Bill Fulton on keys or piano with Touch n Go Band
Bill Fulton with Touch N Go Band June 1986 brought live keyboard and piano music to the cocktail lounge at the Red Lion Inn in San Jose, California. Fulton performed with Touch N Go Band at the hotel on June 5, 1986.
Live Music at the Red Lion Inn
The engagement took place at 2050 Gateway Place in San Jose. The Red Lion Inn later became the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Jose. Its location near the airport made it a convenient destination for travelers, local residents, and business guests.
Hotel cocktail lounges provided steady work for professional musicians during this period. They also gave audiences an opportunity to enjoy live entertainment in a relaxed setting. A working band had to maintain the right volume, pacing, and atmosphere throughout the engagement.
Bill Fulton on Keyboards and Piano
During this performance, Bill Fulton played keyboards or piano with Touch N Go Band. His role included supporting the singers and instrumentalists while helping establish the band’s overall sound. Keyboard players often move between accompaniment, featured passages, introductions, and transitions. Therefore, close attention to the other musicians is essential.
Live engagements also require flexibility. The band may adjust its selections to suit the audience and the atmosphere in the room. In addition, the musicians must keep the program moving without disrupting the social setting. These practical skills are an important part of professional performance.
Touch N Go Band in San Jose
The June 5 engagement was one of many appearances by Bill Fulton with Touch N Go Band. Each dated entry documents a specific performance rather than a general period in the group’s history. Together, these event records provide a chronological view of Fulton’s early professional work as a pianist and keyboardist.
This appearance also reflects an era when lounges, hotels, restaurants, and private clubs regularly employed live bands. Such engagements gave musicians valuable experience with different audiences, musical styles, and performance conditions.
Explore more appearances in the Bill Fulton Music event archive. You can also learn more about Fulton’s work as a professional keyboardist and pianist.
Artist: Touch N Go Band
Performer: Bill Fulton, keyboards or piano
Date: June 5, 1986
Venue: Red Lion Inn, now DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Jose
Location: 2050 Gateway Place, San Jose, California
Date/Time: June 5, 1986 12:00 am
Venue: Doubletree by Hilton (fka Red Lion Inn)
Address: 2050 Gateway Pl San Jose, CA 95110
