Eric Frazier was born in Harlem, New York City. He was raised in Brooklyn, New York in a family of eight children. He ran track and road races for 27 years. His love of the physical culture and creative expression led him to the study of the Conga Drum, Djembe Drum and African Dance. He has since expanded his artistic endeavors to singing, trap drums, tap dance, and percussion.
His recordings exemplify a world of music including Jazz, Swing, BeBop, Salsa, R&B. Calypso, Blues, Broadway, Reggae, Reggaeton, World Music and Afro beat. Eric hosted his own television talk show called “Cultural Horizons” on Queens Public Access Cable TV in 1998. He has made personal appearances on The Hambone Cable TV show (BCAT), The Camille Yarborough Manhattan Cable TV Show. The Jazzy Jazz Show (BCAT-TV), Producer's Profile (BCAT-TV), Caribbean Soul (BCAT-TV), and BET Jazz Discovery and Bet On Jazz Cable TV shows. Eric is the co-host of WLIU Jazz radio 88.1 FM on BCAT Cable TV channel 57 (Time Warner) and Channel 70 (CableVision). In addition, He has appeared on numerous radio stations across the USA.
Eric has performed in such historic New York venues as the famous Rainbow Room, Madison Square Garden Theater, The Iridium Jazz Club, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Ciprianis, The New York Hilton, The Metropolitan Room, Birdland, and The Apollo Theater. He has performed in great Jazz venues of New York, Chicago, New Jersey, Philadephia, PA, St. Louis, MO, Washington DC , Hartford, CT, Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA and numerous Universities and colleges. Some of his festival performances include the: Cape May Jazz Festival, Chicken Bone Beach Jazz Festival, Jazz Improv Festival, NYC, Brooklyn International Film Festival, Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival, International African Arts Festival, Fort Greene Park Festival, Metrotech Music Festival, NYC, The South African Jazz Heritage Festival, and numerous others.
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His interest in Dance, Music, Theater and Writing are evident in his background. Otis Gould, former Chi-lites drummer and college friend, taught him to play Congas for bands. He learned the Djembe drum from Ibrahim, famous master teacher from The Dance Company of Senegal. Eric was inspired in dance by his brother, the gifted and talented Gary Ellis Frazier, formerly with The Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Eric has performed with such dance groups as Katherine Dunham, Olatunji, Charles Moore, Chief Bey, The International African Ballet, and Varshaa Bardhan and Chandra Baneyei of The Tanusree Shankar Dance Company of India (Headed by Ananda Shankar, son of the great Ravi Shankar).
Eric was a solo artist for the play “Wemmins of the Dark” at the historic Henry Street Playhouse in Soho, New York City and went on tour in the New York Metropolitan area performing his own poetry for The Rennick Playright Company. He is the author of the following books of poetry: “Family, Friends and You,” “Thought of a black Child” and “Black Gold and You.” Additionally, Eric is the author of numerous scholarly articles, Jazz Columns, publications and letters. He has lectured at numerous colleges and Universities and is available for lectures, workshops and presentations.
Eric has had the pleasure of great artists accompany him in his band and on his recordings, such as Reggie Workman, Robin Kenyatta, Carlos Garnett, Jimmy Ziegler, Bob Cunningham, Bill Saxton, Stanley Banks and Danny Mixon. In addition to performing with legends such as Pharaoh Sanders and Jack McDuff, his recordings have also included the talents of Jeremy Pelt, Anthony Wonsey, Wayne Escofery and Maurice Brown. Max Roach, renown as one of the most legendary Jazz Drummers in history, first heard Eric as a solo artist on October 25, 1998. He was inspired to get on the Mic and tell the audience to savor the moment because they were in the midst of a great conga player.
Eric's latest CD “The Eric Frazier Quintet Live @ Cecil's Jazz Club volume 1&2,” is catapulting him to the very top of the music movers and shakers. We are confident that this two volume set of CD's will add enhanced pleasure to your every listening moment.
Eric was educated at the famed “Boys High School in Brooklyn, New York. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in three years at Southern Illinois University, (Carbondale, Illinois) in Black American Studies with minors in Economics and Sociology and Cultures and two Masters degrees and a Doctoral ABD at Columbia University Teachers College in New York City in Education Administration and policy.
Awards
Awards
-Madison’s Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals- 2011
- Proclamation- Office of The President Borough of Brooklyn, City of New
York 2011
The 2nd Annual Fort Greene Festival Jazz Series
-Citation- The City Council of New York, Office of Letitia James 2011
The 2nd Annual Fort Greene Festival Jazz Series
-Proclamation, Fort Green Park Jazz Festival Day, Brooklyn Borough President
Marty Markowitz 2010
-Certificate of Salutation, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz 2008
-Alpha Kappa Alpha “Economics & The Arts Symposium Certificate” 2008,
2009, 2010
-“Career Day” Middle School 267, 2008
-“Man of The Year-Musician” Friends of Dr. Gail Reed Barnett, 2007
-“Businessman of The Year Honoree” House Republican Leadership
Committee 2006, invited to the White House Dinner.
-Service African Kings & Queens Pageant-Drummer-City Council Yonkers, NY
2005
-Dedication, Devotion, Community Commitment, African Kings & Queens
Pageant-Drummer-City Council President Yonkers, NY 2003
-African American Culture, African American History Month, Office of the City
Council, Yonkers, NY 2005
-Outstanding Educational Leadership, School District 16, 2003
-Outstanding Achievement, Barbara-Scotia College Alumni of New York 2001
-Outstanding Service, Principal MS385, Brooklyn, NY 1999-2000
-Education Excellence, Principal PS 28, 1998-1999
-Dedicated and Loyal Service, Assistant Principal PS 289 Executive Board
1990-1991
-Outstanding Man of The Year, The National “Who’s Who” Society 1977
-Black Expo Award “Children’s Poetry” 1973
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