Fred Gondzar Bio

A native of Michigan, Fred started singing at the early age of three and has enjoyed a musical life ever since.

He formed his first band when he was 15.  It was made up of himself and two girls. They all sang and Fred played the accordion!!

Up until the Beatles hit the scene in the early 60's, he mostly played and sang folk songs, but after the Beatles showed up, his attention turned to rock and roll.  He then formed a rock group, and half the songs they played were Beatles tunes. He was so "into the Beatles" that he even started talking and singing with a British accent.

From age 10 to 15 he studied the accordion (back then it was "cool"), and then he went to guitar.  Those early childhood accordion lessons gave him a strong musical base, and allowed him to easily transition to piano and keyboards. And after he learned to play the guitar, it was an easy step to the electric bass guitar. In the Abbey Road Band, he plays several instruments.

Fred has been in many bands through the years ranging from rock to gospel to bluegrass.  He especially enjoys singing tight harmonies, and the music of the Beatles offers many opportunities to exercise his vocal talent.

Among his hobbies are riding his motorcycle in the Black Hills and spending time with his friends.

He lives in Rapid City, South Dakota with his sweet wife, Paula.