Barry “The Fish” Melton rose to prominence during the 1967 “Summer of Love,” celebrating his 20th birthday just days before performing with Country Joe and the Fish at the legendary Monterey Pop Festival alongside icons like Jimi Hendrix. He went on to appear at the historic Woodstock and in the film of the same name. Between 1967 and 1971, Melton toured extensively across Europe and North America and launched a solo blues/soul career, recording with notable musicians including members of the Wilson Pickett Band and collaborators like Donny Hathaway. In the 1970s, he continued recording and touring internationally, including time spent in the U.K. producing albums and performing across Europe.
In the 1980s, Melton formed the San Francisco supergroup Dinosaurs with members of bands like Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead, even opening for Tony Bennett at the Golden Gate Bridge’s 50th anniversary celebration. By the 1990s, he balanced music with a growing legal career as a public defender in California while continuing to perform and collaborate internationally. Today, Melton lives in Sonoma County, where he still practices law and remains active in music.