Guy Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Guy Wilson Fletcher is an English
multi-instrumentalist
, best known for his position as the keyboardist
in the British
rock band
Dire Straits
from 1984 until the group's dissolution, and his involvement in nearly every part of Mark Knopfler
's solo work to date.
, has written several hits for other artists with composing partner Doug Flett, and joined Roxy Music
in 1981 for their 'Avalon' world tour.
Fletcher learned keyboards, guitars, and a variety of stringed instruments. In 1983, Fletcher was recruited by Dire Straits' lead guitarist
Mark Knopfler to work on the music for the film Cal
. He joined Dire Straits in 1984, a year before their most successful album, Brothers in Arms
, which put the band in a globally acclaimed spotlight.
In 1985, Fletcher performed the title song for Woodland Animations Stop Motion cartoon, Bertha
.
Following the disbanding of Dire Straits in 1995, Fletcher has continued to be associated with the band's frontman Mark Knopfler
's solo career as a core member of his band. Between late February and August, 2005, Fletcher completed a world tour with Mark Knopfler, promoting Knopfler's 2004 solo album, Shangri-La
and in 2006 rounded off the duets tour with Knopfler and Emmylou Harris
. Fletcher co-produced and played keyboards on Mark Knopfler
's latest solo album, Get Lucky
, and was again part of his subsequent world tour in 2010.
In 1996, Fletcher toured as part of Bryan Ferry
´s band on his Mamouna world tour.
On 24 May 2010, Fletcher released his second solo album, titled Natural Selection.
. He is an avid windsurfer and weather watcher. At the bottom of his garden he built an incredible studio where he has recorded not only some of his own material, but material by Billy Piper and local acts from the area such as Mexicola; a young three piece who were based just a few doors down.
Fletcher's eldest son Maxfield started Brighton based band, The Vaudeville. In under a year they have gained great local acclaim & gone on to support large touring acts in Brighton (The Vaccines, Detroit Social Club and Little Comets)
Fletcher has also recorded The Vaudeville.
On his 48th birthday, Fletcher was given Knopfler's red Stratocaster on stage in Brighton as a gift.
Fletcher is the cousin of UK children's television presenter Justin Fletcher
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
, best known for his position as the keyboardist
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
from 1984 until the group's dissolution, and his involvement in nearly every part of Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
's solo work to date.
Biography
Fletcher was born into a musical family; his uncle, also named Guy FletcherGuy Fletcher OBE
Guy Fletcher OBE is an English songwriter who, in partnership with Doug Flett, wrote several hits for other artists. As a singer he had a small hit in the Netherlands and other European countries with the song "Mary in the Morning"....
, has written several hits for other artists with composing partner Doug Flett, and joined Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
in 1981 for their 'Avalon' world tour.
Fletcher learned keyboards, guitars, and a variety of stringed instruments. In 1983, Fletcher was recruited by Dire Straits' lead guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Mark Knopfler to work on the music for the film Cal
Cal (film)
Cal is a 1984 British drama film directed by Pat O'Connor, and starring John Lynch and Helen Mirren. Based on the novella Cal written by Bernard MacLaverty who also wrote the script, the film was entered into the 1984 Cannes Film Festival, where Helen Mirren won the award for Best Actress.-Plot:Cal...
. He joined Dire Straits in 1984, a year before their most successful album, Brothers in Arms
Brothers in Arms (Dire Straits album)
- Original LP track listing :- 2005 Re-Issue 2 LP track listing :The 2005 Limited Edition Deluxe 180 gram High Performance Vinyl reissue contained the full-length versions of all songs by spreading out the songs over two half speed mastered LPs....
, which put the band in a globally acclaimed spotlight.
In 1985, Fletcher performed the title song for Woodland Animations Stop Motion cartoon, Bertha
Bertha (TV series)
Bertha is a British stop motion animated children's television series about a factory machine. It was produced by Woodland Animations and aimed primarily at pre-school children.-Story:...
.
Following the disbanding of Dire Straits in 1995, Fletcher has continued to be associated with the band's frontman Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
's solo career as a core member of his band. Between late February and August, 2005, Fletcher completed a world tour with Mark Knopfler, promoting Knopfler's 2004 solo album, Shangri-La
Shangri-La (Knopfler album)
Shangri-La is the fourth solo album by Mark Knopfler, released on 28 September 2004. The album features Knopfler's signature storytelling style of songwriting. The album's first single, "Boom, Like That", was inspired by Ray Kroc's autobiography Grinding It Out and the starting of McDonald's, using...
and in 2006 rounded off the duets tour with Knopfler and Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
. Fletcher co-produced and played keyboards on Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
's latest solo album, Get Lucky
Get Lucky (Mark Knopfler album)
Get Lucky is the sixth solo album by Mark Knopfler, released on 14 September 2009 in Europe and 15 September in the United States in three configurations...
, and was again part of his subsequent world tour in 2010.
In 1996, Fletcher toured as part of Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry, CBE is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. Ferry came to public prominence in the early 1970s as lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band Roxy Music, who enjoyed a highly successful career with three number one albums and ten singles entering the top ten charts in...
´s band on his Mamouna world tour.
Solo work
Fletcher's first solo album, Inamorata, was released on 28 January 2008. Mark Knopfler guests on lead guitar for two tracks, and various musicians who have been associated with Knopfler's band also make appearances.On 24 May 2010, Fletcher released his second solo album, titled Natural Selection.
Personal life
Fletcher lives with his wife and two children in Bognor RegisBognor Regis
Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the...
. He is an avid windsurfer and weather watcher. At the bottom of his garden he built an incredible studio where he has recorded not only some of his own material, but material by Billy Piper and local acts from the area such as Mexicola; a young three piece who were based just a few doors down.
Fletcher's eldest son Maxfield started Brighton based band, The Vaudeville. In under a year they have gained great local acclaim & gone on to support large touring acts in Brighton (The Vaccines, Detroit Social Club and Little Comets)
Fletcher has also recorded The Vaudeville.
On his 48th birthday, Fletcher was given Knopfler's red Stratocaster on stage in Brighton as a gift.
Fletcher is the cousin of UK children's television presenter Justin Fletcher
Justin Fletcher
Justin Fletcher, MBE is an English children's TV personality in the United Kingdom.Fletcher is most associated as a presenter and actor on the BBC pre-school television channel CBeebies, both speaking and performing in various often self-created roles.-Biography:Born in Reading, Berkshire, he is...
.