Fred Chalenor (December 29, 1955 – June 23, 2018) was an American bassist, most recognized for his work in the bands Caveman Shoestore, Tone Dogs, and Face Ditch. He also collaborated on numerous occasions with composer and keyboardist Wayne Horvitz, recording with him in Pigpen and Zony Mash, and with composer and percussionist Robert Mike Mahaffay of Tres Gone.
Biography Fred Chalenor was born December 29, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. His first band was Zanzibar, a group led by guitarist Rick Adams based in Portland, Oregon. In 1978, Fred left the band overseas to perform in a folk duo. After that project disintegrated, he moved back to the United States and performed alongside musicians such as Henry Kaiser and Owen Maercks in the Bay Area. Chalenor's first studio performance credit was on Owen Maercks' eponymous debut released in 1978.
Chalenor had met fellow musicians Neil Minturn and Henry Franzoni when he was still performing in Zanzibar. Together, they formed Face Ditch in February 1979 who based themselves in the Portland area, moving to Seattle in 1981 and then Franzoni and Chalenor moving to NYC in 1983. The group broke up numerous times over their existence and issued two self-released cassettes (In the Interim and All Fall Down). Chalenor and Franzoni remained the only consistent members until the band finally parted ways in early 1985 after a show in New York City. In 2000, the original line-up reunited and digitally released their first official album in 2004.
Chalenor died on June 23, 2018.
Discography Year Artist Album Label 1978 Owen Maercks Owen Maercks self-released 1990 Tone Dogs Ankety Low Day C/Z 1991 The Early Middle Years Soleilmoon 1992 Caveman Shoestore Master Cylinder Tim/Kerr 1993 Pigpen Halfrack 1994 V as in Victim Avant Caveman Shoestore Flux Tim/Kerr 1995 w/ Elliott Sharp and Henry Franzoni Boodlers Cavity Search 1997 Boodlers Counter Fit Tim/Kerr Sue Ann Harkey Fulcrum CNLF Zony Mash Cold Spell Knitting Factory Hughscore Highspotparadox Tim/Kerr Pigpen Daylight 1998 Zony Mash Brand Spankin' New Knitting Factory 1999 Jeff Greinke Ride First World Hughscore Delta Flora Cuneiform The Walkabouts Trail of Stars Glitterhouse 2001 LAND Road Movies First World 2002 Curlew Meet the Curlews! Cuneiform 2003 Mercury 2004 Face Ditch Face Ditch Build-A-Buzz 2005 Caveman Shoestore Super Sale Build-A-Buzz 2007 Caveman Shoestore Frankensongs Build-A-Buzz
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