Eric Leikam

When I heard music and deejays on the radio as a pre-schooler in mid-60s Albuquerque, NM, I knew somehow that’s what I’d be doing. Fast-forward to my sixteenth birthday when I got my driver’s license. I drove to a radio station and got my first job for free on KUHF-FM in Houston. In junior high I tried to play cello in orchestra but I wasn’t really into it. The next year I discovered ELO but by then I was already playing drums which I kept up for a couple of years or so. I eventually started playing guitar and writing songs. I went to University of Houston to study journalism and stuff but lost motivation. I found my way to Alvin Community College and got back into radio there. I soon got my first pro radio gig at 97 Rock in Houston where I was Moby’s original intern. I got on-air and was given a fulltime overnight shift. Those were some fun days. I worked with Hannah Storm there. I met my first future ex-wife Whats-her-name there. We started a band and kicked her out shortly thereafter. About four years later the station changed formats and long story short I ended up next at Power 104 KRBE. I worked with Glenn Beck there. My last day at KRBE was my first day at Z-107 KZFX the classic rock station. I remained employed for about five years and playing in bands like The Kinetics and Invictus with future State Musician of the year Shelley King. Her future husband Perry was my roommate and drummer. We played Fitzgeralds and Danelectros a lot. Eventually Shelley and Perry moved to Austin and I didn’t until KZFX changed formats to become what is known there now as The Buzz. I got on KLBJ-FM where I was voted one of Austin’s top DJ’s in 1996 by Austin Chronicle Readers. I rented a house with Rick Del Castillo who would later go on to form the phenomenal band Del Castillo with his brother. I was lured away from KLBJ-FM to The Rock 98.9 where I met my future second ex-wife Shelly Knight. I also convinced her to be a singer. One day The Big Easy called and we were flown out to the legendary rock station WRNO-FM where we were to be the next morning show. Those were some really fun days that came to a crashing end when the station was sold. We bid farewell to the city that care forgot and returned to Austin. We married and in 2001 released a CD of songs we had written in the crescent city called Soulride by Eric & Shelly. We also joined the South Austin Gospel Choir. From there my alt-country band Steelbeam evolved and continues today. We released two albums. I was hired by Majic 95.5 for on-air where I was able to develop a local music show called “The Majic Of Austin Music”. That show helped get the attention of Jody Denberg of KGSR. Our son Antone was born later that year. In the waning days of the marriage KGSR called upon me to join their airstaff where I remain today. Shelly and I decided that even though we weren’t a couple we should continue our musical partnership which also endures now. We’ve released two albums. From 2006 until October 2008 I was with Metro Networks giving traffic reports on Fox 7 KTBC mornings and afternoons. I was recruited by their competitors Traffic Pulse a few weeks later. I’ve played on or produced various projects. I’ve published a book of spiritual insights called Soul Blurts. I’m looking forward to working on the next Steelbeam record as well as the next Shelly Knight record. I’m also working on a spoken word version of Soul Blurts. I’m available for freelance voice-over projects. Now excuse me while I go get another cup of coffee...