Eric Blume

Eric Blume’s years of dedication to drumming and music, has inspired many students and fans. Fulfilling an early interest in recording, Eric founded The Rubber Room Recording Studio in the early ‘nineties, recording a significant number local acts from the blues scene and beyond. Blume’s association with Columbus Americana Bluesman Ray Fuller began shortly after a stint with Columbus Icon Willie Pooch and found him not only drumming for the veteran rocker but also engineering three of his albums including, “Pearlene,” “Twist of Fate,” and ” Live @ The Thirsty Ear.” During his decade with Fuller, Blume reconnected with Fort Hayes School for the Performing Arts Alumnus Sean Carney. He was soon performing with The Sean Carney Band and backing Columbus blues matriarch Christine Kittrell. Eric performed with blues singing sensation, Teeny Tucker, playing on her first CD, “Tommy’s Girl,” and appearing at such famed venues as Biscuits & Blues (San Francisco), The Monterey Bay Blues Festival, The Fleet Blues Festival, The Tawas City Blues Festival, Buddy Guy’s Legends (Chicago), B.B. King's (Memphis) and Paula Jeans Supper Club (Long Island, New York). The Sean Carney Band backing up Teeney Tucker placed third at the 2005 International Blues Challenge. Blume has performed with Big Joe Duskin, Joe Weaver, Johnnie Bassett, Wilbert Longmire and Gene Walker. In 2005, Blume and Carney, between extended appearances in Southwestern Florida, began recording a new CD, “Life of Ease,” that would be released in 2006 on their Nite Owlz Records label. A five week tour of western Canada followed with appearances at The Yale (Vancouver), Blues on Whyte (Edmonton) and The Red Onion (Calgary). The tour was organized by producer /guitarist and valued friend , Steve Grerard. Recently Eric backed San Francisco blues star Phil Berkowitz on his, “Louis’ Blues Tour,” performing the music of R&B pioneer Louis Jordan at venues such as The Soul Shine Festival, The Slippery Noodle (Indianapolis), The House of Blues (Chicago), and Fatfish Blue (Cleveland). A ten day engagement in Florida followed for The Sean Carney Band including gigs at the Barkin Shark , S.O.B's , The Channel Mark and the Island Arts Foundation "Jazz and Rib Festival featuring Terry Hanck.." This string of gigs concluded with Key West apearances special thanks to Barry Cuda. In February, The Sean Carney Band took first place at The 2007 International Blues Challenge. Since that win, the band has performed at many of the United States' most prestigious blues events such as The Blues Music Awards, The Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, The New York State Blues Festival, The Honesdale Roots & Rhythm Festival and headlining slots at The Rochester Big City Summer Fest and The Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival. Carney and his band also headlined a weekend at The Yale in Vancouver, British Columbia and performed a sold-out concert "Auzon Le Blues" at Carpentras in The South of France. As summer draws to a close, Eric looks forward to an autumn tour organized by Jo-Ann Freda for The Sean Carney Band in The U.S. including a live video shoot for The Digital Cafe Tour in New York City, Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in Colorado, Bilnd Willie's in Atlanta, The Arkanasa Blues & Heritage Festival and The Long Branch Blues & Jazz Fest on The Jersey Shore and much more. Late fall will find The Sean Carney Band touring Europe for three weeks, including major blues festivals in Sweden and Switzerland, in a tour organized by BlueBridge Network International. Winter will find The Sean Carney band setting sail on The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise along with Taj Mahal in Jaunary and a return to the Carribean in February with The Buckeye Cruise for a Cure. On March 22, The Sean Carney Band will perform at The St. John Blues Festival in The U.S. Virgin Islands. As a student of the art of drumming and music, it is Eric's goal to continue to work with veterans of the music world. Eric also enjoys sharing what he has learned with his students, in the hopes that they will have similar kinds of positive experiences.