Eric Normand is a professional freelance guitarist living in Nashville Tennessee and is currently the tour manager, band leader, and lead guitarist for country music artist and songwriter Rhett Akins.

Shortly after his arrival in Nashville in 2002, Eric, a Berklee Alumni and New England native, landed his first touring job as a guitar tech on the Toby Keith Shock N’ Y’ All Tour. Following his stint with Toby, Eric worked as a guitarist on the Honky Tonk Tailgate Party tour playing guitar behind Rhett Akins, Daryle Singletary, Chad Brock, and Jeff Carson nightly. After the breakup of this package tour in 2005, Eric stayed on with Rhett.

Eric has performed in every state in the Continental US as well as performances in Canada, France, and Switzerland. He has worked on the Grand Ole Opry, the Tonight Show, the Jimmy Kimmel Show, and The View, and has performed on stage with Toby Keith, Blake Shelton, Vern Gosden, Jamey Johnson, Colt Ford, Oteil Burbridge (Allman Brothers), Joe Nichols, Trent Tomlinson, Trent Willmon, Andy Griggs, Wade Hayes, Wayne Jackson (Memphis Horns) and Phil Keaggy. Some of Eric’s original compositions have been licensed to the television shows “Real Trees Road Trips”, “The Tommy Wilcox Show”, and the documentary “Chef de Riz” by award winning filmmaker Jeremy Campbell.

In addition to performing on numerous Nashville recording sessions as a freelance musician, Eric works as a producer and engineer in his own recording studio, Music On a Hill. Located 20 minutes west of downtown Nashville, the studio is available for songwriter demos and custom projects. Eric is also available for live performances, session work, guitar lessons, and writing projects.