Erik Swerrie Music

My mom was musical, as was her father before her. She told me that, as she was majoring in music, her father could play every instrument she brought home. At one point, my grandfather bought an old mandolin from a pawn shop to give to my mother but kept it for himself. I proudly inherited the mandolin when he passed away. My mother didn't really mind, because piano was her instrument.  I grew up with her playing the piano in my childhood. And when she wasn't playing piano, there was always music playing in the house on her record changer, which was always kept fully stacked. 

Mom taught me to play the piano when I was a little too young to appreciate it. Then, like most kids during those years, I picked up and learned a band instrument. Mine was clarinet. But when I eventually saw people playing guitars and singing, I knew that I had finally found my instrument and began playing at age 13. 

I learned to play guitar on my sister's hand-me-down Blue-Chip Stamp guitar. (Remember Blue Chip Stamps?) It was a pretty cheap guitar, and when she was playing enough to get a better guitar, I finally got a guitar of my own. It was starting to warp so badly that the steel strings were raising off the neck. I must have really wanted to play to persist through the pain of playing that guitar. 

Eventually, my parents could tell that I was going to stick with the guitar, so they sold the clarinet, and my dad took me out shopping for my first real guitar. After a very long day of driving all over the San Francisco Bay Area to music stores and pawn shops, I finally fell in love with a Takamine dreadnought guitar, and my dad bought it for me. 

I was learning to play and participating in a youth folk singing group at our church. This was at the time where traditional hymns were first giving way to what they called “Contemporary Music” and churches all over were starting to experiment with “contemporary” worship services. In the 1970s, folk-rock music was really taking off, as well as the Christian music movement. Guitar players and folk groups were popping up all over, and at most of the churches in the little town where I grew up, Novato, CA. Before long, I was singing every Sunday with God's Children, and we were even going to other churches and Christian Youth gatherings to sing. It was a great time in history for popular music to be created and performed by anyone who was so inclined. 

In 1975, the latest church youth music group, the California Wind Children, was being formed in Novato, and they had great ambitions. They were writing their own musical presentations, were going to make a record album, and in the summer, take their music on the road to travel to and from volunteer work projects. I was working at the local music store in town, Novato Music, when I heard about this new group and was invited to join the group by my friend and coworker. I couldn't join fast enough. 

During these years, I became fascinated with writing songs, and was being heavily influenced by artists like John Denver, James Taylor, and Kenny Rankin. These were also the years of The Eagles and America and so many more of the awesome folk, folk-rock, country rock and pop groups and artists of that time. In this explosion of music, I went right along for the ride. And I brought my guitar wherever I went, also learning a few other instruments. 

I continued performing, touring, writing music and recording with The California Wind Children for 7 years from late 1975 through 1983. I was writing more and more songs and eventually I became a musical director of the group. I wrote over 80 songs and several shows for the Wind Children. This resulted in 7 summer tours, twice overseas, 3 record albums and too many shows and memories to count. 

Then for a few years my focus shifted to getting married, and raising a family of my own. I worked at a career as an Electronic and Safety Engineer and manager for UL Inc. I continued writing songs, for my kids and family but did little performing until my kids had grown enough that they needed less of my focused attention and energy. 

Around the year 2000, I began writing more, and developed an interest in pitching songs to Country Music artists. I learned more about song writing and recording during frequent trips to Nashville, and joining song camps and songwriting groups. I also developed a more serious effort in home recording. Although some changes in my life resulted in me having to reduce my efforts in Nashville, I continued to write and record and sing out at open mics. 

Once I retired from my Engineering career, I was finally able to devote nearly full time to writing, recording, and sharing songs and now videos on the internet. I've written well over 400 songs, and have not slowed down yet. I am recording in my home studio, playing and singing most parts myself, recording as many of the songs of my life as I can. And I am very happy to share them with you. 

So again, welcome and thank you for coming. I hope you enjoy the music. 

Erik