NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Eric Durrance

Fans of the Eagles, and especially those who gravitate toward Don Henley, will find plenty to like in the phrasing, songwriting and overall sound of Eric Durrance. This is evident from the first moments of "Someone I Can't Live Without," the opening cut on Angels Fly Away, one of Durrance's three co-writes among the 10 covers and one solo-written track on his debut album for Wind-up Records Nashville.

But then, the more you listen, the more a unique talent asserts itself. He sings mostly in a mid-to-upper baritone range, yet when the melody climbs into a power chorus, he rides with it, his tone straying dusky and rich even as it nails each note with emotion and conviction. This technique asserts itself clearly on Durrance's first single, the title track, written by Dallas Davidson and Craig Wiseman, but the artistry behind it is most apparent in how gracefully he bridges those choruses to the intimate and even conversational quality he brings to the verses.

Raised by a musical family in Tallahassee, Fla., Durrance inherited his feel for Country Music from his grandparents and his finesse at harmony from both parents. The rest he learned through doing the music he loves - and that love, documented by producers Mark Bright and Teddy Gentry, lifts Angels Fly Away toward impressive heights of achievement.

2009 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.