Eli Mattson

A Story From Eli's Mom

When he was 4 years old he memorized the books I read to him and performed them to me, he would sit at the piano and hold his fingers perfectly arched above the keys and he memorized all his music videos. Later he would imitate his Fathers guitar playing, play Band with his sister Mary and at 5 or so, we started him on piano lessons.

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When we moved to Green Bay he was taking lessons and I notice one day he was playing this great song and asked him what it was. He said, "I made it up Mom" and I thought gosh that is pretty good for a 10 year old and I bought him his first keyboard.

A few years later, I bought him a floor model electric piano to help him get through the sadness of the divorce our family was going through. The piano started out in the living room and then we hauled it upstairs to his room cause he played it all the time. I took him to see Billy Joel and Elton John at the stadium in Milwaukee that year he was 12.

It said on the marquee, The Piano Men," and I said, "one day that will be you up there!" Eli loved the concert and was fascinated with watching their hands on the piano keys and he became an avid fan of theirs, learning their music. It was a hard year, so much sadness. He was taking piano lessons for a while from a women in Sturgeon Bay and one week she said I would suggest you take him to this other teacher who may be able to take him where he needs to go. So Bob Kaczmarowski of Sturgeon Bay entered the picture. Eli was in fifth grade and had written a piece called "Rainbows and Waterfalls". At the first lesson, Bob asked him to play a little something just to show him how he played.

Eli played his original piece, and when I saw the look on Bobs face I knew we had found the right teacher. Eli hated to practice his lessons, but he mostly did what he needed to, then he would relax and just make stuff up or imitate music he had heard. Bob had a computer and would record what Eli was writing and then print out the notes he was playing, that way Eli could visualize the music he was composing, and put it into context with other music he was learning. It was fantastic how he guided Eli's creative spirit.

Eli was always looking for home after the divorce. He'd tell me," I don't feel at home anywhere." Eli was 14, everything was hard, things at school were not good, and bad influences were at work. So, we went down to Chicago to visit my sister, I wanted to introduce Eli to the Blues! Where could we take him, no bar would let us in with a 14 year old? We begged and begged at Rosie's Blues Bar and finally they let us bring him, but only if we signed something saying we were responsible for him. There was this amazing blues band with a great singer, harmonicas, bass and electric guitar. Eli was blown away by the way they communicated without ever talking. There was a piano in the corner but no one to play it. At the break I mentioned to the band leader that I had brought my piano playing son here to learn from this band. He said, "well, he should get sit in with us!" When I told Eli, he said, "no way Mom, I can't play with these guys, they're amazing!" My sister and I said, "baby you can't not play with these guys!!" So he did, he played most of the next set in fact and halfway thru, the bass player looked at Eli and gave him the nod! This was the moment, Eli told me, when knew in his heart that this is what he would be doing with his life.

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He got off that stage shining, and trying to describe the feelings of risking yourself with an audience and connecting with them musically. He said, "this is where I am home, on that stage, Mom". And since then that is what he did, he has played and played and played. Through opportunities his Uncle Roger Kuhns gave him when he first took him into the studio to record and managed him for a while. Thru the opportunities he took for himself, traveling, playing with his own band or going on the road with country band. Thru years of solo piano bars in Chicago, he has always been focused on playing and on learning his craft.

So now he heads out to LA to compete in the top forty of America's Got Talent. We had a tearful send off at J. Jeffrey Taylors in Fish Creek this weekend. He has played there most summer Saturdays for two years. A wonderful crowd of people ranging from those who have followed Eli here since his beginnings in Door County playing his first original music at the age of 12 at Southern Door, to people who discovered him at Java On Jefferson years ago when DeDe McCartney invited him to play his first gig or just discovered him at the Square Rigger or J.Jeffrey's these last few years, or saw him on America's Got Talent. Family and friends loving the excitement of Eli Mattson getting his chance to step up on stage. He is so thankful for all who have helped him on his way and will give back to you by singing his very best. As his Mama, I am so thankful for the support you have shown my son.

Eli Mattson grew up in the tiny rural community of Cotton, Minnesota (pop. 25) and playing the piano was simply in his blood.

As he inherited a battered upright grand from his great grandfather when he was 5 years old. With some guidance from his brother he essentially taught himself to play by generating his own music since music instruction books weren't readily available in Cotton.

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When Eli's relatives moved to Green Bay 3 years later he received his first formal piano training. While he impressed his teachers with his abundant natural talent, he wasn't impressed with what they were offering him.

" I hated to practice and would keep adding notes and riffs to the lessons because I thought they were boring."

Thankfully Eli's father knew that formal training would serve his son well and convinced him to practice every day and pay attention in his lessons.

Eli Mattson supporters, including his brother Jacob at far left, gather at the Ladder House in Sturgeon Bay.
photo by Christine Nesheim

At age14 Eli visited his aunt in Chicago who took him to see a blues act at Rosa's Lounge. He was startled when the lead singer approached him and said, "I hear you are a piano player".

Eli took the opportunity to play the blues with the band through the night. From this first onstage experience as a young teenager he knew for certain performing music would always be the main focus of his life.

When Eli was only 19 he was awarded a prestigious grant from the Peninsula Arts Association in Wisconsin to help further his music career.

While listening to Eli's music you will be rewarded with influences from a wide spectrum of pop, rock and blues. You might hear hints of other singers but most of all you will hear somebody original, somebody worthwhile.