Berkeley coffeehouse) would ultimately evolve into Country Joe and the Fish by early 1966. With a desire to eschew the rigors of a touring lifestyle, while maintaining his countercultural values following the birth of his first son in 1977, he enrolled in the law program at La Salle Extension University, a now-defunct correspondence law school. After earning his Juris Doctor from Ocean University (a similar institution) and passing the California bar exam in 1982, Melton maintained a private criminal defense practice in San Francisco for twelve years before becoming a deputy public defender in Mendocino County, California, in 1994. Following a brief tenure as a California deputy state public defender from 1998 to 1999, he took a position with Yolo County, California, eventually retiring in 2009 as the county's chief public defender. Since then, he has resumed private practice and worked as a subcontractor for Lake Defense, the contract provider of indigent defense services in Lake County, California. He is certified as a specialist in criminal law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Melton also continues to be active in music. Since 2001, he has performed in Italy, England, France, Thailand and Russia (including a performance with the Russian band Crossroadz in Moscow). He often appears with his own band, mainly around northern California, and generally tours Europe briefly in the summer. Peter Albin of Big Brother and the Holding Company has continued to play with Melton for over 40 years. Discography Studio Albums Bright Sun Is Shining (Vanguard, 1970) The Fish (United Artists Records, 1975) We Are Like the Ocean (Music Is Medicine, 1977) Level with Me (Music Is Medicine, 1978) Songs of the Next Great Depression (Rag Baby Records, 1981) Collaborative Albums Melton, Levy & The Dey Bros. (Columbia, 1972) Duel in the Desert with Rich Hopkins (Taxim Records, 2007) As band member With Dinosaurs Dinousaurs (Relix Records, 1988) Friends of Extinction (Retroworld, 2004) (Compilation Album) With Jamasutra Revolution Down the Road (2010) With Can't Stop to Boogie Can't Stop to Boogie (2011) As guest With Otis Spann Cryin' Time (1969, Vanguard) References External links Barry "The Fish" Melton homepage Law Office of Barry Melton (website) CJFishlegacy.com 2011 interview with Barry Melton on Prog Sphere October 2011 KDRT radio interview leading up to Davis benefit concert 1947 births Living people Guitarists from California Musicians from Brooklyn La Salle Extension University alumni American anti–Vietnam War