J O C K
B A R T L E Y
LEGENDARY GUITARIST
WITH
WITH
F I R E F A L L
ON THE RAY SHASHO SHOW
BBS RADIO 1
JOCK BARTLEY
is known for his melodic, tasteful and fiery lead guitar style, influencing
many rock and country rock guitarists. Leaving college to
pursue music, he joined the Boulder-based band ZEPHYR, replacing Tommy Bolin as
lead guitarist (who joined the James Gang and later, Deep Purple before his
untimely death in 1977). Months after the “Sunset Ride” album came out, Zephyr
broke up. In 1972, Jock was asked to join the touring band of GRAM PARSONS
& THE FALLEN ANGELS, featuring EMMY LOU HARRIS. Gram had joined the BYRDS
on the ground breaking “Sweetheart of the Radio” album, formed THE FLYING
BURRITO BROS. with CHRIS HILLMAN and was a pioneer of the new musical genre,
“country rock.” The Fallen Angels tour made many memorable stops from Texas to
Boston, including a show in Houston where Neil Young and Linda Ronstadt sat in
onstage (Emmy Lou and Linda met that night and sang together for the first
time). At Max’s Kansas City in New York City, Jock met Boulder resident, Rick
Roberts, who’d replaced Gram in the Burrito Bros. and had two solo albums out.
In 1974, Rick and Jock
began jamming in Boulder with MARK ANDES, bassist from the progressive L.A.
bands, SPIRIT and JO JO GUNNE. When LARRY BURNETT arrived from Washington D.C.,
FIREFALL was formed. A few months in, drummer MICHAEL CLARKE (formerly of the
Byrds and Flying Burrito Bros.) joined the band. Rick, Mark and Jock were on
tour with Chris Hillman on the east coast when Chris became ill – Larry and
Michael were flown in and FIREFALL finished the engagement at the Bitter End in
NYC, where Atlantic Records came to hear, soon signing them to a long-term
recording contract. DAVID MUSE joined the band in rehearsals with producer, JIM
MASON. Firefall recorded their first album at Criteria Studios in the winter of
1975, during which his guitar hero, ERIC CLAPTON, was in the control room while
Jock played the one-take lead guitar track on ‘Mexico.’ “It was a good thing I
didn’t know he was watching, I wouldn’t have been able to hold my pick or play
one note.”
Jock has played on stage
with artists including Stephen Stills, Neil Young, The Doobie Bros., Dan
Folgelberg, Journey, Heart, Poco, John Mayall and many many others. He is a
spokesperson for Suicide Prevention, having worked with the American
Association of Suicidology and the Kristin Brooks Hope Center to put on benefit
concerts to raise awareness, help fund the first national crisis line, (800)
SUICIDE) and save lives. He’s also involved with ’causes’ including child
abuse, domestic violence, burn victims’ camps, environmental issues and others.
Jock is a record producer, travels frequently to Nashville to write songs and
give seminars on creativity and songwriting for the Nashville Songwriters Ass. and
the Songwriter’s Guild. He endorses Paul Reed Smith Guitars and Takamine
Guitars. He has produced an acclaimed instructional songwriting video called
‘The Complete Guide To Songwriting – How To Write A Song.”
Jock
has been a painter and fine artist since childhood but only since 2001, has he
gotten serious about his ‘new’ art career. His colorful paintings and pastels, in a wide variety of subjects, have
begun receiving wide critical and public acclaim. His work has been exhibited
in art galleries in Denver and Vail, Colorado and Reno, Nevada with more to
come. Perching a few shows featuring ‘Rock & Roll artists,’ his paintings
have hung next to John Lennon lithos and paintings by Ron Wood (Rolling
Stones), Grace Slick and others. In 2006, four of his Beatles paintings appeared
in a nationally released coffee table book, ‘Beatles Art – Fantastic New
Artwork of The Fab Four.’ Jock’s paintings and prints were included in the
Denver Children’s Hospital benefit “Rockers For Kids” featuring art by Paul
McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Mellencamp, Jerry Garcia, David Bowie, Ron Wood,
Grace Slick, Janis Joplin, R. Crumb and others.
Band Members:
Jock
Bartley and Firefall will be on the road again beginning June 9th in
Band Members:
·
Jock Bartley - Lead & acoustic guitar, vocals (Original
member)
·
Mark Andes - Bass guitar, vocals (Original member)
·
David Muse - Keyboards, flute, sax, harmonica, vocals (Original
member)
·
Sandy Ficca - Drums (1984 - present) played with The Drifters!
·
Gary Jones - Electric & acoustic guitar, vocals (2014 -
present)
Career Highlights:
·
Two Platinum
Albums - Firefall, Elan
·
Eleven hit
singles - Including "You Are the Woman" (Billboard #6) and
"Just Remember I Love You" (Billboard #1)
·
The single
"You Are the Woman" has been played on commercial radio over
7,000,000 times
·
Inducted into the
Colorado Music Hall of Fame (2015)
FIREFALL REUNION LIVE
FEBRUARY 26TH 2009
AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM
