The Music, Stories, and Guitar Journey of Craig Erickson
For more than 30 years, I've been writing, recording, and performing the music that has shaped my life. Along the way I've released more than 20 albums, shared the stage and studio with incredible musicians, toured throughout Europe and the United States, and continued chasing the next great song.
Whether you're discovering my music for the first time, revisiting old favorites, looking for music to license, or interested in guitar lessons, I'm glad you're here. Take some time to explore the music, the stories behind it, and the journey that continues today.
A Lifetime of Music
Music has taken me farther than I ever imagined. From recording albums for Shrapnel Records to performing across Europe and sharing stages with artists like Glenn Hughes, Eric Gales, Rob Wasserman, Black Oak Arkansas, Darrell Mansfield, and many others, every project has added another chapter to the story.
I've never believed in staying inside one musical lane. Blues, rock, fusion, soul, and instrumental guitar have all found their way into my recordings over the years. Every album reflects where I was at that moment, both as a musician and as a person.
Today my focus is simple: creating new music, sharing the stories behind it, making my catalog available to listeners around the world, and helping the next generation of guitar players find their own voice.
Explore the Music
Music has taken me farther than I ever imagined. From recording albums for Shrapnel Records to performing across Europe and sharing stages with artists like Glenn Hughes, Eric Gales, Rob Wasserman, Black Oak Arkansas, Darrell Mansfield, and many others, every project has added another chapter to the story.
I've never believed in staying inside one musical lane. Blues, rock, fusion, soul, and instrumental guitar have all found their way into my recordings over the years. Every album reflects where I was at that moment, both as a musician and as a person.
Today my focus is simple: creating new music, sharing the stories behind it, making my catalog available to listeners around the world, and helping the next generation of guitar players find their own voice.
Music Licensing for Film, Television & Media
Craig's original recordings are available for licensing in television, film, documentaries, commercials, podcasts, streaming productions, and other media. His catalog offers everything from blues-driven rock and instrumental guitar to soulful compositions that can bring emotion, energy, and authenticity to your project.
If you're searching for original music with character and decades of professional recording experience behind it, let's start a conversation.
CONTACT: flyingfingersusa@netscape.net or at Fervor Records
CRAIG ERICKSON • MODERN BLUES
This is my 16th commercially released solo album and one of the most involved music projects I have recorded. I started writing songs for a new album, in my Midwest studio, just as the worldwide pandemic began in 2020.
I sent a couple of songs to legendary producer Mike Varney. He heard the potential and began
offering some advice and inspiration for the project. I previously recorded several records for Mike’s Shrapnel Records label. He had hooked me up with some of the best musicians in the world beginning in the 90s including the likes of Glenn Hughes and the "Badlands" rhythm section. We initially discussed traveling to a studio near him and working with some musicians to record the album. Those plans changed as the ongoing COVID situation continued to spread rapidly. So I decided to play all the instruments just as I have on several previous records. I continued to write a lot of songs that reflected what was going on in the world, as well as my personal life. It became almost a concept album type of theme of how weird the world was becoming… "Modern Blues" but with love and hope shining behind the clouds and through the tunnel.
Fortunately, I had the downtime to listen to the music that originally inspired me. I dug deep into my melting pot of influences including Hendrix, Robin Trower, Allman Bros., Frank Marino, ZZ Top, and unexpected flavors like The Who, The Stones, Bowie, Prince, and The Beatles. I even veered into fusion moments with some intense guitar soloing. It was starting to come together but I still needed a great drummer to take it up a notch and tie it all together. I called Jeff Sipe (Jimmy Herring, Susan Tedeschi, Shawn Lane) to add his funky creative groove power to the mix. He had played on my instrumental record "Cosmic Farm" on Shrapnel Records. His contribution improved this project by miles.
Be ready to dance, or just nod your head to the beat while cranking the tunes and cruising down the road! I hope the twelve tracks on "Modern Blues" will take you on a funky, rockin’ journey with interesting stories and exciting musical adventures and move way past heartbreak and into the land of harmony, peace, and love.
- Craig Erickson, January 2023
