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Show Teacher is professional country singer By LUKE L EONARI) Combine a local . fourth grade teacher and country singer and what do you have. In this case you have Susan Erickson. Erickson started singing as a hobby in her father's band as a backup signer and she gradually worked her way up to a professional career. She has been a professional singer for 15 years. "Its something I've always wanted to do and I have been lucky enough to have the talent for it," she said. Erickson's singing career has taken her to the far corners of the world. Her travels include trips to the Far East, the Carribean and Europe. She often goes on USO tours, and says she has flown in almost every type of aircraft imaginable, including helicopters with open doors. Besides being a singer Erickson also participates in musicals. She thinks that being in musicals goes along with her professional singing career, and has performed in clubs and at benefits in this area. Professional performing is not without its embarassing moments though. While performing a leading part in a musical at Park City Erickson had a cold. "When I started the song I sounded like a frog and everyone there cracked up," she said. Recently, she returned from a concert with Roy Rogers Jr. in California and while there recorded a song called "Lady Liberty" in commemoration of the Statue of Liberty. One of her goals is to be on the spot of up and coming female country vocalists on the Country Music Academy Awards. Other hobbies of Erickson are playing the piano and guitar. She writes some of her own music but most of it she gets from publishing companies. Along with being a singer she also teaches fourth grade and is not yet sure whether or not she wants to stop teaching to become a full time singer. "I really like doing both things. Sometimes it's hard to decide," she says. Erickson credits much of her recent success to Steve Konder, her m anager. "My manager is the one who I believe is responsible for my .development and . success ... as .a professional singer," she said. Erickson's future in the music industry is looking good. She currently has a contract with East-West East-West Productions and a recording contract with Star Productions. Whether in the classroom, or on the stage, Susan Erickson is one person who's talents will go a long way towards reaching her goals. |