Bill Carter & Eric Apoe

Out of Austin, Texas, Bill Carter and Ruth Ellsworth have been writing songs together for more than three decades. Their hits cover a broad range from Stevie Ray Vaughan’s only Number 1 song “Crossfire” to the theme song for the King of the Hill Christmas Episode, “Ballad of Hank Hill.”

They have written country hits as well as songs for major motion pictures, such as “From Dusk Till Dawn”, “The Secret Life of David Gale” and “Once Upon a Time in Mexico.”

Their songs have been recorded by artists such as The Stray Cats, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robert Palmer, Counting Crows, Waylon Jennings, The Derailers, Ruth Brown, John Anderson,Toni Price, Storyville, Omar and the Howler, Brian Setzer Orchestra plus many others. Upwards of 200 different artists have recorded the dynamic writing teams’ songs.

Bill and Ruth are currently working on various television projects and with other songwriting frineds and artists. They received the BMI “Million Airs” Award for over 2 million airplays for their Stevie Ray Vaughan mega-hit “Crossfire.”

Ruth won't be at the Red Bike for this trip, but Bill Carter will play solo and it is not to be missed, this guy can rock the house. Along with Bill will be Eric Apoe, who makes his home in Seattle.

The experience of Eric Apoe is a walk through a cinematic time capsule, his lyrical masterworks chill the soul and enlighten the mind. Comparisons to Tennessee Williams, Johnny Mercer, Mark Twain, Hank Williams, Dickens or Dylan are as appropriate as Billie Holiday, Eric Burden or Bob Marley.

A Seattle born songwriter, composer and musician, with a genre blending musical aptitude that spans Jazz, Symphonic, Rock and Folk. Apoe spent a number of years touring with Cajun Fiddler, Doug Kershaw, developing a lifelong passion for American Roots music. As a staff writer for Chappell Music, Apoe co-wrote and worked alongside Tim Harden (If I was a Carpenter, Reason to Believe, Misty Roses), and Ron Davies, (It Ain't Easy, recorded by David Bowie). He also gained support and encouragement from two music industry legends, Tom Dowd and John Hammond Sr.

To date Apoe has released 5 CD’s with his band ‘Eric Apoe and They’ and is working his 6th album, along with producing a Pacific North West tribute to Ron Davies, due out in the spring of 2011. Currently, Apoe is writing with Saar Liven, an Israeli singer/songwriter and producing a CD for Tommy Dean, a young Seattle songwriter who is wise beyond his years.

Eric Apoe’s years of dedication and craftsmanship are clearly hewn into his pieces, with an ever adapting style and constant refinement that speaks to the heart of a true musician and rings in the soul of the listener. With poetic force and humorous paradox, Apoe is a Leonard Cohen for the Age of Unreality. Eric Apoe regularly performs in the Seattle area. All Ages til 11pm, 21+ after that.