Eric Gales

Overview

Eric Gales grew up in a musical family with four brothers, two of them who learned to play the guitar upside down and left handed in the same fashion that Eric does. Eric’s brother Eugene Gales played bass in the Eric Gales Band and his brother Little Jimmy King had a thriving career as a blues artist himself before his untimely death in 2002.

Eric released his first record in 1991 at the young age of 16 for Elektra Records to an amazing response from the media and music fans around the globe. Guitar World Magazine Reader’s Poll named Eric “Best New Talent,” in 1991. After recording a second record for Elektra, all three brothers teamed up in 1996 as The Gales Brothers to record Left Hand Brand, which was recorded for the House of Blues label. Through the years, it would not be unusual to look out in the audience and see the likes of Carlos Santana, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, B. B. King, and Eric Clapton looking on in amazement. Word was spreading about Eric as he was taking his God-given talents and working his crowds into a frenzy each night while on stage.

The new Millennium presented new opportunities for Eric as he was signed to Nightbird Records an affiliation of the Hendrix family and distributed through MCA/Universal. Under this deal, Eric recorded the critically acclaimed record That’s What I Am in 2001 and hit the road, mesmerizing fans around the world with his uncanny connection to his guitar. In 2006 Eric recorded the critically acclaimed CD Crystal Vision for Blues Bureau and set the stage for his incredible Blues Bureau follow-up, The Psychedelic Underground in 2007. Eric followed that up in 2008 with The Story of my Life and in 2010 hit a new stride altogether with the incredibly successful album Relentless. That album combined with his latest studio album Transformation released in 2011 set the stage for his Double Live CD/DVD, Eric Gales LIVE released in October of 2012. The Eric Gales Trio recorded and released Ghost Notes, Gales’ first all instrumental recording, for Shrapnel Records in 2013. All Music Review says Ghost Notes “crackles with energy, a sturdy mix of blues, rock, and straight-out funk fusion, and Gales’ playing is joyous and elegant by turns, making this arguably his best album yet.” His latest effort, A Night on the Sunset Strip is a live record, just released on Cleopatra Records, in stores NOW.

As both an African-American left-handed guitarist of extraordinary ability and an expressive vocalist, it is natural for people to compare Eric to Hendrix but Eric has developed a unique hybrid blues/rock sound that also draws upon influences as diverse as Albert King and Eric Johnson. With a unique blend of rock, funk and blues styles, Eric Gales stands head and shoulders among other guitarists in his genre and is out to blow your mind and expand your musical horizons!

The road can be tough on musicians, and has certainly treated Eric no differently than others. Over the years he has had his ups and downs and battled some of his own demons. As 2016 comes to an end and 2017 comes into play, Eric is clean and sober and his clarity and focus to be the very best he can be is at an all time high! He is fully focused on his music, his wife and his sobriety. There has never been a better time to see Eric Gales LIVE!!!