Lead instrumentalist/producer and co-founder of COTR, Eric plays flamenco guitar, Greek bouzouki, electric and acoustic guitar. Eric is paving his own path in uncharted territory playing and composing traditional flamenco guitar(perhaps the most difficult and rhythmically complex of guitar styles), while at the same time possessing mastery of the electric guitar.

Eric knew he would be a guitar player at the age of five when his father played him a live recording of Jimi Hendrix In the West. At seven he began to play music and by 15 he owned his first guitar and dedicated his life to rock and heavy metal. In the years to follow Eric’s musical taste widened, ranging from classical, funk to hip-hop and music from all over the world.

Eric paid his dues as a rock guitarist in Seattle and Hollywood performing, recording and producing both freelance and with several bands. But it wasn’t until he first heard flamenco guitar that he discovered his true love.

The challenge and depth of flamenco brought him back to his cultural roots and proved to be his true calling. Eric has studied and played extensively in Andalucia(Southern region of Spain where flamenco was born). His teachers include Martín Chico, Jesús Alvarez, Benito Palacios, Marcos Carmona and Chuscales. His guitar style incorporates his further study of Greek, Turkish, African, Latin and Arabic music. His extensive experience both on the stage and as a producer/songwriter bring out a strong sense of composition and melody as well as making him a captivating performer.

With the release of COTR’s newest CD “Life, Love and Guantanamo Bay” Eric looks to bring flamenco guitar into the forefront of popular music and to take COTR’s message of Unity Through Music to the whole world.

Eric uses flamenco guitars from Tornavoz, D'Addario strings, L.R. Baggs pre-amps, AMT microphones and Shubb capos.