Eric was raised in Marion, Virginia, a very small mountain community in southwest Virginia.  He was very active there as he began to grow as a young man. Music was always a part of his life growing up, beginning back with the saxophone in the elementary school band.  He quickly found himself playing drums for country bands in venues around the area.

Serving others has always been part of Eric’s nature and personality as well.  While still living in Marion, after completing many hours of training and service, Eric eventually became president of the Marion Junior Life Saving Crew.  Five years of performing EMS duties in the community certainly had an impact on his outlook on life.

In the midst of school, practicing music, and volunteering in the community, Eric was hired as a part time disc jockey and remote broadcast engineer at the leading country radio station in Marion, WMEV-FM94.  It was there that Eric began his career as a disc jockey and would continue for many years to come.  It was then, in which Eric began to develop his own business that would soon become known as Wide Open DJ and Sound Services.  Both Eric and his emerging business soon became a very recognized entity in that industry.

Eric graduated from Marion Senior High School in 1996, and moved to Nashville, TN to attend Belmont University.  Upon completion of his studies, he graduated in 2000, having earned his B.M. in Commercial Music, with an emphasis in Music Business as well as intense studies in sound reinforcement and production.

After 11 years of building the clientele of Wide Open DJ and Sound Services, Eric found himself working with clients all over the southeastern United States…a rarity in the mobile DJ industry.  In addition to all of the private events Wide Open was contracted for, some of their corporate clients included: Lowe’s, VA State Police Association, Sony Music Nashville, Pepsi-Cola, and a list of others.  He then decided the time had come to be free of those responsibilities with Wide Open, so he could focus even more on his full time career with Denver & The Mile High Orchestra.  For more information on DMHO, and Eric’s career in the music business, please visit the Career Page of this website.

The greatest year of his life to date was 2003, when he met his beautiful wife Julie.  The two of them said “I Do” on January 24, 2004 in a private ceremony held in Wisconsin.  They both describe their wedding as: “… a glorious day that was simply perfect!”  Julie forfeited the life she had in Wisconsin, to relocate to Nashville, so that she could begin her new life with Eric.  “The Lord has blessed our lives so much, we just cannot get over His goodness!”

Eric’s parents, Fred and Mati, were always so supportive with everything he set out to achieve.  He definitely attributes his success to their encouraging support through the years.  “I would not be where I am today if it were not for my parents!”