Eric Tagg -

Eric Tagg is an American singer-songwriter and keyboardist from Illinois. He released the 1975–77 albums Smilin’ Memories and Rendez-Vous, then cut a 1978 album with Medusa. Tagg then worked extensively with Lee Ritenour on Rit, Rit/2, Banded Together and Portrait, singing on the smooth-jazz hits “Is It You?” and “Mr. Briefcase.” His 1982 third solo album, Dreamwalkin’, appeared in 1982 amid those collaborations.

Background

Eric R. Tagg was born Jan. 9, 1953, in Illinois. He grew up with older brother Larry Tagg, who became a bassist and songwriter. Eric learned bass on Larry’s instrument before he took up piano and keyboards, with flute and dulcimer among his additional instruments. Tagg attended W. T. White High School in Dallas, where he sang in Concert Choir and played Sir Harry in the 1970 school production of Once Upon a Mattress.

Tagg traveled through Europe after his 1971 graduation from W. T. White. A baggage theft stranded him in the Netherlands, where Dutch musicians including guitarist Leo Bennink helped him find work as a singer. Tagg joined Beehive by 1973 as singer and pianist with guitarist Bennink, multi-instrumentalist Chiel Pos, percussionist Nippy Noya, bassist Jan Visser and drummer Paul van Wageningen. Beehive recorded the 1973 Pink Elephant single “Music Is Music” (b/w “Open Up”).

Tagg joined the initial Rainbow Train lineup in 1975 with singer-guitarist Hans Vermeulen and bassist Jan Vermeulen. The group developed through Tuesday-night performances at De Barbaars in Voorburg. EMI-Bovema Holland issued Tagg’s first solo single “A Fantasy” (b/w “Tell-Tale Eyes”) under the billing Erik Tagg, with John D’Andrea as producer. Tagg then traveled to California for sessions at Kendun Recorders in Burbank, where D’Andrea produced the material for his debut album Smilin’ Memories.

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