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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Live Session

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Dale EarnhardtJr. Jr. is a Detroit-based based pop band created by Josh Epstein and Daniel Zott.

The project’s inception was the result of a simple idea many of us get regularly, but often fail to act upon. In late 2009, Josh Epstein picked up the phone and dialed Daniel Zott. He had just seen Zott playing a show in Detroit, and was impressed by the performance, songwriting and charisma he had witnessed on stage. A musician himself, Epstein recognized his style wasn’t entirely similar to Zott’s, but felt their two differing headspaces would form an interesting combination. As such, even though they were both fairly busy with other musical endeavors at the time, he suggested they join forces and attempt something together. The next day, the two got together and worked on a song Epstein had been kicking around in his head… a track called “Simple Girl.”

Epstein and Zott quickly learned the two had a great deal to offer each other in the studio as the project meshed almost instantly. Upon completing "Simple Girl" the duo felt strongly their collaboration contained the possibility to nurture even more creativity and quickly began to co-write an entire batch of new songs. Shortly thereafter Epstein and Zott decided to start going under the name Dale EarnhardtJr.Jr., a title that was immediately jarring but paid homage to their philosophy of mixing together different ideas. If a listener could accept a band with the name Dale EarnhardtJr.Jr., then there were no limitations or preconceived notions as to where the project was meant to go next.

As FM Network Program Director and Music Director, Eric oversees many aspects of JPR's broadcast day. He still hosts the occasional Open Air or classical music shift, and is the driving force behind JPR Live Sessions - our popular series of live in-studio music performances and conversations.