Brian Jackson Fetzer was a master of many crafts—storyteller, filmmaker, composer, director, and musician—who lit up Utah’s creative community with heart and imagination. He was especially known for bringing stories to life through character, song, and spectacle, like when he donned a wizard’s hat and performed alongside a trio of singing witches at the Salt Lake Freedom Film and Storytelling Festival. Together, they delighted audiences with “We’re the Welcoming Witches! And we’re welcoming!” and playfully spooky songs like “Don’t Get Funny with a Mummy.” Whether charming families or crafting original productions, Brian infused every performance with humor, wonder, and sincerity.
His love for story and sound intertwined seamlessly. With songs like “Pi, the Song,” Brian found joy in teaching through music, turning math into melody for students across Utah. His award-winning composition “Bethlehem Merchant,” performed in the Salt Lake Tabernacle and aired on PBS, showed his ability to move audiences with spiritual depth. For the Olympus Chapter of the Utah Storytelling Guild, he wrote the beloved anthem “Weave Us All a Story,” which for years closed guild meetings in harmony and unity. Brian generously gave permission for others to sing his songs—as long as credit was given—ensuring that his work could live on in the voices of many.
Brian’s films gave visual shape to mystery and memory. His documentary Ghostly Guardians, an artistic exploration of haunted Fort Douglas, combined historical intrigue with lyrical storytelling and received widespread media acclaim. With Pieces of the Wind, he compiled a lifetime of music and stage performances into a cinematic tapestry, featuring concert hall debuts and songs of heartfelt resonance. Critics called him “another Gershwin” and praised his work as “an exquisite glimpse into eerie narratives of the metaphysical”—but those who knew him personally simply saw a man driven by beauty and truth.
At his core, Brian was a spiritual artist, rooted in faith and family. His mission to Austria earned him the nickname “The Singing Minstrel,” and his devotion to service endured throughout his life. Whether performing at church socials, composing sacred music, or singing in retirement homes, he never stopped using his voice to uplift others. The harmony he nurtured with his wife, Jill, and the joy he found in storytelling at the family cabin in Emigration Canyon mirrored the very themes he expressed in his work: love, legacy, and light.
To those who knew him, Brian was more than a performer—he was a creative soul who made others believe in the power of story, film, and music to change hearts. Fellow tellers remember his generosity, his laughter, and his spirit of collaboration. As he wrote in the chorus of his treasured song:
“Oh let us weave a wondrous story / Before our dreams grow cold.
Oh now let us weave a story / That never shall grow old.”
And indeed, through every song, every frame, every tale—Brian Jackson Fetzer has left us stories that never shall grow old.
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You can see more details on Brian Jackson Fetzer with the Story Artists Memorial.
The following video is one of many songs that Brian Jackson Fetzer created. You can watch many more at his YouTube Channel.
Do you know a Story Artist who has passed on and want others to remember them? Memories? Pictures? You can submit names and memories of Story Artists who have passed on through our online form.
I appreciate Brian Jackson Fetzer, who was generous beyond measure. He often invited me as well as others with the Utah Storytelling Guild to perform alongside him. Carol Esterreicher and Brian often went to a ski resort to share spoonerisms and music together. So, I know he’s in the heavens leading all sorts of music and stories while capturing it all on “heavenly video.”
Brian Jackson Fetzer still has a story. You have a story. We all have stories.
Lovely tribute to Brian Fetzer!