Eric Andersen, born on February 14, 1943, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a renowned American folk music singer-songwriter. He grew up in Snyder, New York, and was influenced by Elvis Presley during his teenage years. Andersen became a prominent figure in the Greenwich Village folk scene in the 1960s, debuting at Gerdes Folk City and releasing his first album, "Today Is the Highway," in 1965. His notable songs from this era include "Violets of Dawn," "Come to My Bedside," and "Thirsty Boots," which were covered by artists such as Judy Collins and Bob Dylan.

Throughout his career, Andersen has released 25 albums and collaborated with various artists. In the early 1990s, he formed the group Danko/Fjeld/Andersen with Rick Danko and Jonas Fjeld. Andersen has lived in Woodstock, New York, Oslo, Norway, and currently resides in the Netherlands with his wife, Inge Andersen. He has a daughter, Sari, who contributed to his album "Memory of the Future." In 2022, Andersen received an honorary doctorate from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, recognizing his significant contributions to music.