Eric Stuart has developed and honed his craft the old-fashioned way; by writing songs on an acoustic guitar and working them out in front of live audiences totaling more than one million people. With the release of Blue, Dressed In Black (Widows Peak Records), which was produced by rock legend Peter Frampton, John Regan and Harvey Jay Goldberg (Sting, Dave Matthews Band), Eric Stuart's days as "the best known, hardest working unsigned act around," are numbered. Much to the surprise of both Stuart and many in the industry, the four-song demo for his latest album sold over 20,000 copies from both his internet site, www.ericstuart.com (which has received over 1,000,000 hits since March 1999) and touring the summer of 1999 with Peter Frampton all over America.
Here is an artist who has spent his career nurturing his muse and creating a solid and steadily growing catalog of great songs. Three of his songs have received a coveted John Lennon Songwriting Award (Corner Booth Chronicles) and two Billboard Songwriting Awards (You Can't Hide the Shame and Rough Rider). For years, Eric Stuart has played music his way, touring the country either on his own or with such rock legends as Peter Frampton, Ringo Starr and Lynyrd Skynyrd. He's also opened for acts such as Jethro Tull, Julian Cope, Hall and Oates, and Chicago. His first full-length album, Curiosity, was released in 1996 on his own independent label, Widow's Peak Records, and was soon followed up in 1997 with Picture Perfect World (EP). To date, Stuart has sold fourteen thousand copies of both albums by just playing gigs and word of mouth. In the summer of 1997, Stuart's classic rock & roll style was noticed by Ringo Starr who invited him to open The Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band Tour, featuring Peter Frampton, Jack Bruce (Cream), Gary Brooker (Procul Harum) and Simon Kirke (Bad Company). Originally, Stuart was only signed to do the first eight shows of the tour, but after his first performance, Ringo Starr asked him to play all twenty-eight shows. That exposure served as a springboard for Stuart to open for the Lynyrd Skynyrd, Paul Rodgers and Kenny Wayne Shepherd Tour that same summer. Since then, Eric has been touring on a regular basis including the summer of 1999 where he toured America with Peter Frampton. Eric, who counts Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Cat Stevens and Bruce Springsteen as early influences, feels that "the trend in music is coming back around to songs being more of a story which brings your fans even closer to your music" along with the sound of guitar driven rock.
Eric Stuart grew up in Brooklyn, New York. His biggest influence was his seventh grade music teacher, Mike Fogarty. Known for his bohemian teaching style, he sought to explain music by using classic rock to better reach his students and encouraging them to learn how to play an instrument. Eric and four other classmates were so influenced by Fogarty, they hired him to teach them classic rock songs and put together a rock band at the age of 14. The band got their first gig a few months later at Clark Street Station in Brooklyn Heights. This was a first in the history of the bar by hiring an underage band to perform. Eric assured the owner that he would be playing to a packed house and he was right; the bar was packed with 14 year olds drinking sodas.
When he was in the eighth grade, Eric had learned to play guitar. Searching for a way to express himself, he began writing and recording songs by the time he was in the tenth grade. Before graduating high school, he had already recorded over forty original songs. After high school, Eric worked as a production assistant on films and commercials in New York. He played local shows at downtown staples such as the Westbeth Theater, Mercury Lounge, The Bitter End and Don Hills. Eric began performing solo acoustic shows as well as full band performances in the city. In the summer of 1995, he was chosen to perform two solo acoustic opening shows for Chicago at Jones Beach and The Garden State Arts Center. On the heels of this, he opened for Hall and Oates, Jethro Tull, Julian Cope and Jeffrey Gaines.
During his tour with Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, Eric Stuart caught the attention of Peter Frampton who later became a mentor and producer of his latest self-titled EP. Frampton was also guitarist and background vocalist on the project and even made a surprise guest appearance when Stuart debuted his cd at the Mercury Lounge. "It was a dream come true to tour with some of rock music's most influential people, but the honor of having one of them help shape my songs in the studio was the most incredible experience both musically and emotionally. It's still hard to believe that my music is now being heard by millions of people and I'm now beginning to be recognized on the street by fans. Who could ask for anything more?"
After the success of the 1999 U.S. tour, the Eric Stuart Band once again toured nationally with Peter Frampton in 2000.
In the summer of 2001, the Eric Stuart Band embarked on yet another national tour, this time as headliners rather than as support. By laying the groundwork on the various tours before, the band was remembered and welcomed back through the country. Even as an independent band, the Eric Stuart Band generated both national and college radio air-play from the singles Staring You In The Face, One Good Reason, Lost Innocence and the rock ballad The Best Ones Get Away . The fans appreciated the 3 hour full length sets each and every night and the band received glowing reviews in the press for their powerful live shows.
In 2002 the Eric Stuart Band signed with RevUp Records. In March of 2003 the Eric Stuart band released their album, Bombshellshocked produced by Eric Stuart himself.
Now in 2007, Eric has released a new 15 song album on Widow's Peak Records entitled In The County Of Kings. This self-produced project features a more country/rock flavor and is filled with incredible guest musicians. After siging a distribution deal with Burnside Distribution Corp. Widow's Peak Records will now be distributed worldwide.
With the release of a new CD, the exciting new incarnation of ESB, Eric is looking forward to the next stop along this musical journey.
