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Bio:

Fred the Bear is a Southeast Minnesota band and recording artist. The band was co-founded by Ray Coudret, a veteran song writer, guitarist, and vocalist who has been delighting crowds for over 30 years. Fred the Bear blends Ray's soulful, bluesy vocals and skilled guitar playing with multi-part harmonies, sweet organ sounds, and an unstoppable rhythm section, putting their own stamp on an eclectic mix of classic rock, Americana, country, and alt-rock favorites from every decade. Fred the Bear also writes and performs its own original music, highlighted by insightful lyrics reflecting on life’s promises and disappointments, set to dynamic melodies and rhythms. They released their debut CD, “Just For A While”, in 2017, containing nine of their original songs. Followed by a live album "Just This: Live From Imminent Brewing" released in 2023 and another studio album "Just Because" in 2025. The band regularly performs several of these along with other great original titles.

Fred the Bear is at home on any size stage, and has performed at large festivals including Thursdays Downtown (Rochester) and Blue Collar BBQ (Faribault), They have performed multiple times at the Paradise Center for the Arts Theatre in Faribault, including the highly acclaimed, sold-out Tom Petty tribute show in 2019.

The band’s name is a tribute to the late Bruce “Fred the Bear” Eschler, the owner of “The Bear’s Den” bar in Donaldson, MN, whose support of live music gave Ray his start some 30 years ago. FTB is grateful to be an active part of the SEMN music scene, sharing their music at a variety of festivals and venues in Rochester, Northfield, Faribault, and throughout the region.

Member bios:

Ray Coudret (guitar, lead vocals) came from “way up nort’”, but has called Northfield, MN home for over 20 years. When not teaching the next generation of mathematicians or producing highly acclaimed high school musical productions, he is a prolific songwriter and has performed with a variety of bands over the decades, including “Area 51” and “Why Not?”. Ray is the co-creator and producer of the long-running 411 Concert Series in Northfield, which brings professional acts to the city through the Northfield Arts Guild.

Jerry Spencer (bass, vocals) is a lifelong resident of Rochester, MN, and has played upright bass and electric bass since he was a kid. He has a wide and diverse musical palette and has played in a variety of orchestras, musicals, church bands, bluegrass groups, and jazz combos, including the "RCTC Jazz Band", “Root River Jam”, the “Med City Jazz Collective”, and "Up-Town Jazz".

Bob Kanzelman (drums, vocals)is originally from North Dakota, but has called Rochester, MN home for over 30 years. By day, he’s a mild-mannered electrical engineer—but behind the drum kit, he brings a whole different kind of energy. A multi-instrumentalist with deep roots in worship bands, Bob adds rock-solid rhythms and rich harmonies to the Fred the Bear sound. His strong vocals and country-rock influences bring just the right edge to the mix.

Beth Kanzelman (keys, flute, vocals)is a Southeast Minnesota native, and is thrilled to be back in her hometown of Rochester. With a music degree from Hamline University and deep roots in church music, Beth brings both skill and soul to the stage. Her "just right" touch on piano and organ adds depth, texture, and a fresh dimension to the Fred the Bear sound—balancing subtlety with power in all the right moments.

Bo Aylin (guitar, vocals) is the newest member of FTB. This Northfield entrepreneur has Texas roots, bringing a southern rockabilly influence to the band.

Videos

Covers

Cortez the Killer - Neil Young Cover

Listen To Her Heart - Tom Petty Cover

Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen Cover

The Rising - Bruce Springsteen Cover

For more live videos, check out our Youtube Page.

Originals

I Been - Fred the Bear Original

Within the Black Keys - Fred the Bear Original

Ride to the River - Fred the Bear Original

We Sang / LA Woman - FTB Original with Doors Cover

Music

Just Because

2025

Recorded at Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, MN

Just for a While

2017

Recorded at Hot Spot in Northfield, MN

Just This: Live from Imminent Brewing

2023

Recorded live at Imminent Brewing in Northfield, MN

Sample Song Catalog

60’s

Don't Be Cruel (Elvis)

Act Naturally (Buck Owens)

The Weight (The Band)

Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash)

The Thrill Is Gone (B.B. King)

I Want You Back (Jackson Five)

Space Oddity (David Bowie)

70’s

Drift Away (Dobie Gray)

Willin' (Little Feat)

Use Me (Bill Withers)

Don't Mess Around With Jim (Jim Croce)

Doctor My Eyes (Jackson Browne)

Amie (Pure Prairie League)

Can't You See (Marshall Tucker Band)

Ophelia (The Band)

Cortez the Killer (Neil Young)

American Girl (Tom Petty)

Listen To Her Heart (Tom Petty)

Fat Bottomed Girls (Queen)

Sultans of Swing (Dire Straits)

Swingtown (Steve Miller Band)

80’s

Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen)

The Breakup Song (Greg Kihn Band)

867-5309/Jenny (Tommy Tutone)

From Small Things (Bruce Springsteen)

Melt With You (Modern English)

Brilliant Disguise (Bruce Springsteen)

Downbound Train (Bruce Springsteen)

Dancing In The Dark (Bruce Springsteen)

Atlantic City (Bruce Springsteen)

Cover Me (Bruce Springsteen)

The One I Love (R.E.M.)
Speed of the Sound of Loneliness (John Prine)

It's Only Love (The BoDeans)

I Can't Wait (The Replacements)

Fadeaway (The BoDeans)

End of the Line (Travelling Wilburys)

Feels Like Rain (John Hiatt)

Free Fallin' (Tom Petty)

Built To Last (Tom Petty)

90’s

Don't Go Back To Rockville (R.E.M.)

One (U2)

Into The Great Wide Open (Tom Petty)

Lines Around Your Eyes (Lucinda Williams)

What's Up (4 Non Blondes)

Breakfast At Tiffany's (Deep Blue Something)

It's Good to Be King (Tom Petty)

Wild Night (Van Morrison / John Mellencamp)

3 AM (Matchbox 20)

Heart Of The Matter (Don Henley)

Pretty Little Adriana (Vince Gill)

Angel Dream #2 (Tom Petty)

One Headlight (The Wallflowers)

Yer So Bad (Tom Petty)

I Got You (Wilco)

It's All Been Done (Barenaked Ladies)

00’s

The Middle (Jimmy Eat World)

Be My Winding Wheel (Ryan Adams)

Beauty Way (Eliza Gilkysen)

Real Live Bleeding Fingers (Lucinda Williams)

Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show)

Save It For A Rainy Day (Jayhawks)

Tampa to Tulsa (Jayhawks)

Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band)

Luckiest Man (The Wood Brothers)
Dead Sound (The Ravonettes)Keep Me In Your Heart (Warren Zevon)

I'm Yours (Jason Mraz)

Whistle For The Choir (The Fratellis)

Times Like These (Foo Fighters)

Cry (Slaid Cleaves)

Valerie (Amy Winehouse)

10’s

Time Spent In Los Angeles (Dawes)

Dearly Departed (Shakey Graves)

24 Frames (Jason Isbell)

North Side Gal (J.D. McPherson)

Lucky Now (Ryan Adams)

Down By The Water (The Decemberists)

If I Wanted Someone (Dawes)

Shake It Off (Taylor Swift / Ryan Adams)

Welcome To New York (Swift / Adams)

FTB Originals

Promised Land
Just This
Empty Lot

That's Enough For Me

Tear It Up

Ride to the River

Invisible Man

We Sang

Locally World Famous

I Used to Dream

Sometimes

Just For A While

The Race

Within the Black Keys

Profane Saint

Six Miles From Hope

Taking Pictures

Small Dreams

Those Summer Nights

'Til There Was You

Nashville

Solo Cups

She Gave Me You

Fill Me Up

Down in Omaha

That's How Our Story Goes

I Been

Walk This World

Counterpunch

Don't Need A Photograph

Stage Lights Dim to Memories

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