Erica Wheeler

The literary sensitivity of New Britain is combined with spiritual vision from the American Western world by Massachusetts-based singer/songwriter Erica Wheeler. Her first songs inspired the brand new Britain Folk Almanac to see that “…among (Wheeler’s) greatest talents is her capability to temper like, light and goodness with darkness and wistfulness.” A self-taught guitarist, Wheeler was raised hearing folk-pop vocalists such as for example Judy Collins and Joan Baez. After viewing the documentary film Harlan State U.S.A., Wheeler was therefore motivated by folk vocalist Hazel Dickens that she bought a songbook, 1001 Folk Music, and begun to consider music more significantly. She subsequently trained herself to try out songs in the repertoire of Kitty Stevens. After composing a few first songs in senior high school, Wheeler centered on songwriting in university. Although she signed up for Massachusetts’ Hampshire University in hopes to become a animals biologist, her research confident her that she acquired more to state being a article writer. Wheeler’s skills being a performer had been sharpened by her performances on the Iron Equine in Northampton, MA. Being a regular opening action, Wheeler not merely gained publicity, but she discovered showmanship by viewing headliners like Expenses Morrissey, Patty Larkin and Shawn Colvin. In 1989, Wheeler released a ten-song cassette entitled Solid Heart. Her 1st full-length documenting, From that Much, premiered in 1992 and made by Darlene Wilson. It included stellar music artists such as for example Johnny Cunningham (fiddle), Doug Plavin (percussion), Peter Calo (acoustic slip and electrical guitars), and Diane Ziegler and Cosy Sheridan (tranquility vocals). Soon after putting initial in the troubadour competition on the Rocky Hill Folk Celebration in 1995, Wheeler documented her second Compact disc, The Harvest. Made by bluegrass fiddler and bandleader Laurie Lewis, the record highlighted top-notch instrumentalists including Darol Anger, Barbara Higbie and Todd Phillips. Wheeler’s third Compact disc marks her initial collaboration with manufacturer Steve Miller (no regards to the musician), who previously produced two CDs by Dar Williams.