ERIC ESSIX BIOGRAPHY
Over more than 37 years and 29 full-length album releases, Birmingham, Alabama–based guitarist and recording artist Eric Essix has built a prolific career defined by musical exploration and a distinctive blend of contemporary jazz, Southern roots, and gospel influences. On April 16, 2027, Essix will celebrate another major milestone with the release of his 30th album, “Things Above” continuing a catalog that reflects both artistic growth and a deep connection to place, faith, and storytelling.
After early releases on Nova Records and Spirit Jazz and graduating from Berklee College of Music in 1993, Essix reached a national audience when Warner/Elektra/Atlantic–distributed Zebra Records signed him in 1998. His albums Small Talk and Southbound brought significant radio success, including the hit single “For Real,” which remained on the airplay charts for 25 weeks. His interpretation of “Rainy Night in Georgia” from Southbound also became a widely played radio favorite.
Since launching his independent label Essential Recordings in 2002, Essix has produced numerous charting singles, including “Sweet Tea,” “Shuttlesworth Drive,” “New Focus,” and “Foot Soldiers,” which spent seven weeks at #1 on SmoothJazz.com and continues to receive airplay on SiriusXM Watercolors. Recent recordings such as Late Night Drive, The Deep, Ain’t No Sunshine, and My Heartbeat have appeared on the Mediabase and Billboard Smooth Jazz charts and have reached millions of listeners worldwide.
Beyond radio success, Essix is known for concept-driven recordings, including his acclaimed Southern Roots Trilogy (Southbound, Somewhere in Alabama, and Birmingham), as well as spiritually inspired projects like Abide With Me and This Train: The Gospel Sessions. His album Evolution offered a deeply personal tribute to the four young women killed in the 1963 Birmingham church bombing and remains one of his most meaningful artistic statements.
In addition to recording and performing, Essix has played an important role in presenting live music. He founded the Preserve Jazz Festival and Eric Essix’s Jazz Escape, bringing nationally recognized artists to Birmingham. He also served for many years as Director of Programming at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, where he booked legendary artists across jazz, classical, and popular music.
Most recently, Eric has reignited his lifelong passion for photography and writing with his book Southbound: My Musical Journey Home, created as a companion to the 25th-anniversary celebration of his career-defining album Southbound. In December 2025, a special tour funded by a grant from the South Arts Jazz Road program brought the original musicians from the album back together to revisit the music and perform the songs for hundreds of enthusiastic audience members.
Rooted in gospel music from his childhood and inspired by artists such as George Benson, Jimi Hendrix, Earl Klugh, Jeff Beck, and Wes Montgomery, Essix continues to evolve as a composer, guitarist, and storyteller—creating music that reflects both personal growth and a lifelong dedication to artistic expression.
