The Journey

The Journey’s of Eric John Sawyer

1974-2008 and beyond

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This is a family tree of the bands I played in from my school days until now…November 2006. Obviously, there were simply tons of musicians that I have jammed with sung with and harmonized with. I remember a trio, which probably was the best harmony thing I was involved in with Leslie Jovan and Dino Da Mino, but it just didn’t meld. To all those who I forgot, please forgive me I am only human, though my kids think I am Superman, and if you want to chat about your inclusion in the family tree, please email me send me a message at my profile at myspace.com. Shalom.

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SCHOOL DAZE 1974 , 1975
Kevin Warrick (guitar) brother (drums) Eric John Sawyer (guitar)
GEORGE YOUNG ENSEMBLE 1981 , 1982
11 Piece Ensemble: John Blackwood – lead Arthur Leach – trumpet Bruce Morgan – bass Eric Sawyer – guitar
ERIC AND THE RAIDERS 1982 – 1984
Eric Sawyer (voc & guitar) Pieter Hopley (lead guitar) “Joe” Narron (bass) Rodney (drums)
ZEST 1986
Shane Keays (vocal & guitar) Eric Sawyer (lead guitar) Zee Simoes (voc & harmonica) Kevin Maddock (keyboards)
BLUE 1987
Eric Sawyer (solo guitar & vocal – Act I
SOMETHING ELSE 1988
Eric Sawyer (lead vocal) Richard Elliot (lead guitar) Brandon Gordon (bass) Martin (drums) Paul Incorveia (saxaphone)
TOM and The Solids 1988
Eric Sawyer (vocals & guitar) Michael Kuhnert (lead guitar) Vaun (saxaphone)
THE RIFF 1989
Eric Sawyer (vocal & guitar) Vaun (bass)
THE HORNET 1990
Eric Sawyer (solo guitar and vocal) – Act II
CREAMCLOUD 1991
Eric Sawyer (guitar & vocal) Michael Kuhnert (guitar & vocal) Johnny ‘Lampshades’ (guitar & vocal)
SHARKFIN BLUE 1992
Eric Sawyer (voc & guitar) Michael Kuhnert (lead guitar)
HUMBLEWOOD 1992
Eric Sawyer (voc. & guitar) Tony Corona (vocals) ‘gone home’
ANNIE’S THUMB 1993
Eric Sawyer (guitar and vocals) Zee Simoes (vocals & harmonica!)
THE HUMOURS 1993
Eric Sawyer (vocals and guitar) Michael Kuhnert (lead guitar) Malcolm Posselswaite (drums) Vince Taylor (percussion)
TWO OF A KIND 1993
Eric Sawyer (vocals & guitar) Michael Kuhnert (lead guitar)
FUN 1993
Eric Sawyer (vocals and guitar) Malcolm Posselswaiter (drums) Derrick Rivett (bass)
MARY’S CHILD 1994
Eric Sawyer (guitar and vocals) Michael Kuhnert (lead guitar)
SHOSHONE 1994
Eric Sawyer (vocals and guitar) Greg Stainton (vocals and lead) Greg Paine (drums) Trevor Opie (bass)
ELECTRIC LOVE 1995
Eric Sawyer (vocal and guitar) Brian Taylor (vocal and guitar)
ZANDALEE 1995
Eric Sawyer (bass guitar) Unknown lady (vocalist) Mark (lead) Unknown lady (drummer)
BEETLE BAILEY’S BLUES BAND 1995
Eric Sawyer (vocal & guitar) Brian Taylor (vocal & guitar) Michael Kuhnert (lead) Mike ‘Bubbles’ (drums) bassist – never turned up!
RUNDEEP 1996
Eric Sawyer (guitar and vocal) Michelle Ward (vocal)
STONE ARROW 1996
Eric Sawyer (vocal and guitar) Michael Kuhnert (lead) Aletta vocal & keyboards)
STAR TRAIN 1996
Eric Sawyer (vocal and guitar) Michelle Ward (vocal) Thomas Ruppell (lead)
MOONCHILD 1997
Eric Sawyer (vocal and guitar) Leslie Jovan (vocal & guitar)
OKIE 1997 – 1999
Eric Sawyer (vocal and guitar) Leslie Jovan/Javan (vocal and guitar)
JENNY FROM SPACE 1998
Eric Sawyer (vocal and bass) Leslie Jovan (vocal and lead) Esti (vocal) Tuli (drums)
DRAGONFLIGHT I 1998
Eric Sawyer (guitar and vocal) Malcolm Posselswaite (drums) Leslie Jovan (vocal and bass)-left for ‘GRAMMADOELAS’ Mike Kuhnert (lead guitar and vocals)
DRAGONFLIGHT II 1998
Eric Sawyer (vocal and guitar) Malcolm Posselswaite (drums) Michael Kuhnert (lead and vocal)
DRAGONFLIGHT III 1998
Eric Sawyer (vocal and guitar) Malcolm Posselswaite (drums) Michael Kuhnert (lead guitar and vocals) Eugene Fick (bass and vocals)
DRAGONFLIGHT IV 1998
Eric Sawyer (vocal and guitar) Eugene Fick (bass and vocals) Michael Kuhnert (guitar and vocals)
PUBLICKE DEMONDE 1998
Eric Sawyer (vocals and guitar) Leslie Jovan (lead) Renon ‘Rasta’ (drums) Esti (vocalist)
THINGAMAJIGGA 1999
Eric Sawyer (vocal and guitar) Leslie Jovan (vocal and guitar)
MISTER BURNS 2000
Burns (vocal and guitar) Andrew Wettergreen (vocal) Francious (vocal and guitar) Eric Sawyer (vocal and guitar) Sybs (saxaphone)
BRIGHT SIDE OF THE BLUES 2001 – 2003 (Originated from the Goerge Young Ensemble.
Paul West (vocal and guitar) Andy Dunlopp (vocals and bass) Nic Docking (drums) Dilys (vocal) Eric Sawyer (lead and vocal)
BLUES TRIO 2001
(Once named ‘Fat Nappy’ as it swelled to accomodate other musicians, it basically existed as a three piece) Eric Sawyer (vocals and guitar) Andy Dunlop (bass and guitar) Nic Docking (drums) – other musicians involved were Bruce Taylor (drums) and two fellas, I cannot remember their names, I think Swannick on the keyboards and lead, and then one other on lead guitar…???
BLUE TRAIN 2003
Eric Sawyer (guitar and vocals) Bruce Taylor (drums and programmes)
Unnamed Duo 2004
Eric Sawyer (guitar and vocal) Gary G. (guitar and vocal)
ORIGINAL ROCKING BLUES FREAK SHOW 2004
Eric Sawyer (vocals and guitar), Donovan Copley (vocals and guitar), Andy Dunlopp (vocals and bass), Roy Marlow (clarinet and sax) and Bruce Taylor (drums) – developed into simply, “THE FREEK BROTHERS”
THE ERIC SAWYER BAND 2004
Eric Sawyer (vocal and guitar) Andy Dunlop (bass guitar) Bruce Taylor (drums) Roy Marlow (clarinet) Donovan Copley (lead guitar)
DUO – (by our names) 2004
Eric Sawyer (vocal and guitar) Roy Marlow (clarinet)
ERIC JOHN SAWYER – ACT III – 2004 – 2006 …
steel and electric guitar, vocals and harmonica

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THE DAYSTAR MUSIC FESTIVAL 2006
At last the great music festival that gives church bands a chance to enjoy the limelight of a casual farm festival at Kommetjie, ‘THE GIFT’ restaurant and pizza place, at the back on the lawn, with braaivleis and whatever. It is gauranteed to be an annual festival, if I have anything to say about it. Arranged by Mike “Bubbles” ex. Radio Rats and owner of the restaurant, who has just gone for it in the biggest way to include and involve local talent in a smorgassboard of genuis and spirit flavour…I get to work with an old friend and super singer, Michelle Ward, now Barendse who sings like a bumble bee….and I think some fella on djembay drum..cool…very out in the open. Date 25th of November, that’s right this year 2006 and hopefully every year after that…I am so stoked…come along if you are in the Western Province South Africa. Shalom.

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Recorded with Randy Stonehill in West Hollywood – March 2007
Mike Pachelli has this studio in West Hollywood, called Fullblast. Now apparently what happened was, his close friend Phil Keaggy suggested that Randy and him get together and offer studio work. Well, I happened to see the advert for musicians who wanted to record with them and ended up being the first one they recorded. I was utterly blow away, considering that I cut my teeth on Randy’s songs and still love doing them live. Especially, ‘King of Hearts’, which took me the best part of my whole life to work out…hahahaha. Well, in short I flew to America…my first time and laid down the vocal tracks for what has become ‘Peace Dove’, originally the acoustic album, ‘Devil’s Island’. It was great fun and a real blessing to work with such professionals.

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The Great Trek / Out of Africa – 2008 Jamming in the UK.
Well, I guess I had to eventually revisit the home of my ancestors…it is just the most amazing country and after fifty in South Africa, it is just too amazing..snow, trees, narrow avenues, and the fairest country I have ever been in. Just got to be careful driving in the snow…I think I will stick to boots … but I have to go to the shop… Musically, I am chilling, practicing, writing new stuff, and planning to do concerts at the many, many churches in England. I guess this is the longest I have ever travelled to a gig. Mike and Liz, if you are reading this, please write to me at aerycksmusic@yahoo.com I have lost you number. Thanks so much for the four most blessed years of my life.