Sully Erna
| Sully Erna | |
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Sully Erna at the World Series of Poker in 2006.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Salvatore Paul Erna |
| Born | February 7, 1968 |
| Origin | Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Universal, Republic |
| Associated acts |
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| Website | sullyerna |
| Notable instruments | |
| Sully Erna Les Paul Studio | |
Salvatore Paul "Sully" Erna (born February 7, 1968) is the American vocalist and guitarist for the American hard rock band Godsmack. He is also a harmonica player, percussionist and pianist, performing these on albums and at live shows. He was ranked 47th in the Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists by Hit Parader.
Sully was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He began playing drums at the age of three. His father, Salvatore Erna, was a trumpet player and would rehearse in the basement where Sully would watch and fall asleep in an empty guitar case. His granduncle was a famous composer in Sicily, where every year they honor his music and his pictures are hung in a museum. At the age of 11, he discovered that it was easier for him to listen to something and play it than read sheet music. He stopped taking lessons and practiced at home, rehearsing to records by Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Motörhead and Rush.
At 14, Dave Vose became his new instructor. He signed his first record deal in 1993 with a band called Strip Mind. Their debut album What's in Your Mouth sold fewer than 50,000 units. Then some of the band members (mainly the singer) and Erna didn't get along, and he was booted out. They split-up shortly after. In Godsmack concerts he plays the bongos and a large drum set, staging a drumming duel known as Batalla de los Tambores with drummer Shannon Larkin. This battle has become a staple of the band's live show. He is also a harmonica player as present on the Godsmack song "Shine Down." In 2010, Sully released his first solo album Avalon (Sully Erna album). The album took seven years to complete and differed stylistically from Godsmack. Sully wrapped up his acoustic tour with one final show at The House of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 28.
Erna has also worked with his local music scene. In April 2005, Sully participated in New Hampshire's Battle of the Bands Competition. The winner (a band called Zion who hails from Salem) had the opportunity to record a demo at Sully's California studio.
Erna told Glam-Metal.com that doing his first solo shows were "extremely nerve-wracking," adding, "My first show, I was really, really nervous. Honestly, I haven't been that nervous since I was, I don't know, maybe 10 years old at a talent show or something." Erna kicked off his first solo acoustic trek on 1 May in Niagara Falls, New York and closed it out on May 31 in Las Vegas. The shows have combined Godsmack songs with a few new originals and covers ranging from The Beatles to Alice in Chains to the theme from Love Story.
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