Eric Steckel is an American blues rock guitarist, keyboardist and songwriter from the United States. He is associated with the Eric Steckel Band and works in blues and blues rock.

Early life and style

Steckel is originally from Pennsylvania. He is first known locally for energetic guest appearances with a range of regional performers. He begins playing a Fender Stratocaster at the age of nine, and his early musical influences shape a style rooted in the blues. His playing is described as drawing on Freddie King, B.B. King and Albert King, with an intensity and technical control that stands out for a young musician.

Band work and recordings

The Eric Steckel Band records a debut CD, A Few Degrees Warmer, live in April 2002, when Steckel is 11 years old. The release becomes a CDBaby top blues seller and continues to attract blues guitar listeners. The band follows it with a studio record, High Action, in 2004, and later Havana, released after drummer Duane Trucks joins in late 2005. A European issue of Live at Havana appears through Rounder-Europe. Steckel also begins work on Feels Like home, which is released in 2008.

Collaborations and live appearances

Steckel shares stages with a long list of established blues and rock artists, including Bob Margolin, Debbie Davies, James Armstrong, Steve Guyger, Kenny Neal, Chris Beard, Tommy Castro, Joe Kubek, Bnois King, Solomon Burke, Ronnie Baker Brooks and Hubert Sumlin. The Eric Steckel Band also opens for Marcia Ball, Tommy Castro, Shemekia Copeland and B.B. King. In 2003 the band appears at the Sarasota Blues Festival, where Steckel is introduced by John Mayall as the youngest person ever on stage with the Bluesbreakers. He later joins Mayall for Scandinavian tour dates in Sweden, Norway and Denmark in 2004, and takes part in session work for the Bluesbreakers album Road Dogs, contributing lead guitar to “Chaos in the Neighborhood”.

International touring

Steckel and his band develop a following through club dates and festival appearances. In 2005 they tour Holland and Belgium for ten concerts promoted by Rounder-Europe and King Bee Music. In 2006 the band returns to Holland for the European release of Live at Havana, opens for Johnny Winter at The Paradiso in Amsterdam, and appears at the Tegelen Blues Rock Festival. In 2007 they play major American festivals and tour Holland, Germany, Belgium and Italy, including a prime-time set at the Pistoia Blues Festival, where Steckel opens for John Mayall and Gregg Allman.

Band personnel

By late 2005, Duane Trucks joins the Eric Steckel Band on drums. The bio identifies him as Derek Trucks’ younger brother and the nephew of Butch Trucks.