Eric Hutchinson

Biography

Born in Washington, D.C., Hutchinson grew up in Takoma Park, Maryland, attended the Communication Arts Program at Montgomery Blair High School, and went to Emerson College in Boston, where he lived for about four years before moving to Los Angeles. As of February 2007, he resides in New York City with his wife, Jill and his dog, Elmer.

Hutchinson began playing guitar around 1995, and later added piano to his repertoire. When on acoustic guitar, he plays with exuberance, often laying down percussive hand slaps on the strings.

2005 - 2007: Sounds Like This

In 2005, Hutchinson signed with Madonna's Maverick Records, but the label shut down before his album was released. He independently recorded and released the album Sounds Like This in 2007. The album won praise from gossip blogger Perez Hilton, which sent it to the top ten on the iTunes Store, where it peaked at number five in September 2007 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. It became the highest charting album by an unsigned artist in iTunes history.

The album was picked up by Warner Bros. Records, who released it in May 2008. Eric's 2008 single "Rock & Roll" earned him his first gold record in the United States. "Rock and Roll" also appeared in the series finale episode of the Australian-produced Packed to the Rafters. The single reached #1 in Australia in April 2009. In addition, "Rock and Roll" reached #9 on the ARIA Australian Singles Chart and has been certified Platinum in Australia. "Rock and Roll" has also reached Gold in New Zealand, the U.S. and Norway.

2012: Moving Up, Living Down

Moving Up, Living Down, Hutchinson's second album, was released on April 17, 2012 by Warner Bros. Records. The first single, "Watching You Watch Him" debuted on the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy. Hutchinson also returned to the Late Show with David Letterman on February 21, 2012 to perform "Watching You Watch Him." Eric wrote "Watching You Watch Him" as a joke about his wife, Jill's obsession with tennis star Roger Federer.

Allmusic.com's review said of the album said: "Hutchinson is a bell tone of a crooner with a knack for writing a catchy hook, and imbues his songs with just enough positive swagger and rhythmic grit to bring to mind a kind of contemporary take on Hall & Oates."

2014: Pure Fiction

Hutchinson released his third album titled Pure Fiction on April 8, 2014 via Kobalt Label Services. The first song on the album, "Tell the World," has been chosen as the theme song for the 2014 mid-season NBC sitcom Growing Up Fisher, and also the song for the first Microsoft Windows 10 commercial.

Allmusic.com's review of the album said: "Pure Fiction, finds him delivering more of his passionate, melodic, and imminently likable songs. Ultimately, the truth of Pure Fiction is that Hutchinson remains an impressive, resonant-voiced singer and a vibrant conduit for catchy, radio-ready pop."

2015 - present: Easy Street

Eric's newest album, Easy Street, released on August 26, 2016. The album is produced by Hutchinson himself and features the power ballad "Anyone Who Knows Me", which Eric has said is "the song I've been trying to write my whole career."

Touring

In the winter of 2015, Hutchinson is on an "Almost Solo" tour. In spring of 2016, Hutchinson will join Rachel Platten on her "Wildfire Tour" in many cities.

Eric's regular touring band, The Believers, consists of Elliott Blaufuss (Guitars, Keys & Vocals), Ian Allison (Bass & Vocals) and Bryan Taylor (Drums, Percussion & Vocals). The band also sometimes features Jessie Payo on Backup Vocals. Eric Hutchinson & The Believers are known for a nonstop show that is high energy, funny, and full of soul.

On October 24, 2016, Eric Hutchinson announced that he would be taking an indefinite break from touring after his "Anyone Who Knows Me" tour. The tour would end at the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. on November 2, 2016.

Reception

Hutchinson has received acclaim as a pianist, songwriter, and performer. He has been called "one of the most talented singer-songwriters that Boston has to offer," with comparisons to Jason Mraz, Stevie Wonder, Cat Stevens, Billy Joel and The Beatles. Journalist James Campion calls Hutchinson "a major talent with nary a trace of pretension" and "a sure thing."

Hutchinson's music is a combination of rock, folk pop, and powerpop. It has been called "intelligent pop" with "painstakingly placed lyrics, brimming with sarcasm and wit," and "sunshine pop" with "feel-good playfulness" and a "plucky demeanor."

Hutchinson placed second at the 2002 Los Angeles Songwriter's Grand Slam.