Béla Fleck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Béla Fleck
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Fleck performing on February 9, 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Béla Anton Leoš Fleck |
| Born | July 10, 1958 New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, composer |
| Instruments | Banjo |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | Rounder, Warner Bros., Sony Classical, Rhino |
| Associated acts |
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Béla Fleck (born July 10, 1958) is an amazing American banjo player. He is known for playing the banjo in many different styles. These include bluegrass, jazz, classical, rock, and world music. He has helped make the banjo popular in new ways.
Béla Fleck is famous for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. He has won 17 Grammy Awards and has been nominated 39 times. In 2020, he was added to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a member of New Grass Revival.
Contents
Béla Fleck's Early Life and Music Journey
Béla Fleck was born in New York City. His parents named him after three famous composers: Béla Bartók, Anton Webern, and Leoš Janáček. He loved the banjo from a young age. He first heard it on The Beverly Hillbillies TV show. He also heard "Dueling Banjos" on the radio.
When he was 15, his grandfather gave him his first banjo. On the way home, someone helped him tune it. They told him to learn from a book by Pete Seeger. Béla went to the High School of Music & Art. He spent most of his time playing the banjo. He learned from books and took lessons from great banjo players.
After high school, he moved to Boston. He joined a bluegrass band called Tasty Licks. They recorded two albums. His first solo album, Crossing the Tracks (1979), was very popular.
Fleck also played music on the streets of Boston. In 1981, he formed a band called Spectrum. Later that year, Sam Bush asked him to join New Grass Revival. Béla played with this band for nine years. He also recorded a solo album called Drive in 1987. This album was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
In 1988, Béla Fleck started a new band called Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. He formed it with Victor Wooten on bass. The band also included Howard Levy on keyboards and harmonica. Victor's brother, Roy "Future Man" Wooten, played unique percussion.
They made many albums together. Their second album, Flight of the Cosmic Hippo, became very popular. It reached number one on the jazz charts. This album helped them become well-known in jazz music.
Howard Levy left the band in 1992. The group then played as a trio for a while. In 1997, saxophonist Jeff Coffin joined them. He recorded with the band on their 1998 album, Left of Cool. Jeff Coffin left in 2008 to join the Dave Matthews Band. Howard Levy came back to the Flecktones in 2009. The original Flecktones recorded Rocket Science and toured in 2011.
Other Musical Projects
Béla Fleck has played with many other musicians. He played banjo on the Dave Matthews Band's album Before These Crowded Streets.
In 1989, he joined a special group called Strength in Numbers. This group included Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, and Mark O'Connor. They made one album called The Telluride Sessions.
In 2001, Béla worked with Edgar Meyer on an album called Perpetual Motion. This album featured classical music played on the banjo. It won two Grammy Awards for its unique sound.
Fleck and Meyer also wrote music for banjo and bass to be played with an orchestra. They performed it with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Later, they wrote another piece for banjo, bass, and Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain. This music was recorded for the album The Melody of Rhythm.
While the Flecktones took a break, Béla worked on new projects. He recorded music with traditional African musicians. He also helped make a documentary about the Flecktones called Bring it Home. He produced an album for his wife, Abigail Washburn. He also formed new groups like Trio! and the Sparrow Quartet.
Béla Fleck's Family Life
Béla Fleck is married to another talented banjo player, Abigail Washburn. They met in Nashville at a square dance. Béla produced Abigail's first solo album. They often play music together.
Béla and Abigail have two sons. Their sons were born in 2013 and 2018.
Media Appearances
Béla Fleck was featured on the cover of Making Music magazine in 2013.
Music Festivals
Béla Fleck has played at many music festivals. He has performed alone and with the Flecktones. Some of these festivals include:
- High Sierra Music Festival
- Telluride Bluegrass Festival
- Merlefest
- Montreal International Jazz Festival
- Newport Folk Festival
- Austin City Limits Music Festival
- Bonnaroo
- New Orleans Jazz Fest
Music Documentary: Throw Down Your Heart
In 2008, a film called Throw Down Your Heart was released. This movie follows Béla Fleck on his travels to Africa. He meets and plays with amazing musicians there. He also learns about where the banjo originally came from in Africa.
The film shows that Africa is a continent full of rich culture and music. It highlights the positive side of Africa, beyond what is often shown in the news.
Discography
Awards and Nominations
Béla Fleck has won many awards for his music. He has won 17 Grammy Awards. He has been nominated for Grammys in more different music styles than any other musician. These styles include country, pop, jazz, bluegrass, classical, folk, and world music.
He has won Grammys for albums like:
- Perpetual Motion (with Edgar Meyer)
- The Hidden Land (with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones)
- Jingle All the Way (with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones)
- Throw Down Your Heart: Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 - Africa Sessions
- Béla Fleck And Abigail Washburn (with Abigail Washburn)
- My Bluegrass Heart
- As We Speak (with Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain)
Images for kids
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Fleck performing on February 9, 2007
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Béla Fleck (right) with Victor Wooten
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Fleck playing in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2011
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Béla Fleck and his wife Abigail Washburn playing music together in 2010
See also
In Spanish: Béla Fleck para niños
