Erik "Neil" Torjesen

"Erik is truly one of the greatest guitarists I've ever heard or worked with and a real gentleman."

Artist Samples:
Touchdown - Real Player or MP3
Fingers - Real Player or MP3

My initial plan for launching Cali Productions was to help manage/promote original artists trying to get gigs and record label attention. Boy did I learn a lot with this exercise. Artist management is a full time job for any of you "would be" managers of local bands out there. It's much more work than I imagined or bargained for but I learned quite a bit about the music business. As a musician myself, i handled all the public relations and contracts for my old bands like the Soultons, B.B.Wolfe and Make it Happen.

My first original artist project was a great one, Erik Torjesen. Erik was truly one of the greatest guitarists I've ever heard or worked with and a real gentleman.

The Erik Torjesen band was a combination of blues, jazz fusion and rock.

His influences include, Van Halen, Larry Carlton, Robben Ford and Yngwie Malmsteen. His first cd appropriately titled, "fingers" was well received in the bay area and sold well at Erik's gigs. I sent out many to the record labels both indie and majors. While they liked Erik's playing after two years of promotion I still couldn't get him the all elusive record deal. Truth is, there are other notable great guitarists such as Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton and Joe Satriani who have their deals. They are not better guitar players than Erik Torjesen, maybe just luckier.

I did however get Erik endorsements with Dean Markley and Gibson guitars.

In 1995 I went with the band to Kona, Hawaii where they opened for Gladys Knight for a Sun Microsystems party. The band did great job and Erik's playing was outstanding, the crowd was very impressed.

A few of the band's best local gigs included stints at New George's in San Raphael where they opened for, Leon Russell, Frank Gambale and the Dixie Dregs with Steve Morse.

In 1999 Erik landed a great job with Mickey Thomas and Starship. Sadly, Erik passed away of cancer in March of 2001. He was truly a gifted guitarist and someone I considered a dear and personal friend. I owe him a lot for allowing me to work at a level of musical performance I may never have been exposed to had I not taken on his project. Enjoy the sound samples, Erik put his heart and soul into these songs. Unfortunately for the world there won't be any new songs coming but his legacy will live on. Thanks Erik for everything. My business exists in part due to you and my life is definitely richer for having known you.