brian fesler banjo brian fesler banjo brian fesler banjo brian fesler banjo Brian Fesler banjo brian fesler banjo brian fesler banjo brian fesler banjo
                                                                                                                             

  Brian Fesler
    Biography




brian fesler banjo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         




Brian Fesler started playing banjo
in grade school and soon formed a band in Iowa
with his sister and cousin.

After running the gamut of family band through regional bands in his home state of Iowa, he was off to Nashville where he soon found himself an endorsing artist for the Gibson Guitar Company, travelling the country with the Gibson All-Stars, featuring master luthier and good friend always, Mr. Charlie Derrington.  Brian still plays the Granada he was given by the Gibson Company.

He spent a season on the bass with Oklahoma favorites, The Arbuckles.

Then on to Ferrum, Virginia where in 1987 he took over the banjo spot in the Lonesome River Band.  He worked under bandleader Tim Austin, and had the honor to work with two of the finest musicians and people around, Adam Steffey and later Dan Tyminski.

The fall of 1988 brought new excitement as Brian and Adam joined with Tim Stafford, Barry Bales and Tammy Rogers in the new band, Dusty Miller. Dusty Miller immediately performed at a 1988 IBMA showcase, and began touring nationally.  Two recordings were released, the self-titled debut on June Appal records, and a project known simply as "The White Tape."

After winning the 1990 SPBGMA International Band Contest, Dusty Miller toured into the summer, then played its final show to an audience at the 1990 Nashville Fan Fest.  Adam, Tim and Barry went off with Alison Krauss.  Brian played an International Dance festival in Europe with Tammy, then played shows with David Harvey (Wild & Blue), Gary Brewer & the Kentucky Ramblers, and the Charlie Sizemore band.  Brian says, "Performing with Charlie Sizemore was one of the highlights of my career.  He's one of the best singers and performers in the history of Bluegrass, and a gentleman as well."

In 1991 Brian reloacted to the Twin Cities area, where he has performed with area talent such as the Christensen Sisters and Monroe Crossing, a band he is proud to have helped organize.   He's been featured on numerous artists' recording projects, including Chris Silver, fiddler Brian Wicklund, Highwater, and Becky Schlegel.  He has also recorded with bands outsite of the traditional bluegrass vein, such as Taconite Haven, Arcana 81, Spy Mob and the Lorie Line Pop Orchestra.

Brian currently provides professional music instruction on banjo, guitar and bass to over 35 students on a regular schedule, working with everyone from beginner to advanced.  He is a regular member of the Becky Schlegel Band, and can be seen and heard wherever Becky performs.