Las Colinas Music, Inc.
Eric "Scorch" Scortia

Musician

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Biography

ERIC “SCORCH” SCORTIA

With the passing of legends like Jimmy Smith and Jack McDuff in the past decade, Eric Scortia  is one of a small handful of heirs to the rich legacy of the Hammond B3 organ – the source of a shimmering and hypnotic sound that has permeated R&B, jazz, blues, soul, gospel, funk, pop, rock and country music for more than a half-century. While some artists specialize in one or two of these varied styles, Scortia has firmly positioned himself as not only a master of them all, but an innovator who borrows from each and creates mesmerizing hybrids that defy any quick and easy categories. This combination of versatility and ingenuity is the driving force behind The Tone Generator, Scortia’s new album released on his own Organ-Ized Records. Aided by a three-man crew whose individual credentials span several decades and a host of prominent affiliations, Scortia reinterprets a variety of jazz and pop standards – along with a few lesser-known nuggets – and filters them all through his infectious groove-oriented perspective. While the list of songwriters featured within the album’s eleven tracks ranges from Chester Thompson to Aretha Franklin to Bobbie Gentry to Oscar Hammerstein, Scortia lives up to his nickname of “The Scorch” by turning up the heat, leaving an unmistakable mark, and making every piece of music he touches his own.

“This record is a snapshot of some great material written by other songwriters,” says Scorch. “Some of the songs are well known and others are a little off the beaten path, but all of it is infused with the classic B3 sound. These songs have become a very important – and very popular – part of our live set over the past few years.”

The Tone Generator is the latest chapter in a multi-faceted career that has cemented Scorch’s reputation as an A-list songwriter, performer, solo artist and session player – not just in and around the Texas music circuit that has been his base of operations and his home for most of his life, but on the national and international scene as well. After years of playing with the best, he has himself come to be regarded as one of the best.

The grandson of Romanian immigrants – arrivals from a culture long known for its exotic and diverse gypsy music – Scorch was born and raised in Massillon, Ohio, a tough, working-class town located about sixty miles south of Cleveland, the Midwestern “heart of rock and roll.” Unlike most keyboard students who study piano first and then switch to organ, he gravitated immediately to the B3 from the age of five. At ten, he witnessed the visceral energy of gospel and country music when he saw Johnny and June Carter Cash perform at a Pentecostal church in a nearby town – an experience he marvels at to this day. His other early influences were numerous and diverse – from jazz and R&B greats like the aforementioned Smith and McDuff to keyboardists like Larry Young, Brian Auger, Billy Preston, Jan Hammer and Deep Purple’s Jon Lord.

Shortly after high school, Scorch moved with his family to the Lone Star State, which has been his home ever since. He enrolled at the University of North Texas and studied music for a few years but didn’t finish right away, opting instead to take a position as a keyboard clinician for a musical instrument manufacturer – a lucrative gig that had him performing at trade shows all over the country, and clinics at schools and universities.

He toured briefly with Delbert McClinton in the mid-1980s, until Texas blues guitarist Omar Dykes – frontman for Omar and the Howlers, newly signed to Columbia at the time – invited him to join the band on their Hard Times in the Land of Plenty tour, based on a recommendation by Stevie Ray Vaughan. He logged in about 200 dates per year with Omar and the Howlers, opening for Vaughan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and other powerhouse blues-rock bands of the day. All the while, he managed to hold together his own band, play a few gigs here and there as a frontman, and continue developing his own material.

By the end of the ‘90s, Scorch had finished with Omar and the Howlers and landed a gig with Fort Worth-based tenor saxophonist Johnny Reno, who’d already established himself as the frontman for the Sax Maniacs, mainstays of the Texas roadhouse rock and blues circuit. Scorch and Reno assembled a band called The Lounge Kings, a neo-swing combo that toured extensively and electrified U.S. and European audiences with a spectacular live show.

In the midst of these various affiliations – and the relentless gigging and touring that came with them – Scorch established a solo recording career on the Heads Up label with the 1993 release of A Night on the Town, followed by Vital Organ in 1996. He parted with Heads Up a few years later and launched his own label, Organ-Ized Records, where he released Singled Out in 2004 – an album that featured the lineup of guitarist Henry Johnson, drummer Greg Rockingham and saxophonist Marchel Ivery.

By the early years of the new decade, Scorch had established himself as a vibrant and diverse stage performer, a prolific songwriter, a highly skilled studio artist, a savvy business owner, educator and a voting member of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences (home of the Grammys). Along the way, he has remained open to the influences of B3 virtuosos of previous generations by spending time at the keyboard bench alongside masters like Jimmy Smith, Lonny Smith, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Joey DeFrancesco, Billy Preston, Steve Winwood, Chuck Leavell, Brian Auger and Reese Wynans.

He has built a state-of-the-art recording studio in his Dallas home, where he does session work for his and other artists’ projects. He is featured in Mark Koster’s Texas Music (2000) and both editions of Mark Vail’s The Hammond Organ: The Beauty in the B3 (1997 and 2002), and has worked on film and TV projects with Robert Rodriguez, Robert Altman and other high-profile directors.

Despite these and other accomplishments, a bit of unfinished business continued to bother him. “A few years ago, I was sitting in my house, which is pretty close to the University of North Texas,” he recalls, “and I was thinking that the campus was only a stone’s throw away. I decided it was time to go back and finish my degree. At that point, it was personal. I used to say that if I didn’t go back and get that degree, it would bother me all the way to the grave. I finally just decided to go and get it done.”

He did so in 2007, but the academic milestone was not a finish line by any means. As far as Scorch is concerned, there’s always more ground to cover and more artistic territory to be explored. While The Tone Generator is currently his primary focus, he’s already written and recorded songs for all-original rock- and jazz-oriented albums to be released over the next two years. It’s part of his ongoing ambition to embrace and master as wide a segment of the musical experience as possible.

“I never wanted to be pigeonholed,” he says. “Music is like the wind, almost like a spiritual thing. You can’t just grab a hold of it. You can write notes on paper, you can record a CD, but the music itself is all around us all the time. So if that’s the case, why limit yourself by saying that you’re just a jazz musician or just a blues-rock musician or whatever? If I can cover a lot of different genres, and do it all with my own sound – to the point where someone can listen to it and say, ‘Yeah, that sounds like Scorch’ – then that’s just the way I would prefer it.”

  • James Fairchild Avatar
    We had the pleasure of working with Eric to tune and service our newly-acquired, antique Cable Nelson baby grand, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. From the moment he arrived, it was clear he had a deep respect and passion for the instrument.Not only did he tune the piano beautifully, but he also went above and beyond by thoroughly cleaning it, raising the pitch to proper concert level, adjusting the hinge for safety, and tightening the tuning pins to ensure long-term stability. It now sounds vibrant, balanced, and better than we ever expected for an older instrument.His communication, attention to detail, professionalism, and care made all the difference. It’s rare to find someone who treats your piano like it’s their own, and that’s exactly what he did. Highly recommend his services to anyone looking to breathe new life into their instrument!
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    James Fairchild 5/21/2025 Google Logo
    Whitney Cameron Avatar
    Eric is truly a master of his craft! He took such great care of our piano—his attention to detail and expertise were evident from the moment he arrived. Not only did he tune the piano beautifully, but he also made some much-needed repairs, and the difference in sound and touch is incredible. I really appreciated the photos and video of the service—it was a great way to see the work that went into it. Eric was punctual, professional, and so knowledgeable. Highly recommend Las Colinas Music to anyone looking for top-quality piano care. Thank you, Eric! 🎹
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    Whitney Cameron 5/17/2025 Google Logo
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  • CHRISTOPHER REITMEYER Avatar
    Outstanding attention to detail!!Eric has kept our piano looking and sounding terrific for many, many years. Thank you Scorch. 🙂
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    CHRISTOPHER REITMEYER 4/23/2025 Google Logo
    Margaret Hensley Avatar
    Eric did a wonderful job cleaning and tuning our baby grand piano. So pleased with his work.
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    Margaret Hensley 4/10/2025 Google Logo
  • Josh Barnes Avatar
    Eric was thorough in the tuning process and very attentive to each detail. Would definitely use him again.
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    Josh Barnes 2/18/2025 Google Logo
    Darcy Bieszczad Avatar
    He worked tirelessly for 6 houses on our 50 year old Baldwin- a family heirloom that has been in our family for 40 years and was passed down to us. It hadn’t been tuned in 40 years and needed a lot of love. Eric gave it the time and attention it needed and was very detail oriented. He knows his stuff! He educated us throughout the process and it was fascinating to learn about the inner working of the piano. Highly recommend and we will definitely be calling him next time our piano needs tuning.
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    Darcy Bieszczad 1/30/2025 Google Logo
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  • jean wang Avatar
    Eric is professional. My used piano gets a new look after his repair and tuning.
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    jean wang 11/17/2024 Google Logo
    Shawn Casey Avatar
    Eric does great work! I have a very old piano that was VERY out of tune and he warned me that old piano strings sometimes break when you try to tune them. It was a difficult job and Eric worked very carefully to tune it without breaking any strings! He was prompt and professional and my piano is now a joy to play!
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    Shawn Casey 7/26/2024 Google Logo
  • Hill Country Wine Tours Avatar
    Eric is one of the most professional piano tuners we have ever had. We have had pianos in our family for 55 years. His attention to detail is remarkable and his suggestions are always the right ones. He also is an amazing piano teacher enriching so many lives with his stewardship and patience.
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    Hill Country Wine Tours 7/26/2024 Google Logo
    Rahul Balaji Avatar
    Eric did a great job tuning our piano! Our piano is about 10 years old and had never gotten a tuning done and it sounds amazing now. I would highly recommend.
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    Rahul Balaji 7/26/2024 Google Logo
  • Erica Bramer Avatar
    Eric made our vintage piano brand new again! Thank you!
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    Erica Bramer 8/02/2023 Google Logo
    Alicia Webb Avatar
    Eric was very knowledgeable when tuning my piano. He educated me every step of the way. I highly recommend him for your tuning needs. He’s also a very talented pianist!
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    Alicia Webb 8/02/2023 Google Logo
  • david cameron Avatar
    Eric provided a thorough cleaning and tuning of my piano after sitting idle for 20 years. He brought it back to life and plays as to its original condition! Highly recommend Eric for all of your tuning needs!!
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    david cameron 8/02/2023 Google Logo
    Gayle Cole Avatar
    Eric did a great job tuning out piano. He's very personable, honest & reliable. We will definitely use him every time!
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    Gayle Cole 8/02/2023 Google Logo
  • Natalie Barnes Avatar
    Eric did a great job on my old upright piano. It had been moved and he tuned it, raised the pitch, and cleaned it. He also fixed a few loose screws in the top. I would definitely recommend him.
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    Natalie Barnes 8/02/2023 Google Logo
    Stephany Pierce Avatar
    Eric did an exceptional job cleaning and tuning our piano. He was very knowledgeable and J look forward to working with him again for our future tuning needs!
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    Stephany Pierce 8/02/2023 Google Logo
  • Julie Towster Avatar
    Eric is such a skilled technician and musician. My 100 year old player piano received such love and TLC that it has never sounded better.
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    Julie Towster 8/02/2023 Google Logo
    Janis Kirkpatrick Avatar
    Fantastic! My piano is approximately 60 yours old and had never been tuned. Eric did an awesome job and it sounds beautiful.
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    Janis Kirkpatrick 8/02/2022 Google Logo
  • Kimberly Minear Avatar
    Eric did an amazing job cleaning and tuning our very old piano that was neglected for decades. The piano plays beautifully now, thank you Eric!
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    Kimberly Minear 8/02/2022 Google Logo
    Elizabeth Moreno Avatar
    Eric tunes my Steinway baby grand twice per year and has done a full detail as well. His time and attention are very impressive. He takes pride in the work and has my piano sounding and looking as good as new! Highly recommend.
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    Elizabeth Moreno 8/02/2022 Google Logo
  • Alicia Young Avatar
    Eric did a great job on our 40 year old upright piano. He took the time to make needed repairs that other tuners had not wanted to do. He has a great attitude and is very professional. We highly recommend his services.
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    Alicia Young 8/02/2022 Google Logo
    Jon Bunn Avatar
    Phenomenal job! Total deep clean and pitch raise. Really went out of his way to brighten up the sound and give my 25 yo baby grand a whole new lease! Love it. Not the least expensive (I had a LOT of work done on it after a three year storage stent) but worth every penny!
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    Jon Bunn 8/02/2022 Google Logo
  • fiona Tighe Avatar
    Snow, sleet or ice you can depend on Eric to show up and get the job done! He was happy to come out during the recent winter storm and he did a great job repairing our baby grand. I would highly recommend him if you are looking for a honest, knowledgeable piano tuner.
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    fiona Tighe 8/02/2022 Google Logo
    Kevin Ruchlin Avatar
    Eric is fantastic. We recently acquired an old neglected piano. He reviewed the needs and made great suggestions. Eric took great care and the piano sounds brand new!!
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    Kevin Ruchlin 8/02/2022 Google Logo
  • Aaron Lewis Avatar
    Eric did a great job getting our old baby grand piano that was out of tune and full of sticky keys sounding great again.
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    Aaron Lewis 8/02/2022 Google Logo
    Christopher Wells Avatar
    Eric did a fantastic job tuning and cleaning our piano. He is a master piano player, as well, long established in the Dallas music scene. You won't find a better professional to take care of your piano.
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    Christopher Wells 8/02/2022 Google Logo
  • Brad Steiger Avatar
    Extremely excellent service and good conversation. Will certainly be inviting him back to keep my 65 year old piano in good health. Thank you!
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    Brad Steiger 8/02/2022 Google Logo
    Zack Shepherd Avatar
    Eric is the real deal! If you have a piano that needs work you owe it to yourself to give him a call and let him make your piano play and sound better than it ever has before. Helluva player too, so he knows what is supposed to feel like!
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    Zack Shepherd 8/02/2022 Google Logo
  • Rebekah Moes Avatar
    Eric does a great job keeping our piano serviced! He's thorough and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
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    Rebekah Moes 8/02/2022 Google Logo
    Gina Marie Avatar
    Eric is outstamding!! Severely neglected 1935 piano brought back to life!! Thank you!!
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    Gina Marie 8/02/2022 Google Logo
  • Anne Pfeiffer Avatar
    At least 7 years ago, we found Eric at Las Colinas Music inc. With three daughters taking piano lessons and an inherited antique piano that hadn’t been tuned since the ‘50s; we desperately needed a professional piano tuner. Eric has brought our piano back to life. He is thorough, diligent, and an incredible musician by his own right.
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    Anne Pfeiffer 8/02/2022 Google Logo
    Michelle Carter Avatar
    Eric always does an excellent job tuning our piano! He knows exactly what he is doing and it always sounds amazing when he is finished!!
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    Michelle Carter 8/02/2022 Google Logo
  • Biography
  • Friends
  • New Projects
  • Upcoming Shows and News
  • Recordings
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Organ-ized Records
  • Touring Rig
  • Services
  • Store
  • Contact
  • Piano Lessons
  • Guitar Lessons
  • Piano Tuning
  • Coupon
  • text for scheduling 972-489-5767
  • About
    • Biography
    • New Projects
    • Friends
  • Shows and News
  • Media
    • Recordings
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Organ-ized Records
    • About
    • Touring Rig
  • Services
    • Piano Tuning
    • Piano Lessons
    • Guitar Lessons
    • Hammond B3 Organ Rental
  • My Store
  • Contact
    • Las Colinas Music

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