Eric began making up songs as a child, as well as singing in church, school, and immersing himself in his family record collection--which included pop, rock, jazz, R&B, opera and classical. His father, a Junior High School teacher, took him to school dances when he chaperoned. There was loud, raw, early 70's rock (and lots of girls). He was hooked. At age 9, Eric started drum lessons with Tony Romano, by his late teens he studied voice, piano, and eventually attended Mount Union College on a vocal proficiency scholarship. Here he learned intricate choral arrangements, Gregorian chant, and vocal jazz stylings under the direction of Dr. Gary Funk.

By the late 80's, he had lived in the UK and worked in professional theatre and television, but music was always his first love. In NYC, Eric occasionally sat in on drums at Mondo Cane and uptown at Augie's, or joined drum circles at Tompkins Square Park; it was here he taught himself the guitar from jamming with roommates Tim Velie and Jon Kushner who were in a band together (Brother Mustard).

Moving to Chicago in 1992, Eric quit acting and started playing guitar and singing at open mikes at The Abbey Pub and the Inner Town Pub. He befriended many local musicians in the Wicker Park scene and hooked up with Tim Tobin (gtr, vocals) and Eric Ohlson (bass, vocals) to form Heaven Hill, a short-lived but popular group that mixed Americana/Country/Surf/Blues and Classic Rock jams with vocal harmonies. This brief stint gave Eric a desire to expand his musical diversity even more, and he jammed with anyone and everyone he could.

A succession of bands followed--most notably IKE REILLY, MITCH, and THE CONVULSIONS--which saw Eric regularly playing Chicago's top music venues such as Metro, The Double Door, Elbow Room, Lounge Axe (r.i.p.), and the Empty Bottle.

Eric moved back to Cleveland, Ohio in 1997, he placed an ad in Scene Magazine and soon found himself playing drums and singing background vocals with rock bands GEM and VIVA CARAMEL while continuing to hone his acoustic guitar and songwriting skills. He left both bands in 2004 to pursue a career as a school teacher, but a bad car accident in 2005 left him with serious injuries requiring a lengthy hospital stay and many surgeries. Music became an integral part of Eric's therapy and recovery.

Many of the songs on "Sailor Kiss the Siren" are from this period, reflecting on relationships (--lost, broken, maligned); spiritual malaise; redemption; and hope for the future. They explore various styles and influences, and grew organically with the input of each of the musicians who graciously contributed to them: Mike McDonald, Chris Sheehan, and Matt Charboneau.

Eric owes a deep debt of gratitude to everyone he's played music with over the years and everyone he's loved.