Erica Case
Erica Case
I'm Erica Case.
I play Rock 'N Roll rhythm guitar.
I was taught to play acoustic guitar at the age of 12 by my grandmother and long time musician, Bessie Lanning. I got my first electric guitar and amp when I was 13 and have been playing over ever since.
Bessie toured in the 1960s with country music duo Carl & Pearl Butler and was a musical guest on Ernest Tubb's Midnite Jamboree countless times as you'll read more about her below. My grandfather was Floyd Lanning, guitarist to Marty Robbins on his debut singles. His bio is on the next page. My mother is Tara Lanning who is a singer as well and you can find her links on the contact page.
With all that colorful musical background I have chosen to follow in suit somewhere between Joan Jett and Hank Williams with a little bit of Tammy Wynette and Kitty Wells in between.
Aside from some good friends that are talented musicians, I have never had a steady band.
I believe if you want something done, you just do it for yourself, and that's what I've been doing for past 15 years now.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Bessie Lanning
This is my grandmother, Bessie Lanning.
She is a legend in her own right.
From growing up poor in the hills of West Virginia, she ran away to the big city of Cleveland, Ohio and made a business for herself as a cosmetologist and owner of her own hair salon. There she met my grandfather and fellow musician Floyd Lanning.
My grandparents Bessie and Floyd had my mom, Tara in 1967, and moved with Marty Robbins to his farm in Franklin, TN shortly after. During the time they spent living there, both my grandparents were trying to make something of themselves in the country music world with some small success.
My grandmother, Bessie, was self-taught from a young age bare foot playing on a 5 string guitar on her front porch in West Virginia. She started her musical career there by singing on local radio stations at 17. She went to do bigger things once moving to Nashville, TN, such as being an opener on tour for Country Music Hall-Of-Fame-rs Carl & Pearl Butler and singing on Ernest Tubb's famous Midnite Jamboree countless times.
Neither of my grandparents ever got a real break in country music. But despite the tough events in their lives, they left their own amazing musical legacies behind.
My grandmother inherited my grandfather's guitar after his death in 1993 and played music for over 60 years until her death at 80 years old. I am thankful every day for all she taught me and now I am the proud owner of that immensely special instrument.
Check out my grandmother's badass EP of songs she wrote through the 60's and 70's!
Please check out our podcast my grandmother Bessie and I did for 2 years!
We talked country music, rock 'n roll, Nashville and interviewed celebrities!
CLICK the photo TO LISTEN!
