Eric Johnson (born August 17, 1954) is a Grammy Award winning guitarist and… Read Full Bio ↴Eric Johnson (born August 17, 1954) is a Grammy Award winning guitarist and recording artist from Austin, Texas USA. Best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, New Age, and even country and western elements into his recordings. A widely recognized virtuoso, Johnson's stylistic diversity, technical proficiency, and unique playing style have drawn praise from Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Prince, B.B. King, and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. His critically-acclaimed, platinum selling 1990 recording Ah Via Musicom produced the single "Cliffs of Dover", for which Johnson won a 1991 Grammy award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

(2) Very few musical artists achieve a true signature style -- one that makes comparisons to other musicians impossible. But Texas guitarist Eric Johnson arguably comes as close to this echelon as any musician from the past quarter-century. Like fellow Lone Star State guitarists Johnny Winter, Billy Gibbons, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnson blends the rock style of Jimi Hendrix and the blues power of Albert King. Yet Johnson's wide array of additional influences (from the Beatles and Jeff Beck to jazz and Chet Atkins) makes for a guitar sound as unique as his fingerprints.

"When I first heard Eric," Winter recalled, "he was only 16, and I remember wishing that I could have played like that at that age." Former Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter said, "If Jimi Hendrix had gone on to study with Howard Roberts for about eight years, you'd have what this kid strikes me as." The Austin prodigy appeared on the cover of Guitar Player magazine while working with Texas jazz/fusion band the Electromagnets and as a session player (Cat Stevens, Carole King, Christopher Cross), and a 1984 performance on the TV show Austin City Limits set his recording career in motion.

Johnson's 1986 debut album, Tones, certainly proved that the hype was warranted. Playing with the ace rhythm section of bassist Roscoe Beck and drummer Tommy Taylor, Johnson mixed blazing instrumentals ("Zap," "Victory") with Beatles-influenced vocal tunes like "Emerald Eyes" and "Bristol Shore." Johnson used the same half-and-half format on the 1990 follow-up, Ah Via Musicom, but a trio of the album's tunes surprisingly made him the first artist to have three instrumentals from the same album to chart in the Top Ten in any format (with "Cliffs of Dover" earning Johnson a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental).

But, if Johnson had a perceived weakness, it was the perfectionism that caused four years to pass between recordings. Even in concert, he would painstakingly tune his guitar between songs, by ear, for minutes on end. With the success of Ah Via Musicom, the guitarist admitted to feeling pressure to raise the bar again. But Johnson's studio nitpicking delayed Venus Isle until 1996, and the disappointing CD contained fewer instrumentals and sounded forced.

A stint on the 1997 G3 tour with fellow headlining guitarists Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, and its resulting live release, breathed new life into Johnson and sparked the idea of a live album. Overhauling his band for the 2000 CD Live and Beyond, Johnson brought in bassist Chris Maresh and drummer Bill Maddox, and concentrated on more of a blues feel. The guitarist still blended instrumentals with his vocal tunes ("Shape I'm In," "Last House on the Block"), but perhaps realized that his thin voice was too one-dimensional for guttural blues or R&B. Guest vocalist Malford Milligan ignites "Don't Cha Know" and "Once a Part of Me," helping Johnson's blazing debut on Vai's Favored Nations label and reestablishing the versatile virtuoso's status for the 21st century. As Vai himself testified, "Eric has more colorful tone in his fingers than Van Gogh had on his palette."

Souvenir, an album available only through Johnson's website, appeared in 2002, followed by CD and DVD versions of New West's Live from Austin, TX and Bloom, the second album for Vai's Favored Nations imprint, in 2005. Johnson returned in 2010 with Up Close, a studio album that slightly emphasized the guitarist's Texas roots. A collaboration with jazz guitarist Mike Stern, Eclectic, appeared in 2014. ~ Bill Meredith

Brilliant Room
Eric Johnson Lyrics

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Utside this brilliant room, are parts unknown
But you love, is all I need right
Now, to get me home

Through these life's windows,
And separating all the angels;
My mind starts to wander; pearls slip
By outside this brilliant room.

Inside this brilliant room, you speak to me.
Your love is capturing my soul,
It's gonna rescue me

Through these life's windows,
And separating all the angels;
My mind starts to linger,
Pearls slip through my fingers

I can't remember, but it doesen't
Really even matter
The promise tomorrow is healing the sorrow

And in these life's issues, there's
Someone there to assist you
And what you might look for,
Is happening inside this brilliant room

Through these life's windows,
And separating all the angels;
My mind starts to linger,
Pearls slip through my fingers
I can't remember, but it doesen't
Really even matter
The promise tomorrow is healing the sorrow

And in these life's issues,
There's someone there to assist you
And what you might look for,
Is happening on the in door
And the curtain gets trampled,
By the mirrorball that's in shambles

Inside this brilliant room
Inside this brilliant room

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Eric Johnson's song "Brilliant Room" depict a sense of safety and security that comes from being in the presence of someone you love. The singer acknowledges that there are unknown parts of the world outside of the "brilliant room," but that their love is all they need to feel at home. The use of the word "brilliant" suggests that this room is filled with light and positivity, and the singer is grateful to have found themselves there.

The second verse continues to describe the power of the love being experienced inside the brilliant room. The singer refers to their soul being captured and rescued by this love. The use of the phrase "pearls slip through my fingers" suggests that there may be things outside of the room that the singer wishes they could hold onto, but the love being experienced inside is too captivating to let go of.

The final verse brings in the idea of community and support, acknowledging that there are others who can help along life's journey. However, the singer emphasizes that what they are looking for is already happening inside the brilliant room. The mention of a "mirrorball that's in shambles" suggests that outside of the room, there may be chaos and destruction, but inside is where true healing and positivity can be found.

Overall, the lyrics to "Brilliant Room" depict a sense of sanctuary and safety found in the presence of love. The unknown parts of the world outside are acknowledged, but ultimately the power of the love inside the room is what matters most.

Line by Line Meaning

Outside this brilliant room, are parts unknown
Beyond this wonderful place, lies unexplored territory

But your love is all I need right now, to get me home
However, your love is sufficient to guide me towards my destination for now

Through these life's windows, And separating all the angels; My mind starts to wander; pearls slip by outside this brilliant room
As I peer through the windows of existence, separating the celestial beings, my mind drifts away; valuable opportunities, just out of reach, pass me by.

Inside this brilliant room, you speak to me. Your love is capturing my soul, it's gonna rescue me
Inside this fantastic space, you converse with me, and your love captivates my essence, providing salvation

Through these life's windows, And separating all the angels; My mind starts to linger, Pearls slip through my fingers
As I peer through the windows of existence, dividing the celestial beings, my mind lingers; missed opportunities slip away from me.

I can't remember, but it doesn't really even matter The promise tomorrow is healing the sorrow
Although I cannot recollect my past, it is irrelevant; tomorrow offers the possibility of hope and happiness

And in these life's issues, there's someone there to assist you And what you might look for, Is happening inside this brilliant room
Despite the difficulties I encounter in living, assistance is available. The thing I seek might be right here, inside this magnificent place.

Through these life's windows, And separating all the angels; My mind starts to linger, Pearls slip through my fingers I can't remember, but it doesn't really even matter The promise tomorrow is healing the sorrow
As I peer through the windows of existence, dividing the celestial beings, my mind lingers; missed opportunities slip away from me. Although I cannot recollect my past, it is irrelevant; tomorrow offers the possibility of hope and happiness.

And in these life's issues, There's someone there to assist you; And what you might look for, Is happening on the in door And the curtain gets trampled, By the mirror ball that's in shambles
Despite the challenges of everyday existence, help is available. The thing you seek might be right in front of you, and the fabric partition is trampled by the shattered disco ball.

Inside this brilliant room Inside this brilliant room
Within this fantastic space, Within this fantastic space.

Contributed by Tyler O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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