) at Sarah's, a jazz and soul music club near the University of Florida. California Express, a folk / country / rock group performing in North Beach and Berkeley rounded out his early musical adventures. California Express's sound is captured on an independently released CD featuring its lead singer, Rich Wilbur.

Harold and Reverend Tim Robinson reprise their days playing Soul Top 40 tunes together.
Photo: Randy Batista/Media Image
In the late 1970s and 1980s, his involvement with music changed from performing to prose writing: press biographies, newspaper articles and publicity in support of composer and Grammy, Emmy and Clio winner Mark Isham. Fethe’s writing introduced Isham’s New Age / fusion rat pack known as Group 87 — which included Missing Persons drummer Terry Bozzio; bassist Patrick O'Hearn; and Peter Maunu, Arsenio Hall’s guitarist — to new audiences.

B O O K I N G

For East Coast venues, contact The Blade Agency, at 352.372.8158, or visit the Blade Agency site at http://www.bladeagency.com
For appearances on the West Coast, contact Matt Beasley, at 650.400.4920.

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