- I have to admit that this is a gift.

This is something that I've been gifted to do, and my allegiance will always be to God.

I can play all styles of music, but my roots will always be in gospel, total praise.

That song has been the anthem and it just kind of wraps up everything in a great big bow.

I have to give him total praise for how far he's brought me through - To watch and listen.

As Eric Taylor plays can be transformative, his energy high, his moves athletic as he allows the music to transport him.

It's hard to - Describe.

You become one with the music.

You become one with the instrument, and it takes over when you allow yourself to be free and just to play.

Don't worry about anybody, just play the music as it comes and it's given to you.

And I think that's what happens.

And so I'm not even aware of what's all going on until someone may show me a, a tape or something and I'm like, oh, I didn't even know that happened.

It encaptures me and I just flow with - Whatever's happening.

Surprisingly, Eric's journey didn't begin when he was little, or even in middle school.

I started - Playing violin around the age of 14.

A choir director at my church was also a music instructor and she had a vision of me playing and she said, I want you to try this.

And she gave me my first violin, and that's where it began.

I'm an only child, and so it, it gave me a, a bit of something to try.

It was a bit of a challenge and I wanted to see what I could do with it.

And also, I was introduced to the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and I was inspired by watching just all of them play together in the collective sound.

And it just encouraged me that, you know what?

I can do this too.

I played cello actually in high school.

It was the only instrument left, so I started with cello and I was introduced to violin.

Later after high school, I went on to college, Virginia Commonwealth University, and I pursued music as a minor and I wanted to be a journalist as my major, but it just got to be where the violin and the music just took over and I began to travel.

So I actually ended up pursuing the violin as my career choice around the age of 22 or 23, I began to be passionate about the music and I felt connected to it in such a way, and I really felt like this is no longer a challenge.

This is actually fun.

My favorite jazz song, I like Misty, but there are so many that I also love in the jazz genre, - Just - Holding your hand.

I saw how it brought happiness to my audience and the stories and the inspiration of their children and older alike.

It just made me feel like this is really my purpose.

I love to feel that they are feeling what I'm feeling and that the message that I'm trying to portray to them is being received.

It's really beyond what I can describe in words.

I love people and I'm passionate about what I do.

I'm very happy and satisfied with myself and my life direction, and I hope that I'm inspiring someone.

I'm, I'm hoping that I bring a smile to someone's face and that I encourage them to utilize their own gifts.

We all have something that's given to us that's unique to us that we can do, and only we can do like we do it.

It has been so incredible the places that I've been able to go.

I've most recently played in Dubai.

I toured in Germany and France, Trinidad, Tobago, London, The Bahamas, all across the country.

And I have an invitation to go to Australia, and so that will be my next abroad - Trip.

The father of two daughters and two sons.

Eric and his wife Angela always makes sure they take time for family and each other.

- My wife Angela, who's a great support, my number one cheerleader, she's always with me as much as she can be.

I've got a grandson, so gonna spend some time with him.

I like my parents and caring for them, just kind of finding things to do that unwind from the music genre for balance, traveling, vacationing, - Just to do that.

And even though he's never had a lesson, Eric says he never stops learning.

With my - Latest trip to Dubai, I dressed in their traditional garments to play and I wasn't sure exactly what I should play, but I'm glad I had the experience.

It, it went super well, and I was in invited to go back in April.

I like that.

That's what keeps it fun and interesting.

Next time I'll learn some of their language and begin to interact with some of the locals that way the right moments are always crazy.

They will literally bring tears to my eyes when you see something and it just went so right.

The wrong things are cool too because they, they help me to grow.

They help me to remain centered, and it keeps me humble to say it's not gonna be perfect all the time.

I'm not a technical violinist.

I play from heart and feel, and so things are going to happen and it's not what happens to you, but how you respond to what happens to you, and that's a lifelong journey.