When I heard music and deejays on the radio as a toddler in mid-60s Albuquerque, NM, I knew somehow that’s what I’d be doing. My family moved to Houston in 1968 and settled in the shadow of NASA in a planned community called Clear Lake City.  My dad went to law school at night while working as an electronics engineer by day and painting his southwest landscapes on weekends.

Fast-forward to my sixteenth birthday when I got my driver’s license. I drove to a radio station and got my first job for free on KUHF-FM in Houston. In junior high I tried to play cello in orchestra but I wasn’t really into it.  The next year I discovered ELO but by then I was already playing drums which I kept up for a couple of years or so. I had been studying drama in high school but the teacher told me in no uncertain terms I had no talent for acting.

I eventually started playing guitar and writing songs. I went to University of Houston to study journalism and stuff but lost motivation. I found my way to Alvin Community College and got back into radio there. I soon got my first pro radio gig at 97 Rock KSRR in Houston where I was Moby’s original intern. I got on-air and was given a fulltime overnight shift. Those were some fun days. I worked with Hannah Storm there.  I met my first future ex-wife what’s-her-name there.   We started a band and kicked her out shortly thereafter.

 About four years later the station changed formats and long story short I ended up next at Power 104 KRBE. I worked with Glenn Beck there.  My last day at KRBE was my first day at Z-107 KZFX the classic rock station. I remained employed for about five years and playing in bands like The Kinetics and Invictus with future State Musician of the year Shelley King. Her future husband Perry was my roommate and drummer.  We played Fitzgerald’s and Danelectro’s a lot. Eventually Shelley and Perry moved to Austin and I didn’t until KZFX changed formats.

I got on KLBJ-FM where I was voted one of Austin’s top DJ’s in 1996 by Austin Chronicle readers. I rented a house with Rick Del Castillo who would later go on to form the phenomenal band Del Castillo with his brother. I was lured away from KLBJ-FM to The Rock 98.9 KUTZ where I met my future second ex-wife Shelly Knight. I also convinced her to be a singer.

 One day The Big Easy called and we were flown out to the legendary rock station WRNO-FM where we were to be the next morning show. Those were some really fun days in New Orleans that came to a crashing end when the station was sold.

 We bid farewell to the city that care forgot and returned to Austin. We both got cast in a short-lived series produced by Austin Music Network called “Wake Up, Austin”. We married in 1999 and in 2001 released a CD of songs we had written in the crescent city called Soulride by Eric & Shelly. We also joined the South Austin Gospel Choir. From there my alt-country band Steelbeam evolved and continues today. We’ve released 3 CDs. The Rockin’ Gospel Project rose from the ashes of the choir and I’m part of that as well. RGP was nominated for a prestigious Texas Music Award. We still play regularly to big crowds at ‘hippie church’.

I was hired by Majic 95.5 KKMJ in 2001 for on-air and given the title “Imaging Director”. It was there I was able to develop a local music show called “The Majic Of Austin Music”. That show got the attention of Jody Denberg of KGSR. Our son Antone was born later that year.

 In the waning days of the marriage in 2004 KGSR called upon me to join their airstaff, where I remain today.  Shelly and I decided that even though we weren’t a couple we should continue our musical partnership which also endures now. We’ve released two albums and are working on a third. In 2006 I published a book of spiritual insights through xlibris.com called Soul Blurts.

 From 2006 until October 2008 I was with Metro Networks giving traffic reports on Fox 7 KTBC mornings and afternoons. I was recruited by their competitors Traffic Pulse (now Navteq) a few weeks later. I produced traffic reports for KEYE TV News. Inevitable changes led to my departure from Navteq in 2010.

Early in 2010, I somehow got the attention of Acclaim Talent owner Jeffrey Nightbyrd, who disagreed with my high school drama teacher’s assessment and signed me to his agency. Since then I’ve studied with great teachers like Ben Taylor, CK McFarland, and Toni Cobb Brock. I’ve been in some films, commercials, videos, web promos and done some voiceovers.

In 2011 I joined a heavy rock band called The Korkus after one of their founding members departed as their debut album was being released. I play guitar and sing background vocals.

I frequently sing and play old songs for Austin-area nursing home residents. It's been gratifying because they really appreciate the music. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to get another cup of coffee.

Eric Leikam Writing Samples

Promo, News, Etc.

Forgotten Gateway: Coming To America Through Galveston Island

You are an immigrant on a ship bound for America. Your new life in the new world is greeted not by the welcoming Statue of Liberty, but by oppressive heat and mosquitos on a swampy, bustling island in the Gulf of Mexico. “Forgotten Gateway: Coming To America Through Galveston Island”, is a multi-faceted exhibition premiering at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin February 9, 2009.  The Texas immigration experience from 1845-1924 is shared through a collection of stories, artifacts, photos, film footage, narratives, and hands-on interactive displays. Discover the dramatic untold stories of promises made, kept and broken in an exhibit that focuses on an unsung part of our shared national history. For more details visit TheStoryofTexas.com.

MetroSource News     09/19/2008  05:29:17
Austin Summary (1st)

>>The Latest

(Undated) -- Here's the latest on stories making news at this hour. Country singer Billy Joe Shaver is facing felony charges in McLennan County.  Another discrimination suit is filed against the city of Austin. Williamson County has a new assistant district attorney for civil cases. Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton is holding two crime prevention Town Hall Meetings this month.  

>>Shaver Indicted On Felony Charges

(Waco, TX) -- Country singer/songwriter Billy Joe Shaver has been indicted by a McLennan County grand jury Monday for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a handgun on a liquor licensed property. The "Waco Tribune-Herald" reports the incident on April 1, 2007 took place at Papa Joe's Saloon in Lorena when the victim, Billy B. Coker had words with the 69-year-old Shaver. Witnesses reported the singer asking "Where do you want it?" before allegedly shooting Coker in the face. Another witness allegedly heard Shaver saying to Coker "Tell me you are sorry" and "Nobody tells me to shut up." according to arrest warrant affidavits. Coker was treated and released but says the attack was unprovoked. Shaver's attorney claims Coker was drunk, aggressive and wielded a knife as he followed the famed country artist outside. As of Wednesday, Shaver had not turned himself in to authorities. The assault charge is a second-degree felony and the unlawful weapon possession is a third-degree felony.

>>Female Firefighter Sues Austin For Discrimination

(Austin, TX) -- A day after it was reported that several female police officers were suing the city for gender discrimination comes word that female Austin firefighter Nona Allen has also filed a discrimination suit in state District Court Thursday . Allen alleges she was denied food and furniture including a place to sit in a women's locker room at Fire Station 15 on Airport Blvd in East Austin. Allen, who is the only woman assigned to the station kept finding a desk and chair she moved into the locker room removed, thus keeping her from having a place to study. She claims the men at the station had a similar better setup with desks, benches, video games and vending machines whereas no such amenities existed in the female locker room. Allen, who is the department's only African-American female firefighter has been with the department since early 2007. The "Austin American-Statesman" reports that acting Fire Chief Jim Evans declined to comment on the pending suit.

Fit that steel

Song-by-song

Boilermaker Blues  (written by PJ Liles). This is pretty much an autobiographical snapshot of Steelbeam lead singer PJ.  The imagery evoked of West Texas oilfields and tanks on rails sets the tone for the band.  Boilermaker Blues has its own choreography that was previously performed by The Beamettes, a group of young dancing girls.

Redneck Ways (written by Steve Sparks) Written with Steelbeam in mind, Steve presented the song to the band when he was a member of the South Austin Gospel Choir.  Redneck Ways paints a vivid picture of the working man’s trials and tribulations. It’s become a staple and signature song of the band. Steve passed away in 2004 after a lengthy bout with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Engine 17 (written by Eric Leikam) A live show favorite of Steelbeam fans. this song has been played on the radio frequently. The first four or so lines of the song are true according to Eric, but the rest was made up. One morning Eric was walking to work when he saw a fire truck come down the street and he noticed that everyone on board was female. That got him to thinking, what if a pyromaniac fell in love with the woman who drives the fire engine…

Cheap Whisky (written by Steve Convenience Ulrich) This was one of the first songs Steelbeam did when Steve Ulrich was a member of the band. It’s the tale of economical alcohol and a love lost. Steelbeam adds a little crowd-pleasing country snap to the song.

Jaded And Bored (written by Steve Convenience Ulrich) Another of Steelbeam’s first songs. Steve Ulrich had released the song on his first solo CD. Steelbeam re-arranged the song to make it more uptempo. It’s a stream-of-consciousness observation of a man’s midlife foibles. This tune has also been getting some airplay on Austin radio.

Hazel Eyes  (written by PJ Liles and Joel Frazier) A catchy country dance number about a man looking himself in the mirror who knows that sleep only brings painful memories of a love that’s over and done. The band doubled and tripled their background vocals to create a fun sloppy-drunk sound on the song.

"Can You Sound Like A Guitar God For $100? How about $50? (Ben White/Banister)

Reply to: sale-895278110@craigslist.org ^[?]
Date: 2008-10-27, 11:09AM CDT

Can you sound like Rob Zombie. Sure can. Eric Johnson? No problem. The Edge? You bet. All of them and more are just a footstomp away thanks to your KORG Toneworks AX1G Guitar Multi-effects pedal. It's a distortion pedal, an overdrive pedal, a volume pedal, a wah pedal, a loop recorder and tuner and more all in one. You can tweak any and all sounds. Why don't I want to sound like a guitar god? Simple. I play bass.

Call Eric at 512-870-7811. I'll return your call asap if I don't answer.

Still unsure? If you buy it by Wednesday Oct 29 I'll knock five dollars off. You can sound like a guitar god for $45! That's less than half price when it was new. What a deal! Act now.