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Guitarist Kirk Fletcher was born in Bellflower, California. The son of Pentacostal preachers, Kirk played in his father's church starting at the age of five, and was influenced by gospel music. His education continued to evolve by listening to his older brother, who was also a guitar player, and playing in his brother’s soul band. After high school, an association with Robben Ford added jazz to his influences. However, blues would become his obsession. Kirk introduced to blues through his brother's copy of B.B. King's "Live At the Regal." Al Blake of The Hollywood Blue Flames became Fletcher’s mentor, and now, with Kirk in his early thirties, Al considers him to be the most important and multi-talented  African-American guitar player to come along in the last fifty years. For the next six years Fletcher immersed himself in traditional blues from the 1930s to the 1960s.

He further studied with virtuoso guitarist Junior Watson. This led to playing with some of the best in the business, including former members of the Muddy Waters Band, James Cotton, Hubert Sumlin, Charlie Musselwhite, Rusty Zinn, Lynwood Slim, Janiva Magness, Nappy Brown, Tail Dragger, Phillip Walker, Kim Wilson’s Blues Revue, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and James Harman. Kirk has three solo recordings: “Shades of Blue,” “I’m Here & I’m Gone,” and a new CD, “My Turn,” released in 2010.


kirk fletcher

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