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Eric Barlow
Eric died peacefully at his home in Stockport on 6th July 2021 aged almost 92. Music has been in Eric's blood since appearing in his first engagement at the age of 12 wearing short trousers! Eric's long and extensive career in music has taken him from having his own dance band to holding many organist positions in the North West of England. Eric's long career is too extensive to fully list here, suffice to say that highlights include, playing, broadcasting and recording the famous Wurlitzer Organs of the Gaumont and Odeon Theatre's in Manchester in the early 1970's, while accompanying many famous stars there including Ken Dodd and Danny La Rue. Further highlights of his career include a 40 year residency of playing for dancing on several nights per week at St Peter's RC Social Club in Hazel Grove, Stockport, finishing in 2005. A 20+ year residency as organist of Stockport Town Hall, where as well as dancing, he played for Mayoral Making and other civic functions as and when required. In acknowledgement of his contribution to the music scene at the Town Hall, Eric was awarded the title of Organist Emeritus. In 1976, Eric made a strict tempo dance recording using the superb Wurlitzer Organ of the Gaumont Theatre in Manchester. This record, became the Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust's top selling recording, a fact that is still true to this day. 'Ballroom Favourites' is now considered a major work of reference for ballroom dancers everywhere, and has been reviewed in America and Australia. Due to its enormous popularity, Ballroom Favourites was re-issued on CD in the mid 1990's. After he had personally initially sold over 1000 copies, Eric was awarded a special engraved tankard by the Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust. Since making Ballroom Favorites, he has made other recordings and has been featured on radio and television. Eric is one of the very few professional ballroom organists who can play for dancing without the aid of a metronome (time keeping device) as he did with Ballroom Favourites. Although he still makes occasional public appearances, Eric is now formally retired and doesn't undertake professional engagements anymore. 
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The new Organist Emeritus of Stockport Town Hall. Eric, being presented with a silver tray by the then Mayor of Stockport in acknowledgement of his contribution to the music at Stockport Town Hall.
At St Peter's Social Club, Hazel Grove, with MC's Kath and Alf
The original record sleeve of Ballroom
Favourites 
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At the piano in Dance Band days
