| Name |
Sully Erna |
| Height |
|
| Naionality |
American |
| Date of Birth |
7-February-1968 |
| Place of Birth |
Lawrence, Massachusetts |
| Famous for |
singing |
Salvatore Paul "Sully" Erna, is an American vocalist and primary songwriter for the American hard rock band, Godsmack. Erna is also a guitarist and drummer, performing these both on albums and during live shows. He has a daughter named Skylar Brooke Erna and an older sister named Maria.Sully began playing drums at the age of 3.
His father, Salvatore Erna, was a trumpet player and would rehearse in the basement where Sully would watch and fall asleep in an empty guitar case. His great grandfather was a famous composer in Sicily, where every year they honor his birthday and his pictures are hung in a museum. At the age of 11 he discovered that it was easier for him to listen to something and play it than read sheet music. He stopped taking lessons and practiced at home rehearsing to records by Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Motörhead, and Rush.
At 14, Dave Vose became his new instructor. He signed his first record deal in 1993 with a band called Strip Mind. Their debut album "What's in Your Mouth" sold less than 50,000 units. The band and Erna didn't get along, and he was booted out. They self-destructed shortly after. In Godsmack concerts he plays the bongos and a large drum set, staging a drumming duel known as Batalla de los Tambores with drummer Shannon Larkin. This battle has become a staple of the band's live show. He is also a harmonica player as present on the Godsmack song "Shine Down". It was recently announced that Sully will work on a solo record due out sometime in 2010, it will stray away from the hard rock of Godsmack. Sully wrapped up his acoustic tour with one final show at The House of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 28.
Erna has also worked with his local music scene. In April 2005, Sully participated in New Hampshire's Battle of the Bands Competition. The winner (a band called Zion who hails from Salem) had the opportunity to record a demo at Sully's California studio.
