Eric Hansen was born October 6, 1956 in Highland, Indiana. By the time he was 12, his family had moved to Chicago, where he studied classical guitar. After high school, he attended Chicago Musical College, where he studied voice and classical guitar. He left the conservatory two years later and joined Chicago’s Free Street Theater, a traveling performing arts outreach program.
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After four years with Free Street, performing, writing songs, and working in schools, hospitals, and communities, he won a major role in "I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road." The show eventually took him to New York City. There, he pursued a career onstage, worked in touring musicals, did bit parts in soaps: The Guiding Light, Search for Tomorrow, One Life to Live - and did Theatre by the Sea in Portsmouth. He toured Europe with "Annie Get Your Gun" and landed the title role in "Volodya/Russian Hero" at the eclectic, world-renown LaMaMa Experimental Theatre Company. By 1995, he had decided on a career as a solo singer-songwriter and found his music was well accepted. He won two Back Stage Bistro Awards from New York critics. In addition, Eric worked as a visiting musician for Hospital Audiences Inc. and soon made it to the top of HAI's roster as a most-requested performer.
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In spite of his success as a solo artist, Eric found he was performing sick all the time. In June 1997, he was diagnosed with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, which destroys lung function (He has now 38% lung capacity).
The condition, however, meant a lifestyle change - pacing himself, no more smoky bars. His next "gig" would reveal another side of his talent, nurtured by the children of New York's Hudson Guild. There, he wrote and taught the music curriculum for 140 pre-kindergarten children in the poor and working-class neighborhood of Chelsea. "It was one of those life-changing experiences," he said. He discovered he had another gift – a talent for working with children. However, in 1999, after a bout with pneumonia, he decided to move to Arizona in search of better air quality, but not before recording "I Am I" with the Hudson Guild children for his CD Real Slow. The title song reflects a turning point in his life. "I was thinking about death because I was feeling so bad. I had gone through such sickness and pain. I remember the moment that I read the article about the Indian Ocean, (to which he refers in the lyrics), and that's the moment that I chose to fight. I stood up and said, “I want to swim in the Indian Ocean.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric happily lives in Tucson, AZ where he is Musical Director of the Green Valley Church of Religious Science. He is a member of the band “Soul Co-op” which is the official band for ANTN; the Affiliated New Thought Network. In the past seven years he has successfully brought his music to New Thought churches around the country. His music has been featured at spirutual retreats such as: Asilomar, The Big Sky Retreat and ANTN. His song The Holy Man won 1st place in the 2006 Unisong International Songwriting Competition. He won a Music to Life award, presented by Noel Paul and Elizabeth Stookey. He was also named a Kerrville Festival New Folk finalist 1999 and 2007, and he was a finalist in the Plowshares Songwriting Competition. To date, Eric has recorded five CDs on his own label, Half Moon Full Star Records and he has published songs from his family CD in The Nobody Knows Songbook.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At home, Eric teaches voice and coaches singers. "I knew I had Alpha, and I knew that eventually I would have to do something else. I just had this fantasy of someday being kind of a famous teacher that works with folk singers." He has a vision of himself in his later years: long, flowing gray hair, flip flops, tank top, most likely wearing oxygen, maybe sporting a goatee... "And people would come from all over to Tucson to study with me."
What Question can I ask to empower myself and others? What new thought can I notice now to add to my creativity? How can I improve the experience of those I encounter today? What can I do to facilitate your Gift?
Yesterday Is History Tomorrow is a Mystery Today is a Gift... That's why we call it the Present
Happy New Year! We wish you a very happy and healthy year. We hope it's a year of peace and prosperity for all. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Sad that you won't come to Phoenix, I was looking forward seeing you again! Well, I cross my fingers for some resources to show up for you!
My car just broke down in WY after I had a great day aty Yellowstone and the Grand Teton Park. It's the fuel pump and the repair is gonna eat up all proceeds - well, hard comes - easy goes, I guess:)
Hey Eric...how are you? I'm going to be in Tucson in November. I hope you are feeling well these days. Drop me a line sometime, let me know what you're up to. Robyn
Eric, How goes it in Tucson? I just read something that said you might give FAR-West a miss this year....Hope not! I was looking forward to seeing you again...Greetings from the northbound highway. James
Man I was just passing thru your site and boom - your song True Friends captured me and layed me out! Thanks. I hope you drop in to the FARWest and Say HI. It would be great to see you again. Ken Willson & Kimmie
Thanks for the add, I'm so glad to be your friend. Keep checking the Alpha-1 Foundation profile and blog for stories about awesome Alphas. I promise not to post too many bulletins, but some are too cool to pass up! They are also on our website (Alphas, Friends and Family, Special Stories). Check them out sometime - they are really inspirational! Thanks again. Best wishes! Laura
