Eric T. Schabacker, Owner

Eric T. Schabacker was born in Buffalo, New York where he lived until moving to Orlando to attend Rollins College. While living in Buffalo, he was lured to the art of recording by its technical aspects and, before graduating from high school, had four albums credited to his name as both producer and engineer. During the same time, he developed an interest in playing the guitar and writing his own songs. By the time Eric was midway through college he had formed his first band and had successfully produced an album of original material.



It was during his undergraduate years at Rollins that Eric formed two record labels: Tener and Hype Records. During the time that followed, multiple artists from throughout the United States were released on these labels and, as a natural outgrowth, he founded two additional companies: Bee Jay Booking Agency and Bee Jay Recording Studios. The booking agency was eventually sold after becoming the largest agency of its type in Florida and is still in business today operating as the J. Bird Entertainment Agency. After years of success and its involvement in over 100 Gold and Multi-Platinum Albums and a Grammy Award, Bee Jay Recording Studios was also sold. “It took a lot of hard work, good luck and blessings from above, before I was fortunate enough to accomplish my dream of building a world class studio,” Schabacker says.

In 1994 Eric moved to the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas where he started Winterwood Recording Studios. Surrounded by beauty, the studios are perched on a mountainside overlooking Beaver Lake which is a perfect site for the vacation cottage that he and his wife, Sativa, operate. Winterwood Lakeside Cottage serves as a comfortable living environment for the studio's artists and is open to reservations from the public as well.

Eric & Sativa Schabacker


Other mileposts in Eric's career include the establishment of ASCAP, SESAC and BMI publishing houses as well as the formation of The Southern Recording Association and a concert promotion business. He also hosted two radio shows: "The Alternative" and "Artists Alive" which were syndicated on more than 125 U.S. radio stations.

In addition to his daily studio activities, Eric continues to write and is a vibrant part of the Nashville writing community. Multi awards from the John Lennon, Billboard and Unasong song contests currently adorn the walls of his home and studio.

For detailed information about Eric Schabacker, please see “More About Eric” on the Music Scholarship Page.