Winners of the 2021 Capital Region Blues Network's Blues Band Challenge!

Next stop:

The International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN!

New dates for the International Blues Challenge: May 6 – 9, 2022

It will be a full week of blues in Memphis, TN as the Blues Music Award nominees and winners perform on Thursday, May 5 and are Back On Beale with IBC beginning Friday, May 6.

We won't know what venues we'll be playing until we get there! However, IBC Important Dates include
Friday, May 6: Quarterfinals Night 1
Saturday, May 7: Quarterfinals Night 2
Sunday, May 8: KBA Ceremony, Youth Showcases, & Semifinals
Monday, May 9: IBC Finals at The Orpheum

Congratulations to our Saratoga neighbors Mark Tolstrup and Jill Marie Burnham for their big win in the acoustic challenge. We're heading out Saratoga Strong!

The George Fletcher Blues Band's name is only that; a name. Decades of well seasoned stage experience and the individual members' thousands of miles on the road make this bluesy/rockin' effort the genuine item by any name - a collective of truly like minded musicians covering the classics alongside excellent original material. The George Fletcher Blues Band is experienced, professional and ready to play for you!!

George Fletcher, Guitar/Vocals

George Fletcher is a third generation professional musician, son of western star Tex Fletcher, one of country music's early Hollywood Singing Cowboys, as well as a recording artist and radio and television actor/personality.

On the upstate NY music scene since 2003, Fletcher has built a solid reputation for his energetic style with his previous groups, Bourbon Renewal, The Tequila Mockingbirds and Foldin' Money. He was 1/2 of award-winning acoustic duo, The Tequila Mockingbirds, who were voted the Capital region's "Best Acoustic Duo" in Metroland Magazine's 2007 and 2008 readers' polls, “Best Jazz Group" in the 2007 Times Union's "Best of the Capital Region" readers' poll, and tied for 3rd place "Best Jazz Group" in 2011.

He has performed at the Albany Tulip Fest, Downtown Albany Blues Competition, Saratoga JazzFest, the Hat’s Off, Final Stretch and West Side Celebrations, First Night and pretty much every other festival who'd have him! He was a volunteer co-organizer of the Caroline Street Arts & Blues Fest.

George’s extensive list of credits includes performing or recording with the Commander Cody Band, Curt Smith (Tears for Fears), Larry Hoppen (Orleans), The Coasters, Gary Miller and Daryl Jenifer (Bad Brains), Jerry Marotta, Marty Joe Kupersmith (Jay and The Americans), John Platania, John Regan and many others.

He has opened concerts for Ray Charles, Kinky Friedman, Robbie Kreiger (The Doors), The Wailers , Murali Coryell, the Spin Doctors, NRBQ, Popa Chubby, and Roomful of Blues among many others. When not fronting the GFBB, George is a touring guitarist with the Chris O'Leary Band.

George is owner/instructor at Saratoga Strings Guitar and Bass Lesson Center.

He is a 2012 inductee into the New York Blues Hall of Fame as a "Master Blues Artist." His former band, George Fletcher's Foldin' Money was likewise inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame in 2013 as a "Great Blues Band." He was honored as one of Saratoga’s Top 20 (Movers and Shakers) over 40 in the Saratogian newspaper way back in 2005.

George is a Friend of Babicz Guitars®. He claims he was born to buffet. You can reach George at hisnibs@georgefletcher.com.

Dennis Cotton, drums

Dennis Cotton is an accomplished performer, session player, drum circle facilitator, and elite music educator.

Over his 20 plus year career, Dennis has recorded more than 40 albums, performed music for television, radio and motion pictures and toured worldwide.

Dennis has worked with Savoy Brown, Duke Robillard Band, Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, The British Blues Allstars, Gavin Degraw, Jeff Pitchell and Texas Flood, John Mayock and the Homesteaders, The Mayocks, John Herald, Phobe Legere, Robert Charels Blues Band,

George Fletcher & The Handsome Men, George Fletcher’s Bourbon Renewal, The Dent, Will Hoppey, New Frontier, The Somerville Brothers, Don Lewis Band, Brian Tarquin, Gary Nichols, Charles Lyonhart, Debbie Davies, J. Geils, Jimmy Vivino, Bob Hall, Rod Price, Rob Leon, Michael Hill, Artie & Happy Traum, John Sebastian, Eric Weisberg, Leni Stern, Lou Marini, Larry Cambell, Lincoln Schliefer, Big Al Anderson, Levon Helm,

Jay McShann, and Herb Ellis.

Dennis is an endorsed Drum Circle Facilitator and Drum Kit Artist for the REMO drum company. Visit Dennis on the web at www.drummerdenniscotton.com

Sonny Speed, Keys/Vocals

Sonny is an independent record producer, multi-Instrumentalist and recording engineer that the NY Times called, "A musician and producer known for his professionalism.” An accomplished blues keyboardist, he’s played on stage with artists such as Joe Lewis Walker, Murali Coryell, Slam Alan, Rhett Tyler, Taz Cru, Papa John Mole, Sonny Rock, Bill Sims, The Hoppen Brothers (Orleans), The Drifters, Chubby Checker, Bobby Lewis, and many more.

Over the past 50 years, Sonny has opened shows for The Zombies, Leon Russell, Susie Tyrell (E Street Band), Billy Joel (Hassles), Ricky Skaggs, Leslie West, Cactus, Toby Walker, Foghat, Jay and the Americans, The Coasters, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, 1910 Fruit Gum Company, The Crystals, and many others.

Sonny is the past Director of the “Island Songwriter's Showcase” (ISS), Long Island’s largest songwriting organization. Additionally, he serves on the board of the Saratoga Acoustic Blues Society and the Capital Region Blues Network CRBN. He hosts the monthly SABS Acoustic Blues Night at the world-famous Caffé Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY and every Monday night he hosts the “Stormy Monday Blues” radio show on WRPI 91.5 FM in Troy NY. and Wednesday he hosts "The Blues Beat" on Radioradiox.com.

He’s the owner of Son Spot Recording Studio in Saratoga Springs and is credited with producing and playing on over 75 CDs to date.

Sonny was inducted into the NY Blues Hall of Fame in 2015. Contact Sonny at sonnyspeed@nycap.rr.com

Anna Cotton (AKA Anna Belladonna) is an up-and-coming bassist from Hartford Connecticut. She is the daughter of GFBB drummer and notable music producer Dennis Cotton.

Anna studies bass with Berklee School of Music, GIT graduate, and performing artist Michael Kevetos. Ms. Cotton performs throughout the Northeast with her band FastBack and is a former member of the rock band Crust.

Anna makes her studio debut on a new record by Singer-Songwriter Kelly Hahne scheduled for release in December 2021.

Anna is very happy to be joining the George Fletcher Blues Band in Memphis for IBC being a fan of their music since she was an infant. Her mighty bass chops, infectious smile, and bubbly personality make her a fan favorite.