Barry Coates

With his melodic, but expressive, approach to the guitar and synthesizer, Barry Coates has become one of northern California's busiest session players. His resume includes tours with the Pointer Sisters, Angela Bofill, Willie Bobo, John Klemmer and Engelbert Humperdink. As a member of Japanese keyboardist/composer, Kitaro's band, he toured the world twice and was featured on the live album, Live In America, released in 1991. Coates has fared well on his own, as well. His music was heard in such films as Dead Bang, Partners In Crime and Fatal Attraction), and on television shows including Two On The Town, Eye On Hollywood, Partners In Crime, the Weather Channel and Playboy After Dark. Together with his band, Barry Coates And The Hats, Coates recorded two impressive albums – Because I Love You and Move Like A Dancer, featuring saxophone player Bob Sheppard. He collaborated, on his third album, The Spirit Within, with bass player Jimmy Haslip of the Yellowjackets. Oakland, California-born and San Rafael-raised, Coates made his earliest impression as a member of the California All-Star High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Oliver Nelson. After studying with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, he briefly attended the College of Marin before transferring to North Texas State University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in music in 1976. Coates continues to teach at the Musicians Institute of Technology in Hollywood, California.