Eric Gales

Blues guitar phenom Eric Gales was born and raised in Memphis. Gales grew up hearing gospel in church where his music is rooted, andstarted playing guitar and singing at four-years-old. Although Gales was born right-handed, he learned to play left-handed, without reversing the order of the strings. A child prodigy, he became a fret board monster early on displaying a natural command of the electric guitar.

Winning his first blues contest at 11, the teenage Eric Gales was quickly exalted as the 'next Jimi Hendrix.' With his dazzling fluidity and soaring creativity that complimentary yet unenviable comparison was probably inevitable for a black southpaw rocking the blues on a righty Fender Stratocaster flipped upside-down.

Gales claims he was more influenced by guitarists who were influenced by Hendrix than Hendrix himself. It is a broad cross-section that includes Cream, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Wes Montgomery, as well as later arrivals such as Eric Johnson and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

His rise was meteoritic. He got his first record deal at 15 with Elektra Records, started a career at 16 and instant adulation for his unearthly technique spread.

Gales has been in demand ever since, recognized as Best Blues Guitarist by Guitarist Magazine, a regular touring role in the Experience Hendrix Tours sharing the stage with fellow hot shot peers Billy Cox, Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Randolph, Dweezil Zappa and Eric Johnson, accompanying Lauren Hill on tours of Europe and America, as one third of power trio and super group Pinnick Gales Pridgena and as Raw Dog contributed vocals on several records by the Memphis Rap groups: Prophet Posse and Three 6 Mafia.

Eric Gales rocks it hardcore. His music is rooted firmly in gospel and blues, but played with the edge and aggression of a young gunslinger. It's at once tight and loose, commanding and in the moment. His is a unique amalgam of styles. If you want modern blues, this is it!