5 Questions with…Eric Dahl!

Welcome to this month’s 5 Questions with…! I think I first learned about Eric Dahl on Instagram. I asked him if he’d be willing to do an email interview, & he agreed!

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Would you tell the story of your connection with B.B. King?

While I was living in Las Vegas, Nevada working in television as my day job, I also played music at the casinos at night and helped pawnshops and music stores by providing them values on music gear. My friend, Chaz Starr, called me about a Lucille that was coming out of pawn that he wanted me to see. I ended up buying it since the back of the headstock said “Prototype One” and I though Mr. King may have given it away or sold it to someone also.

Two and a half months later Gibson Brands calls and tells me I have B.B. King’s stolen 80^th Birthday Lucille that they gave him and he would like it back. Since I wouldn’t accept money from Gibson or B.B. King, he wanted to meet me in person.

I met him at his business office in Las Vegas and returned his stolen Lucille to him. He gave me a Lucille as thanks and signed it to me. A few months later he gave me permission to write a book about his guitars called Lucille and the Loves Before Her* that released in 2013.

I’m working on an updated 2^nd edition of the book that will release in the Spring of 2020.

How did you start “Fox 17 Rock & Review” in Nashville?

When I moved to Nashville, TN in April of 2011 I had this idea for a TV show that would cover new music gear and relate to musicians and studio people in Music City. I pitched it to News, but they said if I wanted it then I would need to do it myself. So I did.

The FOX 17 Rock & Review started in January of 2012 as more of a music gear and instrument show. Over the years it evolved to have musicians that backed up the stars, then the big names began wanting to come on the show.

2017 was a real turning point for the show as we had Paul Shaffer, Kenny Rogers, Dolly, Garth, and Brad Paisley come on the show. In February of 2020 we will have had 500 interviews. We are launching a 30-minute TV show with back episodes, and it airs nationally on the STIRR App. We also have a YouTube channel.

I enjoy every interview I do with music artists of all genres, no matter how big or small their star is!

We launched an iHeart Radio show in December of 2018 called FOX 17 Rock & Radio on WLAC. After the weekly shows air, they become a Podcast here.

You perform, but you also do other music-related jobs. What are some of those & what is your advice for someone interested in aspects of music other than performance?

My father was a bass player and I have played guitar since I was 5 years old. Currently, I play songwriter rounds in Nashville and at my local church every Sunday.

Between my TV show, radio shows, and writing for music-related magazines, I’m fortunate to meet a lot of interesting people in the music business. To this day I still love playing and singing, collecting guitars and working on my guitars to keep them in tip top shape.

For anyone involved in music, I suggest that you do it for the love of creating music, and that it feeds your soul and you share it with others. The more you play, write, and perform, the better you get. Constantly strive to be better and learn more musically.  It is one of the most rewarding gifts in life to share music. 

What’s your favorite part of working in Nashville (as a musician & generally)?

Nashville is a creative hot bed for some of the most interesting and talented people in the world. If they don’t already live in Nashville, they will eventually come through our city. Many people don’t realize that you can hear and discover all forms of music in Nashville and not just country music. Also the history of music and musicians here goes back to the 1800s. My favorite parts are the music, musicians, great food, and a friendly welcoming atmosphere. 

Any recommendations for future “5 Questions with…” guests?

[Question suggestions:]

What is your first or favorite music memory?

Who influenced you to play or be involved in music?

How does music make you a better person?

[How Eric lands et guests:]

I achieve guests for the shows in many ways. Frequently a PR firm will reach out to me on behalf of their client. They send me the music, bio and interesting facts, plus how big their social media/digital numbers are for YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The digital footprint has become very important to show that the artist or band has a following already.

Sometimes individuals or friends send me suggestions. The biggest thing to me is that the music must wow me. If they achieve that, then I want to know some interesting things about the artist, not just the standard information. Something unique and interesting. Artists/bands need to remember they are the product, and to gain interviews and coverage they must come across as interesting and having something different to offer.

Some days I receive up to 50 requests in one day to come on a show.  As an artist how do you cut through that to stand out?

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And there are 5 Questions with…Eric Dahl! Be sure to visit him on Instagram & Twitter, & let him know I sent you! 🙂

Eric Dahl is Nashville, TN based. He has been in television for over 36 years. He hosts a TV show, two radio shows and writes for Maverick Country Magazine in the UK. Dahl came to national awareness after returning B.B. King’s stolen Gibson Lucille while living in Las Vegas in 2009.

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