Erik Visser

Erik Visser was born in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Visser family moved back to Holland when Erik was almost four years old. He grew up in the south of Holland, close to the Belgian border. He started guitar lessons when he was nine in the local village pub using his father's old jazz guitar. A year later Erik began guitar lessons with classical guitarist Benny Ludemann and played in the mandoline orchestra Estrelita conducted by his teacher.

Erik left school in 1970 and studied architecture at the University of Delft until 1979. During this period he started a band called Golliwogg. During an Irish tour with Irish-American singer Coleen Kelly, Erik met Antoinette Hensey. Antoinette and Erik married in 1977 and moved to Holland where they had two children, Anna and Tom.
Between 1977 and 1982 Erik studied musical theory and composition with Wim Witteman of the Conservatory of Utrecht.
In 1978 he formed the group Flairck with his brother Hans, flautist Peter Weekers and violinist Judy Schomper. The group quickly became successful and Erik, who had by then moved back to Ireland, toured all over the world with the band.
In 1985 Erik Visser wrote and produced the album "Tired and Emotional" (platinum 1986) for the Irish singer Mary Coughlan, who became successful in Ireland and internationally. He worked with Mary on six further albums. Erik has also produced for Gavin Friday and several Dutch artists including the young gipsy band Basily.
In 2003 Erik recorded his first solo album, "One Man Parade". From 2004 until 2006 he played solo concerts in Holland, Belgium, Mexico and Poland.
In 2006 Erik was guest lecturer of music-theatre at the Royal Conservatory of Utrecht.
Flairck remained the most important initiative in Erik's career and over the last 30 years he has been both the musical and organisational director of the group, which has played over 2000 concerts and released 20 albums. In 2007 Erik reunited the founder members of Flairck for a 60 date tour, Reunion.
During the second half of 2007 Erik developed the concept for the 2008 STEAM ENGINE WALTZ tour and constructed (in cooperation with the Netherlands Bookorgan Centre and Decap Herenthals Organ Builders) the Flairckestrion, a large mechanically playing street-organ instrument.