Eric Heywood

Who is Eric Heywood?

Eric Heywood is an American guitarist and musician. Heywood grew up in Mount Vernon, Iowa, a little college town of about 3,500. His parents both taught at a small liberal-arts college, and artistic ambitions were encouraged and pursued. His older brother Phil Heywood provided the main early musical influence by way of his obsession with the country blues—first Mississippi John Hurt and Leadbelly, then Willie McTell and Gary Davis and many more. These records and Phil’s intensely hammered out renditions of them played constantly around the house and no doubt had a huge part in the development of Eric’s musical pallet and aesthetic. After attempting to play ragtime piano he finally gave in to the guitar while a senior in high school. Phil taught him a John Hurt song and the guitar became an important procrastination tool during his years at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, where he graduated with honors in studio art. Art degree in hand, he quickly landed a job driving cab in St. Paul. Musically, Eric and a couple of friends formed a country blues outfit called Hometown Skiffle and tentatively ventured into performing. Eventually this led to a country band called the Ranchtones.