From the beginning...

Playing the saxophone has always been emotionally intense for Erly Thornton.  Each performance is a connection that this artist and his audience mutually enjoy! Born in Nashville into a family that had artistic talent on both sides, mother being a painter and father being a trumpet player, he had no choice but to experience a double dose of creativity from birth.

Starting on the sax in the 5th grade, Erly was asked to play in front of “the boys”, his father’s musician friends, every weekend to the music of Ray Charles. His improvisational style started there. Erly began studying the music in his room to learn every lick he could from jazz artists such as Herb Alpert, Grover Washington Jr., David Sanborn, Najee, George Howard, Brecker Brother Band, and others, learning their works by memory. But he also felt the R&B and Funk of groups like Cameo, EWF, Zapp, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and The Time contributing to his multi-faceted style.

During the late 80’s Erly started college and began playing professionally for the first time in the Nashville area. In addition to performing Nashville, Erly performed in the surrounding areas of Knoxville, Chattanooga and even spent some time on World Famous
Beale Street in Memphis.

Graduating from Tennessee State University in Electrical Engineering, in the 90’s Erly moved to Orlando where he began working in this field. However, leaving music behind turned out to be impossible. Very soon Erly was performing in Central Florida with several groups as well as a solo act. The unexpected breakup of one of the most successful of his Jazz groups thus far, B.One, prompted him to pursue a solo career in earnest.

Erly began writing in 2004, composing many of the songs on his first solo release. Drawing from his past he initially decided to create music using the strong bass and drums of the R&B of his youth, creating funky Jazz licks over the top. The effort was initially titled “The Old School Beat” with the songs “Call It A Day”, “JJ’s Bounce” and “Grooveelatious”. In collaboration with Veit Renn of Renn Music Productions created songs such as “Free”, “Embarkation”. With the project finally completed to his satisfaction,

Erly performed tracks from “My Life” at his CD Release Party at The Beacon of Thornton Park in Orlando in March of 2008.

ON STAGe /

Erly is a seasoned performer having shared the stage with R&B artists Phil Perry, Glenn Jones and Howard Hewitt as a sideman during their performances in Nashville in the 90’s. in Orlando, he became the lead voice of B.One, an all original Jazz band that quickly became one of the hottest groups in Central florida. B.One recorded two CDs, won a spot in the opening line up for WSJT’s Smooth Jazz fest and opened for Spyro Gyra at the House of Blues in Orlando.

Erly Thornton kicked off his solo career opening for The Rippingtons in Orlando in July 2007 and received a standing ovation! This should be no surprise to those who have been grooving to erly’s music since the beginning of his career!

ReCeNT liVe PeRfORmANcES /

Jeff Kashiwa CD Release Concert, Clearwater Florida
Opening for Brian Culbertson, House of Blues Orlando Florida
Opening for Bobby Caldwell, Winter Park, Florida
Opening for Stephanie Mills, Washington, DC
Opening for Miki Howard, Orlando Florida
National Anthem, Orlando Magic Game
WEIB Jazz Concert Series, Springfield, Massachusetts
WGRV Concert Series, Melbourne, Florida
WLOQ Winter Park Florida Autumn and Spring Arts Festivals (yearly)
WLOQ Jazz Jams, Uptown Altamonte Springs, Florida (yearly)
BB Kings, Nashville, Tennessee
Essence Room, Nashville, Tennessee
Prince's Bar and Grill, Dallas Texas
Southside on Lamar, Dallas Texas
African American Arts Festival, Oakland, Florida
Leu Gardens Fall Jazz Stroll, Orlando, Florida
Indaba Music Festival at Polasek Museum, Winter Park, Florida
National Circle of Friends at Universal Studios, Orlando Florida
Juneteenth Music Festival, Orlando, Florida
Bacchus Festival, Titusville, Florida

City of Orlando, (multiple yearly)
UCF Athletic Events (multiple yearly)
Beluga's Restaurant (multiple)
Houston's Restarant, Winter Park, FL (multiple monthly)

And for many private and corporate events.

View Erly's Electronic Promotial Kit Here:  EPK