[1][2] Born in Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on September 3, 1944, Fred Hess was raised in New Jersey and studied at Trenton State College.
[3][4] His early experiences included studies with saxophonist Phil Woods, performances with bandleader Fred Waring, and composing music for the world premiere of a Sam Shepard play.
As a composer, Hess's influences encompass avant-garde classical sources, as well as Anthony Braxton and the members of the AACM.
He recorded his first albums as a leader in the early 1990s, and was the director of music composition at Metro State College in Denver, Colorado.
Hess's playing was influenced by Lester Young, John Coltrane, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, and Eric Dolphy.