Biography

This father and son duo created a project that combines aged experience with youthful insight.
Eric Willis studied piano with Howard Nixon and studied Jazz with Alvin Batiste at Southern University. You can immediately identify the southern stylings of his works. He was also a percussionist in the 77th U.S. Army Band where he played various styles such as, Military Marches, Jazz, Country and Rock. While, this recording is tightly knit with jazz continuity, you still hear the essence of all influences. Eric gained a reputation in Dallas where he works in sacred music and the local music scene. His national acts include touring with Wayman Tisdale, Tom Braxton, Fingerprints Band, The John Adams Jazz Group. He was also music director for, Melba Moore, Mikki Howard, Angela Bofill and worked with a host of other national artists.

Josh Willis is a product of the Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts, which Dallas locals call the Arts Magnet School. He was accepted into the program by audition on alto sax and excelled in concert band performance. Josh caught the “drum bug” and really became serious as a result of his exposure to the percussion program. He joined the Latin Ensemble in his junior year and it changed his young life. He was invited to the African Dance Ensemble and gained a new level of understanding of the fundamental elements of rhythm. He played drums with the Pop Ensemble and won a Downbeat award with Midi Ensemble. Josh continues to grow his music skills as he endeavors to acquire a degree in business. Father to Son is his first venture as a record producer and it looks as though he may have a brilliant future as an organizer of intelligent inflection.