Jock Bartley

Jock Bartley is known for his melodic, tasteful and fiery lead guitar style. He has influenced many rock and country guitarists.

Born in Hutchison, Kansas, Jock moved to the mountains above Manitou Springs, Colorado, in 1959, where he began taking guitar lessons from the jazz guitar legend, Johnny Smith. Jock was playing Duke Ellington and Bach by the age of 12, but hearing the recordings of Eric Clapton and B.B. King changed his musical focus.

Jock attended University of Colorado as an art major where he decided his life focus was music. As he states, “it was a very easy decision. Playing guitar was the single best thing I did, and the most enjoyable.” Leaving college to pursue music, he joined the Boulder-based band Zephyr, replacing Tommy Bolin as lead guitarist. In 1972, Jock was asked to join the touring band of Gram Parsons and The Fallen Angels, featuring Emmy Lou Harris.

At Max’s Kansas City in New York City, Jock met Rick Roberts. In 1974 Rick and Jock formed the group Firefall, well known for their top hits including You Are the Woman, Just Remember I Love You, Cinderella, and Strange Way. Atlantic Records heard them, signed them to a long-term contract and subsequently produced several Gold and Platinum albums.

During Firefall’s first recording session in the winter of 1975, Jock’s guitar hero Eric Clapton was in the control room as he played the lead guitar track on Mexico. Jock says, “it’s a good thing I didn’t know he was watching, I would have been unable to hold my pick or play a single note.” Jock has played on-stage with famous artists including Steven Stills, Neil Young, The Doobie Brothers, Dan Fogelberg, Journey, Heart, Poco, Linda Ronstadt and others.

Jock is a record producer, songwriter and seminar speaker. He speaks on creativity and songwriting for the Nashville Songwriters Association and the Songwriters Guild. He is spokes person for suicide prevention working with the American Association of Suicidology and the Kristin Brooks Hope Center. Jock endorses Paul Reed Smith and Takamine Guitars.

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