Bio

-ROUGH DRAFT-

Everything started sometime in June 1978.

Education

I was born in Kansas City MO. (BBQ capital of the world). I attended Park Hill HS. and graduated in 1996. After high school I attended The Kansas City Art Institute (foundations program) for a year. I moved to Chicago in 2000 to attend Columbia Collage Chicago. After graduation (BA) I stayed in Chicago for nine years.

Crowd Control/four play music

In 1998, me my brother and a couple of friends got together and started a production company; Crowd Control. Under that moniker we hosted “City of Groove” the line up included: Mark Almaria, Dan Deliverence, Travis*T, PMS vs. Roman, Rob Dobber, Johnny Chavez, Stormy & Andrew Emil. It was famed as one of the premiere one-off events in Kansas City at the time. The venue could hold about 150 people max, we brought in around 500+ throughout the night. The walls were sweating.

Crowd Control continued to grow in Chicago, but eventually changed its public face to four play music. Crowd Control/four play hosted events throughout the nation. From larger events in Portland, OR or Kansas City, KS, to events at the DEMF in Detroit or Winter Music Conference in Miami. Four play music has hosted numerous events in Chicago from record release parties, one off events as well as four weekly nights at local nightclubs.

During that time my brother and I started a house music label; four play music. Four play music has had numerous releases both vinyl and CD format with the likes of JT Donaldson, Gene Farris, Gene Hunt, Dj Pap, Rahaan, Lake St. Project, Glenn Underground, Home and Garden’s Tim Schumaker, Randall Jones, Joshua Collins, Greyarea, Roy Davis Jr., Mr. Egg Germ, Daniell Spencer, Bloom, Demarkus Lewis, Pat Nice, Dj Jes, Andrew Emil and Dirty Sole. In 2003 four play music signed a management deal with EsNtion Music Group. It was all that four play needed to rocket past the level of the typical small house music label in Chicago. “Forever” by The Lake St. Project hit #16 on Billboards Top 100 and held for 22 weeks. “I Found You” by Mr. Egg Germ did equally as well. Unfortunately a copyright infringement lawsuit has kept four play music from releasing any new music in the past 3 years.

A link to the lawsuit – http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS199968+11-Aug-2008+PRN20080811

but…

In June 2009 four play music discovered a new group and signed them to the label “Dirty Sole”. Dirty Soul Consists of DanX (Peaches, No Assembly Required, bULLEtPROOF StUdIOS), Rich Heller (a bad ass from LA) and jOHNNYDANGEROUs (foremost poets). four play music will be releasing their full length album. Not only does this album have slammin’ dance friendly tracks but off beat and cross genre soul. The release will consist of three single releases, the first single “candy wrapper” will be out soon. Remixers include: monster Taxi, White Lotis Society, Natural rythem and Bloom. It is an amazing new project and I cant wait to get it off !

Check four play music out at: fourplaymusic.net

Graphic Design

This entire time I’ve been working as a freelance designer. I’ve had the privilege of being a young designer a a field that is constantly in need of marketing material. I’ve Handled design for many companies large and small. (Seville Staffing, EsNtion Music Group, four play music, Roguelephant, Pleasure, Betty Blue Star Lounge, ZoeBlu Productions, P-1 Power, The Hangout, T&L Trucking, D’Vine Nightclub, Bells Floral, Professional Kidz Playground, Farfalla Clothing, Mr. Egg Germ, Dirty Soul, Any Means Necessary, JP, Analog Pussy, Andy Segren, My Bench Buddy, Byp and many more).

Check it out at (my portfolio page): erikgustafson.com/?page_id=10

Roguelephant

In 2007 me and two friends created Roguelephant; a clothing company out of Chicago. We are a start up company that has run into a few bumps but has managed to excel in sales. We carry clothing for both men and women from full dresses for women to polo shirts for men and everything in between. Our main focus is tee shirt design, we feature designs by artists all around the globe.

Check it out at: roguelephant.com

Braddock, PA

In 2008 my wife Shannon and I decided to move to Braddock PA. We purchased a house and are redesigning it currently. We saw a article in Readymade Magazine and were hooked. Much more explanation is difficult but I plan on starting a silk screening project while I’m here. For more info on Braddock and what is going on here check this: youtube.com/watch?v=NhhQmrUKMsg

Memberships

I am a current member of: The Boy Scouts of America (Eagle Scout) & Kansas City Barbecue Society

Hobbies

snowboarding, paintball, home demolition, house music, design and Brazilian jiu jitsu.

Thats about it for now

Erik Christian Emil Gustafson