Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Willis.
Eric, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have often been called a modern-day renaissance man because of my list of accomplishments in books and music. I grew up in Houma, Louisiana, where I excelled in piano and percussion instruments. After high school, I studied Jazz with Alvin Batiste at Southern University. After university, I served in the 77th U.S. Army Band and achieved the leadership role of Percussion Section Chief. After military service (1989), I moved to Dallas, Texas, with a primary purpose and a secondary goal.
My priority was to work in sacred music while also having the skill set to perform with professional artists. Dallas had the perfect blend of opportunities. There were many options for church work, public performance and D.F.W. was a major hub that allowed easy access for traveling abroad. With humble beginnings, I would stair-step my way to greater successes. (I will list my accomplishments at the bottom). Over the years, I developed my craft as a songwriter, composer/arranger, music producer, teacher and author. These gifts naturally guided me to the business of publishing.
I built a large collection of music, business, and theology books from a store where all the books were half-priced. I did not realize that I was becoming an educator and facilitator of information that would encourage and enhance others but that is exactly what I developed into. Today, I can do a forty-five-minute brainstorming session with anyone and come up with a list of new ideas and innovations that can be used to generate income, launch a new idea or advance a project that has become stagnant. I did not consider (or realize that I was) an author until the sixth of my seven books were published. I simply took on the task that each day was bringing. In 1996, I took an overnight security job that had no incidents to report. With the free time, I wrote a manuscript entitled “Encounters with the Word.” It was a poetic take on the New Testament with insightful thoughts and observations. After several failed queries, I was decided to self-publish. I learned the myriad of tasks involved in book publishing, which gave me the confidence to continue writing and publishing. Meanwhile, I was advancing my career in music.
Among the list of artists of whom I am connected, I worked extensively with a local artist named Tom Braxton. Tom went from local sensation to national recording artist with a recording called “Bounce.” It was released on the Rendezvous label (Dave Koz) and distributed by Sony Music. The label could have chosen any song in the collection as the title cut and they chose mine. I wrote “Bounce” to emulate Tom’s energy while on stage. That title cut gave me industry credibility and I am ever grateful to him for the opportunity.
I also played with Kirk Whalum when he needed a musician who was capable of playing the Gospel and Jazz in the same show. It started a relationship where would become a secondary call while fulfilling my primary purpose. I toured extensively with Wayman Tisdale for ten years and played shows with a host of artists along the way.
I worked with major artists: Eric Darious, Roy Hargrove, Les McCann, Gerald Albright, Kim Waters, Phil Perry, Michael and Regina Winans, Dan Dean, Mercy Me, Russ Taft, Marcus Miller, Pamela Williams, Briggett Rideau, Bobby Lyle, Jean Carne, Stephanie Mills, Jeff Lorber, and Eric Roberson.
I also served as musical director for Angela Bofil, Melba Moore, Sarah Dash, Denise Morgan and Mikki Howard. Late in life, I discovered a profound family truth. My father turned out to be a narcissist who attempted to swindle me out of my inheritance after my mother’s passing. It put us in court for nearly ten years and was devastating to my soul. The painful experience prompted me to tell my story in an audiobook entitled, “Turn on the Light.” This book has been a great help to many and is available (free) on YouTube.
Church Work:
Concord Missionary Baptist – Youth Choir Director
New Mount Zion – Minister of Music
Victory Park – Worship Pastor
Highland Park United Methodist – Musical Director/Record Producer
Park Cities Baptist Church – Musical Director/Record Producer
Chase Oaks Church – Musical Director
ART Church Life (Lutheran) – Worship Pastor
Books Published:
Encounters With the Word
Piano Quick (Music Theory Method for Those Who Play by Ear)
Piano Quick Notes (A Rapid Study Reading System)
Turn On the Light (Exposing Abuse Without Confronting the Abuser) audiobook
Handle Your Business: Music Publisher (A Resource Guide to Earning Money in the Digital Age)
Handle Your Business: Recording Project Manager (A Guide for Saving Time and Money)
Father to Son (Words of Wisdom Every Son Should Consider) paperback, ebook, audiobook
Discography:
Father to Son (CD) recorded with my son, Josh
Bounce – Tom Braxton
Finally – Martha Burks
Never Alone – Tyrone Johnson
New Moon – James Gilyard
Hymnology – Highland Park UMC
Hymnology II – Highland Park UMC
Peace Like A River – Eric Willis
I Will Lift Mine Eyes – Eric Willis
A Long Way to Go – Eric Willis
After Sunset – Tyrone Johnson
Katalasso – Tom Braxton
Today – Rick Bernard James
Welcome – Park Cities Baptist Church
Musicians for Missions – Christ for the Nations
Heaven and Nature Sing – Tyrone Johnson
Common Heart – 17 Dallas Area Churches
Cornerstone Live – Highland Park UMC
Fellowship of Joy – Mark & Lori Carruthers
Movie Soundtrack: The Company We Keep – Director: Roy Campanella II
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There are no initial barriers for accomplishing goals for musicians. With talent and drive, we are able to create opportunities, great and small. My struggles were personal and internal. I wasn’t a whole person but I couldn’t understand why. I was twenty-six when I moved to Dallas and it would be twenty more years before I could identify the source of my problem. I was timid, soft-spoken and socially inept when I was often the smartest or most talented person in the room. I would take a back seat when I should have been in leadership and I was reticent when I had the most innovative idea. Although I sought counseling several times, I ultimately learned that you cannot be aided effectively if you are unable to articulate the fundamental problem. At age forty-six, I found the problem.
My father is a narcissist who had systematically abused his family, physically, emotionally and psychologically. I carried that damage throughout my life. When you are not a whole person, you will not achieve the whole of what you are to accomplish. You live in fear of failure and success, which makes you a great candidate for mediocrity. In my estimation, I excelled in Dallas, when I should have excelled nationally and internationally. For example, I was too timid about submitting my music to the DFW Mass Choir when it had enough merit to be recorded. That success would have put my works alongside the prolific composer, Kirk Franklin and many others. Because I was frozen with fear, I walked away from that opportunity and many others like it.
My resolve has been to make sure that my sons, James and Joshua, are whole, confident and competent to take on any endeavor of their choosing.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
X-Protege Music Publishing (X – Greek letter for Christos, Protege – one who is under the care and protection of another). X-Protege Music Publishing specializes in music transcription, where we take recordings and create music scores for artists. We print and bind music and method books, and do the copyright administration for authors and composers. We have 17 record productions that we served a turn-key role; project management to publishing, marketing and sales.
We offer turn-key book publishing for authors where we handle ISBN, cover design, layout, production and marketing. Our greatest desire is to offer Author-Assist publishing, where we consult the author during the publishing process. They can get everything from proofreading, editing and publishing services. We have evolved into sound-branding for businesses. We create radio-ready commercials and design custom sounds that companies can continually use to identify themselves. Our latest innovation is voice-overs set to music, sound-branding with content delivery to specific customers.
In 2018, we matriculated into film editing and sound design. So far, we serve local churches, family reunions and memorial services and family gatherings. Because we use original music, the customer does not have to pay large mechanical royalty license fees for music usage. What sets us apart is our passion for sharing information. We will do the work for you or show you how to accomplish the work yourself.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I could start over again, I would pursue the highest paying jobs in secular music. With a healthy paradigm, I would successfully navigate the music industry without compromise of integrity or degradation of self. I would then take my earnings and use it to fund larger business endeavors that advance more people.
One of the most candid things that I have said to colleagues and friends: “I apologize that I am not where I am supposed to be right now. Had I accomplished the fullness of my calling, I would be funding your projects, not just offering innovative concepts.” It really grieves me to realize this.
Pricing:
- Music Transcriptions average – $15 per page
- Voice-over Production – starts at $200
- Author-Assist Book Publishing – starts at $500
- Copyright Administration – $99
- ISBN Service – starts at $100
- Film Editing – starts at $100
Contact Info:
- Address: 905 Rio Vista Dr
DeSoto, Texas 75115 - Website: ericwillisbooks.com
- Phone: 214-809-1095
- Email: ericwillismusic@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Jeffrey Douglas, Barbara Brands, Sederrick & Ari Raphiel
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
