Eric Harland

The story of jazz drummer extraordinaire Eric Du'sean Harland, a first-call player of the decade from 2000 onward, is one filled with courage, persistence, and fortitude. Born in Houston, Texas, in 1978, he is the nephew of Houston vocalist Leo Polk. An extremely overweight teenager, he was a target of cruel children, mean-spirited teachers, and at times, family members. His religious mother, believing she had seen a vision when he was born, was convinced that Eric was the messiah-in-waiting. She took him to voodoo priests and witch doctors to confirm her expectations. Harland...