Fred
Kellogg, born 1957 in NYC, has been a devoted follower of modern
jazz since the age of 15. He saw Rahsaan Roland Kirk at the Village
Vanguard at age 16 and was listening to the music of the Art Ensemble
of Chicago, Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Herbie
Hancock and Anthony Braxton a year later. He studied bass in high
school and junior college and formed an experimental jazz group Odwalla
(named after a composition by the Art Ensemble of Chicago). Moving
west in 1978, he attended the University of Oregon in Eugene, but
dropped out soon after joining a Rock ‘n Roll band, Los Xplorers.
In 1982, he formed ‘Moments Notice,’ another experimental jazz group,
which performed original compositions and free improvisation.
Fred moved to Seattle in 1983, performing with the ‘New Wave’ rock band The DeSotos. In the late 1980’s he began to experiment with vocal effects, creating drum and other instrument sounds. He performed at area festivals, including the Ballard Seafood Fest and Choochokam (Whidbey Island), and joined a vocal workshop lead by experimental singer Elyra Campbell in 1989. When the great singer/impressionist Bobby McFerrin performed at Seattle Central Community College in 1987, Fred was part of an audience chorus which accompanied the singer.
During the 1990’s Fred resumed his bass studies, performing in jazz workshops at Edmonds Community College, Seattle Jazz and the Ev Stern jazz workshop. Fred began his community radio career in 1997, hosting ‘The Road Home’ at KSER in Everett.
Concerned that mainstream radio was neglecting the advant-garde in favor of more accessible, easy-listening jazz, Fred moved to Olympia in 1998, completed his BA at The Evergreen State College and started ‘Free Jazz With Fred’ on KAOS 89.3 FM, the Olympia community radio station. He also produced a piece for the Homelessness Marathon in 2007. He performs his vocal/percussion impressions as ‘Beat Box Fred’ at local clubs and festivals.