About Eric
Key Musical Influencers: Paul & Annette Hoverman, Max Greer, Dave Mel, Shawn Nichols, Matt Murdock
Key Influential Musicians: Wynton Marsalis, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Stacey Kent, Alison Krauss
Favorite Song: I Get Along Without You Very Well – Hoagy Carcmichael
Favorite Artist (Currently): Stacey Kent
Musical Beginnings: A Close ‘N Play Record Player at age 4 (still have the box). Began Piano at age 8, Trumpet at age 10, and was just always singing.
Favorite Movies: Tommy Boy; Anne of Green Gables
Favorite YouTube Video: Musicless Musicvideo – Elvis Presley, Blue Suede Shoes
Brush With Fame: Mickey Rooney once sat backstage just to listen to me. When I finished playing, Rooney’s bass player offered me a job in Vegas.
Favorite Concert: 2010 – I watched an unnamed 83yo retired concert pianist sat down and played random piano concertos off the top of his head for 2 to 3 hours for around 30 to 40 people at IPFW. The intimate setting and his effortless virtuosity and artistry was simply surreal. I never got his name.
Why Do I Perform This Style? In 1986 I was a "band" student at BGSU. While walking outside the band room, another student (Shawn Nichols) handed me 2 cassette tapes. Miles Davis and Chet Baker. I listened that evening and my entire musical-study direction changed “overnight"...literally.
Why Do I Love This Music? The Beautiful Melody, Clear Words, Rich Chords, and the Joyful, Romantic - and even Melancholy - feelings the songs produce. The songs are not political or inappropriate, but their focus is on sophisticatedly beautiful melodies paired with enticing & heart-felt lyrics. Composers toiled for years hoping to “discover” that perfect "hidden-gem-like" note or chord-progression which could perfectly support a newly discovered melody. I am always fascinated how so many young kids stop and listen. To me this demonstrates our kids still understand & desire beauty, even though it's lacking from today's popular music. Kids these days rarely get a chance to experience these beautiful melodies that - long ago - used to captivate their entire age group.
