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AN INTERVIEW BY PETER BENSON
Chuck Coulter on "For A Life"

With the release of “For A Life,” producer Chuck Coulter shares his inspiration for putting this compilation of 11 local artists together to honor the work of one of the best-loved music people in New Mexico – producer, engineer and friend to all Eric Larson. We sat down in Chuck’s home-based studio near Old Town and talked about the qualities that made Eric so special.

PB: What was it about Eric’s life that motivated you to take on a project of this magnitude?

Chuck: “He was not only an amazing engineer...he was completely upfront about everything he was...his spiritual walk, his professional walk, his personal walk. That’s what had been the common bond with anyone that has crossed paths with Eric. He had the ability to make people reach way down into themselves. He would strive to get the very most out of an artist’s ability. He was very un-intimidating, very open about what he needed (from artists), he had a way of coaxing that out. When I started to share with people what I wanted to (with this CD), they were immediately moved – to tears in some cases – and before I could get the words out of my mouth they were saying – yeah, absolutely! So, first and foremost I wanted to honor Eric as my friend, and to do for him what he would have done for us.”

PB: How did the variety of these artist’s songs come together for you?

Chuck: “Rather than re-record, we wanted to present what Eric had actually touched, and it’s so remarkable! With this CD there’s this connection, this vibe that all these pieces have, and that connection is Eric. The cross-section of the different artists, different kinds of music...he had a way of bringing it out, connected by the love and persona that is Eric.”

PB: The lead track on “For A Life” is a new song from Cindy de la Fe. Tell me about the impact of that song.

Chuck: “I cried my head off the first time I heard it. She played the first couple of bars and I totally lost it. The words that came from her pen became the person of Eric in her expression. Those words perfectly describe Eric.”

For a life of faith
A Heart better than gold
For his sure and steady strength
Determination untold
I stop to reflect
On the mark that he left
Upon so many lives
It brings the tears to my eyes
A precious gift from God
An amazing life he lived
I have become more
Because he chose
To give, to love, to serve, to stand
With all that he had
- Cindy de la Fe

PB: You also included a hymn on the CD, completely rearranged by Andy Cook. Was that a favorite of Eric’s?

Chuck: “Eric was going in for some very serious surgery. The doctors told him it was 50/50 coming out, and to probably make arrangements if he didn’t make it. Eric did exactly that and he told them who he wanted at his memorial service, and music and so forth. His favorite song is “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” and he said ‘I want Andy to sing it because Andy just moves me with that song.’ It was his request, so having that song on this CD was essential, not to mention what a totally unique version of that song it is.”

PB: What do you hope is accomplished through the release of this compilation?

Chuck: “I want people to be able to identify with Eric, with the music that brings people together. The cross-section of different styles is as much about connecting people that never knew him, as it is for those of us that did love him. Our goal is to do great things in the coming years with the legacy that Eric created. This won’t be the last CD, but the first in a series of stylings that Eric did. I think the next one will be even more culturally and musically diverse. We’ll have some of the symphony stuff he did, some of the PBS and concert series. We want people to know how broad his spectrum was.”

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Frank Horner and Nanette Ely-Davies, Publishers | Rick Huff, Editor-at-Large