Eric , was born in Lewisville Texas, but grew up in a little town of Mena, Arkansas. Music has been his passion for nearly all his life. A member of the Academy of the Arts Children's Choir, at the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith, from 2007-2010. He attend Booker T. Washington Performing and Visual Arts High School, Dallas Texas from 2013-2017. His musical talent does not stop with singing, but also a musician who plays multiple instruments. At an early age, he began playing piano. While still learning piano he picked up guitar, and bass guitar. During his time in Middle School band, he started playing tenor saxophone, and was selected by his band director to compete in the All Region Competition. In 2012 and 2013, he placed first chair tenor sax at the All Region event.  He continued to place in All Region and All City as well as UIL competitions throughout his high school years. In 2015 and 2016 he won the honor to play in the All State Band at the TMEA convention in San Antonio, Texas. Although these competitions consisted of the classical genre, his desire for Jazz music grew more and more. As he would play classical music in the band program,  in his spare time he was listening to famous Jazz artist such as , John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, and Miles Davis. He was influenced by their style and sound and soon developed a sound of his own much like some of the older Jazz artist. Much like his influence on the saxophone, his jazz piano skills were becoming more provident and soon became well know for his improvisation skills.

 

Even though he prefers playing Jazz , and swing he is also a multi-genre artist. Some of which are Country, Blues, Oldies, and Classic Rock.  Eric sings at Oprys  all around the North Texas and East Texas area.  Eric is influenced by country artist such as , George Strait, Ronnie Milsap, Alan Jackson, Keith Whitney, Ronnie Dunn, and Clint Black. He likes the older country without the rock influence. The swing tunes are among his favorites, such tune as Miles and Miles of Texas by Asleep At The Wheel also all the the late great Bob Wills tunes.

 

Eric has had the opportunity to play with the Pecos River Brass Big Band, under the direction of John Smith as their piano player,  Louise Rowe and The Texan Playboys, Gena Hamilton and The Trophies Band, and Mikki Daniel and The Texas Wildfire.  Some of the venues which he has played are, Grapevine Opry, Grapevine Tx., House of Blues, Dallas, Tx., The Rustic , Dallas Tex., Wylie Opry, Wylie Tx., Oaklawn Opry, Texarkana Tx., Waxahachie Opry,  Waxahachie Tx., Six Flags,  Arlington, Tx. Waco Hippodrome Theatre, Waco Texas and Arlington Music Hall, Arlington, Tx.

 

Eric attends the  University Of North Texas,  majoring in composition and performance. He is currently playing in the Symphonic Band at UNT, and the Eight O'clock Lab Jazz band.