Erin Harkes is an American singer-songwriter.

Music career

Harkes is known in the Albany area, having been named among the Capital District's best musicians by both the '' Albany Times-Union'' and '' Metroland''. She also regularly teams up with the Albany-based band Sirsy. In 2004, Harkes teamed up with

Albany, NY Albany ( ) is the State capital (United States), capital of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, also the county seat, seat and largest city of Albany County, New York, Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, abo ...

-based band Folding Sky to enter the 2004 Colossal Contender Blues Competition, which they won giving them a shot to compete in Memphis. In addition, she has opened for acts such as the

10,000 Maniacs 10,000 Maniacs is an American alternative rock band that was founded in 1981. They have released nine studio albums, six EPs, and five live albums. They achieved their most significant success between 1987 and 1993, when they released four album ...

and Company of Thieves. On April 7, 2010, Harkes was chosen from the audience to participate in a "Battle of the Instant Bands" on

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon ''Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by comedian Jimmy Fallon. About pag ...

. Erin spent twenty minutes with her impromptu band, the "Fallon Angels," and put together a winning song they called "Free Jimmy."

Personal life

Harkes grew up in Middleburgh, New York. When she was young, her parents formed a pipe band. She started playing the bass drum in it when she was 13, and later she was recruited to play in the pipe band at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, North Carolina, where she recorded her first CD during her senior year. Upon graduating in 2000, Harkes moved to Albany. Her first job was driving an ice-cream truck. As of June 2011, in addition to her music career, she maintains a full-time day job as a data entry clerk for Albany County Child Protective Services. Erin is first cousin to

National Soccer Hall of Fame The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 and currently located in Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The Hall of Fame honors soccer achievements in the United States. Induction ...

John Harkes John Andrew Harkes (born March 8, 1967) is an American soccer coach and former professional player who is the head coach of Greenville Triumph SC. A member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Harkes was the first American ever to play in the ...

. On June 14, 2008, Harkes' older sister was killed in a wreck caused by a drunk driver. The death of her sister led Harkes to begin drinking heavily. In a 2011 interview, Harkes says, "I was always definitely fond of the drink... y sister's deathjust gave me an excuse." She eventually sought help and stopped drinking in late 2010.

Discography

* ''Bar Napkins and Magic Markers'' * ''Live at the Elbow Room, NYC'' (2002) * ''Rough'' (2003) with The Rebound * ''Special I Am'' (2006)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Harkes, Erin 1977 births American women singer-songwriters Living people Singer-songwriters from New York (state) 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American singers