Emerson Swinford has joined Rod’s touring band ,after playing on Rod’s albums Merry Christmas Baby and the new album Time on which he has some writing credits, his style of playing seemed to fit with what Rod is doing now.
Emerson told SMILER “I had the great fortune of working with Rod on the new record through our mutual friend, writer-producer Kevin Savigar. Over the last year I got to play guitar on the record and co-wrote a couple of songs with Kevin and Rod (“Finest Woman” and “Time”.) I really didn’t think it could get any better than all of that! Now to have Rod ask me to join the touring band is an beyond amazing and really, a dream come true! I look forward to meeting as many of his fans as possible at the shows! ”
Emerson a native of Chicago, is a Los Angeles-based guitarist, composer/songwriter and producer. His theme and under-score music composed for the hit comedy Hot in Cleveland won him a 2011 and 2012 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards.He is also a composer for the TV Land network comedy series The Soul Man (TV series) and Retired at 35 and has had many TV and film song placements including MTV/”The Hills”, ” The Ghost Whisperer”, and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” As a session guitarist, Emerson has recorded with a diverse roster of artists such as Rod, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Paul Oakenfold, Jim McGorman, P.J. Olsson, Delerium, Liz Phair, Fisher (band), Kimberly Locke, Natalie Cole, Kenny G and many others, as well as performing on the soundtracks for the movies Just Like Heaven, Planet of the Apes (2001) and “Power Rangers.” His guitar work is also featured on several national TV commercial spots including “St. Ives” and “Coors Light.” Emerson is a co-writer of the hit single “Barenaked” for actress and singer Jennifer Love Hewitt,He was the musical director and touring guitarist for Tony award-winning actress and singer Idina Menzel, famous for her roles in Broadway’s Wicked, Rent and the TV show “Glee.” Emerson has appeared live with Idina on the PBS show Soundstage and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” “Regis and Kelly”, “The PBS National Memorial Day Concert” and also on several national and European concert tours.
Emerson also told SMILER that in the above photo of him recording for the new album,the guitar is Rods Zematis 12 string acoustic that Ron Wood played on Maggie May!
SMILER would like to wish Emerson Good Luck with the forthcoming tour and we hope he has an amazing time.