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Eric Bibb

Eric Bibb was born into a musical family in 1951 New York. Eric's father, Leon Bibb, made a name for himself as part of the 1960's New York folk scene,. his uncle was the world famous Jazz pianist and composer John Lewis, of the Modern Jazz Quartet, and family friends included Pete Seeger, Odetta. Bob Dylan and Paul Robeson, Eric's godfather.

Eric was given his first steel guitar aged seven. Growing up surrounded by talent, Eric recalls a childhood conversation with Bob Dylan, who, on the subject of guitar playing advised the 11-year-old Eric to "Keep it simple, forget all that fancy stuff".

Aged 13 Eric began attending the High School of Music and Art, studying double bass, vocals, classical guitar and piano.

At 16 years old, Eric's father invited him to play guitar in the house band for his TV talent show "Someone New".

In 1969, Ericplayed guitar for the Negro Ensemble Company at St. Mark's place in New York and the following year left for Paris, where a meeting with guitarist Mickey Baker focused his interest in blues guitar.

Settling in Stockholm, Eric immersed himself in pre-war blues and continued to write and perform, returning to New York in 1980 to pursue a career as a folk singer. During a five-year stay he opened for headliners including The Persuasions and Etta James.

Moving back to Sweden, Eric continued performing but also taught music at school. His first album, "Spirit and the Blues" featured bouzouki, mandolin, accordion and even a gospel group, inspirated by Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal and Leadbelly's recordings with the Golden Gate Quartet.

An appearance at the London Blues Festival in 1996 saw Bibb share a stage with Corey Harris and Keb' Mo' and coincided with renewed public interest in a new generation of African American acoustic blues players. The next album, "Good Stuff" was released in 1997, followed by "Me to You", featuring appearances from some of Bibb's personal heroes - Pops and Mavis Staples, and Taj Mahal. The album furthered Eric's international reputation and was followed by tours of the UK, USA, Canada, France, Sweden and Germany.

The albums "Home to Me" (1999), "Roadworks" (2000) and "Painting Signs" and "Just Like Love" (both 2001) followed. Another release in 2001 had a special significance for Eric - "A Family Affair" featured duets and solo numbers by both Eric and his father, Leon.

Eric has appeared on major TV and radio shows including "Later with Jools Holland" and "The Late Late Show". Eric and his band have played at many major festivals including Glastonbury (twice) and the Cambridge Folk Festival, and Byron Bay & Port Fairy in Australia. In Canada he's appeared at Vancouver, Calgary & Edmonton Folk Festivals, and in the USA the Chicago World Music Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, as well as Poconos & Bull Durham Blues Festivals. He's also appeared at Midfyns Festival in Denmark, Womex in Sweden, and the Cognac Blues Festival in France.

Eric joined Robert Cray on two U.S. tour stints in 2001 and 2002 and opened for Ray Charles in the summer of 2002.

Eric's talent has been recognised with a Grammy Nomination (for "Shakin' a Tailfeather") and no less than four W.C.Handy nominations (for the albums 'Spirit and The Blues' and 'Home To Me'; for 'Kokomo' as Best Acoustic Blues Song of the Year, and for Best Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year).

His songs have featured on TV shows such as BBC TV's 'Eastenders' and "Casualty", and "The District" in the USA. Eric's version of "I Heard the Angels Singin'" will feature in a new American movie "The Burial Society" and Eric appears on Jools Holland's double platinum-selling album "Small World, Big Band", singing his own composition "All That You Are".

In January 2003, Eric released his latest album, "Too Much Stuff".


If you would like to contact Barking Spider, please email J.R. at spiderpromos@aol.com
or ring the
Barking Spider Hotline on: 023 9243 6267

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