• Erick’s Beginnings
Born in Owen Sound . Erick, along with his sister and three younger
brothers, spent their growing up years in small southwestern Ontario towns.
In 1961, the Traplin family moved to Waterloo and Erick has been living in
the Kitchener-Waterloo area ever since. Today, Erick lives outside of St
Clements – a small, friendly town with his lovely wife, Ruth, their dog Blue and cats
Willie, Shadow and Vinnie
• Performing from a Young Age
His mother says, "Erick used to sing away in his crib for hours in the morning, entertaining himself, and anyone else who was listening…". At 15, Erick won a ukulele and learned to play a few chords. He soon graduated to his father’s guitar, and eventually bought himself a secondhand electric guitar and amplifier. Erick developed his singing voice as a member of various church and school choirs. His enthusiasm and talent for anything musical grew quickly -- Erick soon realized that music would play a big part in his life.
• Strong Family Values
Erick’s passion for music was strongly influenced by his parents. They taught him the importance of family values and encouraged him to use his music to strengthen the bonds of family and friends. Erick and his family often played at special occasions, where his father would get out his guitar and his mother would sing beautiful harmonies.
• Going Pro
In 1989, Erick decided to make music his full-time career and has never looked back. That year, he played his first show as a professional children’s performer in Walkerton. Since then, Erick has been sharing his appreciation and love for music with children, parents and educators all across Ontario -- at schools, fairs, libraries, daycare centres, picnics, music festivals, and community and corporate events.
• Songwriter & Producer
Erick has become adept at arranging, recording, and producing his own music – and he’s given some aspiring musicians the
chance to experience recording their own demos.
Erick’s songwriting projects:
2016 - Released 9th CD "My Magic Carpet" with a real audience
favourite "You can't catch Me" "My Magic Carpet" an ode to books,
"We're Going To The Zoo" and many more.
LYRICS 2011 - Released 8th CD "Blast Off"- Featuring "Blast Off" about
taking a trip to outer space. A real cute little song "Five Little
Kittens". You can dance along to "Don't Mind if I do", "Say La, La", and
"Clap Your Hands" Learn about the Green Bin Programme on "It's Easy Being
Green" and more! Sure to be a favourite:)
LYRICS 2011 - Released 3rd book "Plucky
The Persistent little Hen" This is Erick's second collaboration with
illustrator Maryam Kaffi. It's a wonderful story and shows how important
being persistent and persevering are in attaining your goals.
2010 - Released 7th CD/Book "Sign & Sing" in partnership with sign language instructor
Leslie Lang and illustrator Maryam Kafi. A book and cd combination to enhance the teaching of sign language to hearing children.
2009 - Released a CD of his most requested pub songs aptly named"Most Requested"
LYRICS 2009 - Released 6th CD of original songs "A Little More" On it you'll find The "Chicken Song" which will be part of a new international cartoon coming out in the summer of 2010 called "Planet Sheen"
LYRICS
2008
- Released his first DVD "Live At The Registry Theatre". Erick's
show filmed at The Registry Theatre in Kitchener.
2006
- Released his fifth CD "Pick It Up" of original and traditional songs
dealing with environment, respect and just plain fun. "It's playing in the
car all the time"
LYRICS
2002 - Released his fourth CD "Bubbles" A collection of original and traditional songs that kids absolutely love.
LYRICS
2001 - Released his third children's CD "The Christmas Mouse" a family oriented Christmas CD. "my kids are still playing it ...and it's July!"
LYRICS
2000 - Wrote four songs for "Kids Ability" (formerly The Rotary Children's Centre" and compiled a CD of children’s songs, called Kids' Can't Wait... For Your Helping Hand. So far, the CD has raised approximately $15,000 for the Centre.
1998 - Released his second children’s tape (now on CD!) called, "Songs for the Young and Young at Heart". The feedback from
kids and parents has been great: "My kids play it all the time", "It’s cool", and "I love it!".
LYRICS
1993 - Released his first children’s tape (now on CD!) of original music called, "Behind My Attic Door". It’s been received with comments like, "My kids just love it", "They won’t go in the car with out it", "It’s great", and "It’s my kids favorite
tape".
LYRICS
• Author
Erick has 3 children's books.
-"The Christmas Mouse", - "Sign & Sing"
a book/cd, -"Plucky The Persistent Little Hen"
• Notable Events
•
Has his own Children's TV show on Rogers TV 20
• A Recipient of the
Governor Generals Caring Canadian Award • A Recipient of the Kitchener Waterloo Arts Award
• A Recipient of the Butterfly Award as an outstanding supporter of
KidsAbility
Erick has performed at these major events:
• Emceed and played for Toonie Tuesdays now Discovery Square at Kitchener City
Hall for the past 22 years. A family show that runs every Tuesday
evening during the month of July.
• Emceed and played for Kitcheners Festival of the Night for the past 12 years - A fun-filled family oriented New Year’s celebration at Kitchener City Hall.
• A regular performer at Santa's Village for the past 15 years
• Keynote Performer for Kindergarten Teacher Conference in Toronto, Ontario
• Toddle For Tots a fund raiser for Ronald MacDonald House,
• Erick has also appeared on C.K.C.O. TV’s McLean and Company, Town and Country, Sunday A.M. and the "Daytime Show" on
Roger's Television.
• Labrador Arts Festival, Special Guest in Lynn Lake Manitoba, Sandy Lake
Ontario, Santa's Village in Bracebridge Ontario, Halifax Nova Scotia
Library tour, Montreal, Oshawa, Kingston, Peterborough, Chatham, Forest,
Tilsonburg, Caledonia, Toronto, Oakville, Mississauga, Brampton, Bradford,
Brantford, Simcoe, Sudbury Summerfest, Owen Sound and many many more cities and
towns throughout Eastern Canada
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