the Fortunate Few

JOHN WASHBURN is a southern California native who began formally singing show tunes in his junior high and high school choirs. From an early age, he was exposed to the jazz and blues musicians of LA's thriving Central avenue music scene by a family housekeeper, whose husband was a professional drummer. He picked up the harmonica and sax and in 1969 at age 19, performed his first pro gig with a young blues band in front of a few hundred people at a regional Rock and Blues festival in El Monte.
During the early 70's, while attending the San Francisco Art Institute, he formed a Rock and Roll band with classmate and noted Detroit guitarist, Gary Markely(Slippery Elm). The California Street Band played numerous clubs and casuals throughout the bay area. John could also be found jamming with members of Boz Skaggs' band and fellow schoolmates, the Tubes.
Moving to Santa Barbara in 1975, he participated in some original and cover bands including Greased Lightning and 60's hit makers' the Standells (Dirty Water, Good Guys Don't Wear White). Both bands were quite popular, locally.
In the 1980's, having returned to the Pasadena area, John was involved with local garage band heroes, Snotty Scotty and the Hankies. His honkin' sax was frequently part of this now legendary and still active band during their high water moments in the early part of that decade. He also worked in a soul outfit with some English expatriates doing Stax and Soul covers.
After a period of inactivity, John' decided to cut some Chicago blues tunes at his brothers' recording studio in Sunnyvale, CA. After some successful sessions, he was motivated to again pursue playing the music he loved best. In the 90's and into the millenium, he formed and performed with Blues outfits; the Gems and the Winning Hand Blues Band. He's also sat in with luminaries like James Harmon and been asked to sub for sax great, Joe Houston.
GARY GLADSON was born and raised in West Texas, a place where the sound of blues and early rock and roll music is a big part of the culture and heritage. Originally influenced by Freddie King, Johnny Winter and his father, he picked up the guitar at the age of 8; playing at family reunions where gospel, blues and soul music were in abundance. Gary’s father played bass and guitar in local country and blues bands in and around the Lubbock area where he would bring Gary to rehearsals and gigs as a kid. He eventually ended up playing the drums in his father’s band at 10 years old! He would even accompany them on short tours during the summertime. At 14, his family moved from Texas to Oakland, California. By this time, he had put the drums away for good and was passioniately pursuing the guitar. Soon, still in his teens ,he was playing the San Francisco Bay area club scene in various rock and R&B bands By his twenties, he had developed a reputation as a hotshot picker in the east bay rock community. In 1994, Gary was featured in a new artist spotlight column in Guitar World magazine. The following year, he was coaxed into entering the first annual Jimi Hendrix Guitar Competition in Seattle, Washington and placed 2nd overall, out of thousands of entries. Now based in the Los Angeles area with his wife and daughter, Gary does frequent session work and plays the Blues with the Fortunate Few.
JOE VILLA is originally from northern California and has played bass more years than he can remember. Back in the 70's and 80's, he was a regular on the club circuit with various rock and blues outfits from Monterey to San Francisco and shared the stage with the likes of Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites, Jerry Garcia, Merle Saunders, Hot Tuna, Sons of Champlin and others. Despite now raising three daughters in West LA, Joe was prodded out of retirement to play bass for the Fortunate Few and he's still got the thunder!
MIKE TRIMBLE was born in Long Beach into a military family and moved frequently during his childhood. His father played Jazz piano and Mike started lessons at age 8. It wasn't long before his interest turned to the drums. By the time he was 17, he was playing in the school band and pick up Rock 'n Roll outfits. After graduating from high school in Caracas, Venezuela, he auditioned and secured the drum chair in the "Up With People" national tour group and played across America for a year.
Shortly thereafter, he moved to Atlanta and worked steadily on the lounge circuit and recorded at Bang Records.
Mike moved to Norfolk, VA in the mid 80's and played in a number of local rock bands on the club and college circuit. This led to a gig playing sessions at the Lennis Guess studio. When not working in the clubs, he was playing drums on tv and radio commercials including Miller Lite and Chevrolet. He appeared on many movie soundtracks including The Pete Maravich Story and Gordy. Also, he took part in "The Music of Led Zeppelin" which performed with various symphony orchestras. His many CD appearances include Eddie