In Depth
Born in New Orleans, La. Bob Folse grew up loving music and was on fire once he got his hands on a guitar at the age of 12.Originally introduced to the guitar thru hymns sung in the Catholic school he attended such as turn turn turn and kumbaya
After graduating grade school Folse studied privately with Sal Provenzano who introduced him to note reading and chord inversions. This was a great base to grow on . Mr provenzanno was a very talented teacher
Later studying privately also in New Orleans with Hank Mackie, Elias Barriero, Bill Huntington, Steve Mazakowski, Folse developed his skills to a professional level
In 1986 Folse was awarded a partial scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music he graduated in 1990 with a degree in Film Scoring an returned to new orleans
He scored 2 short films for the new orleans museum of art One on Folk art and the other on claude monet
In 1990 Folse won the Lousiana Jazz Comoposers grant and recorded several of his original Jazz Compositions
Folse interest in Flamenco grew with the discovery of the Gypsy Lkings which had a huge influence on his style
With a growing passion for the Spanish guitar , he attended master classes with Gerardo Nunez, Pedro Cortes, Chuscales, and more Traveled to Spain several times partially funded by local and regional arts grants Folse honed his skills on Frenchman street in Orleans mostly at the once famous Cafe Brasil nightly and was a stable part of the new orleans music scene
Arrived in Miami in 1998 to explore the scene and ended up staying now over 20 yrs With a lot of this time spent playing in the South Beach Miami Ocean Drive music scene in the late 90's which was a mecca for nouveau flamenco guitarists, Folse developed a passionate and fiery sound inspired by the Gipsy Guitarists and the latin rhythms that were all around him. often after Ocean drive performances at the famous Papparazzi restaurant folse would go down to Calle Ocho in little havana where the Flamenco Tabernas were and were Folse would often sit in with the show of guitarists such as Paco Fonta.
For his training, privately, Folse studied classical guitar with Elias Barriero. He has traveled to Spain many times to study with Flamenco masters including Manolo Franco, Paco Serrano and Gerardo Nunez.
Folse is an award-winning composer and has recorded six CDs. These include Rumbeando (Re-Master & Re-Release of Sentimientos, 2014), Bob Folse Original (A Selection of Bob Folse Favorite Originals, 2006), Bob Folse Christmas, Jazz Rumba, Sentimientos, and Fuego (1996).
Folse's music has touched people around the globe. He has opened for Ottmar Leibert, Tito Puente,and Acoustic Alchemy to name a few.
His performances include popular themes as well as original music as he dazzles his audiences with his fingers of fire!
