ST. GEORGE – To fans across the world of country music, Eric Dodge is a warm and engaging country music talent, to many in Southern Utah, he is a friend, a family kind of guy, generous and adventurous, as well as being not so bad to listen to or look at. Utah’s Dixie loves her own, and one of those is Eric Dodge.
Utah native, and resident of St. George since he was 7, Dixie is where Eric Dodge first took to the stage with a live performance at the St. George Art Festival in 2003, it is where he made some of his early recordings at local studios, it is where he cut his musical teeth.
Of course, those that know his whole musical story know that it really started on a cruise ship on 9/11. The ship had been sent out into international waters when the attacks on the twin towers occurred. In the midst of that day’s confusion, and in an effort to keep people calm, Eric swallowed his fears, took to the mike at the karaoke bar on the top deck of the vessel and started singing.
Four years later, Eric recorded his first national CD and now, in 2012, has recently released his fifth, Unplugged Journey.
Unplugged Journey is a collection of Eric’s most popular songs as well as some never-before-released songs that will never be released in this form again. It was produced and recorded locally with his Southern Utah touring band, not his Nashville players like his other albums. It includes John Houston, Jim Sevy, Kevin Till, Andy Dodge, Dutch Workman and himself.
“We decided from day one that we would only have 1,000 copies ever made of this CD, no more,” Eric Dodge said. “I have been autographing every CD that is ordered through my website.” Details and links with special coupon code for STGnews readers are provided below.
“I really want to make sure my Southern Utah friends get a copy of this album before it is gone,” he said. “I just wanted it to be kind of a special thing it means a lot to my fans elsewhere – but … a lot of people have appreciated it here, because they know my studio here in Hurricane, they know (all the guys).”
Eric was recently accepted as a member into the Country Music Association and his career is a full time endeavor, he travels and puts on 30-50 live full band shows a year.
“But I have another full time job,” he said. “I could’ve stopped doing it, I could’ve just done music, but I enjoy it. I work with my dad and my brother and some great friends, a company my dad manages … Electrical Wholesale here in St. George. It’s fun to be able to work with your dad and brother every day, to go to lunch with your family every day, I very much enjoy my family – that’s number one in my book.”
Which begs the question: Eric Dodge does not promote himself as such but he must be one of Dixie’s more eligible bachelors. Is he looking for that someone? Does he have groupies?
“Not really,” Eric Dodge said, laughing. “I wouldn’t say I have groupies, I have some really great friends that come to my shows. In my stats on Facebook it’s like 86 percent female I love havin’ ‘em and everything. I just get busy, you don’t understand how much goes on with this music career.”
On top of everything else, Eric Dodge puts on a live music radio show every Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Blogtalkradio.com; “it’s all music, we take live requests, there’s a webcam, people can tweet us on twitter and tell us what to play, we play all their favorites and tell stories and talk about the shows we did and what’s coming up.”
But possibly one of the most engaging things about Eric Dodge is his transparent commitment to his family.
“Everybody knows my family is first,” Eric said, “second is my music career.”
Exploring what drives him, Eric said:
“The more I do for other people and with other people and the more friends you have the more family you have, the happier you are.
“Happiness is what drives me completely.”
Purchase Unplugged Journey
As a special courtesy to the St. George News community of readers, Eric has extended availability of Unplugged Journey through the earlier of June 3 or until they run out. Using coupon code STGnews when you order online, you will receive a 30 percent discount at checkout.
Twitter: @JoyceKuzmanic
Copyright 2012 St. George News.