Ernie Halter

Drawing from icons across pop and soul—the Beatles, Elton John, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, and the Go-Go’s—Californian Ernie Halter first drew notice when he issued his 2005 collection Lo-Fidelity. The singer-songwriter launched his career in 1992 with modest coffeehouse appearances that leaned heavily on covers. He sustained a living as a working musician while concealing his own songwriting, steadily paying dues by refining material in off-hours and performing at small venues to stay visible and refine his craft. Online word-of-mouth, especially through early MySpace communities, gradually amplified his profile. By the 2007 arrival of Congress Hotel on Rock Ridge Music, the buzz had grown substantial enough for the resolutely independent artist to embark on extensive tours across the United States.