Eric Geso
{{short description|Liberian singer and songwriter}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = person
| name = Eric Geso
| image =
| landscape = yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Eric Tarh
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| genre = {{hlist|Afropop|Gbema}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| instrument = Vocals
| years_active = 2015–present
| website =
}}
Eric Tarh, who is better known as Eric Geso, is a Liberian singer and songwriter. He is the recipient of several accolades, including Male Artist of the Year at the 2015 Liberia Music Awards and Best New Artist at the 2016 Liberian Entertainment Awards. His debut studio album, Aziooo, was released on May 15, 2019. It was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2019 Liberia Music Awards and for Best Album/Mixtape/Compilation at the 2020 Tunes Liberia Music Awards. Geso released his second studio album, New Sound, on October 15, 2021. His music is a mixture of Afropop and Gbema.
Career
Geso was invited to perform at the 2015 Liberia Music Awards, but was denied a visa at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia.{{cite web |author1=Robin Dopoe Jr. |title=Liberia: 2015 'A Tough Year' for Eric Geso |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201601211224.html |publisher=Daily Observer |access-date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704153159/https://allafrica.com/stories/201601211224.html |archive-date=July 4, 2016 |date=21 January 2016}} In September 2015, he worked with singer Miatta Fahnbulleh on a two-day campaign to help shed light on Liberia's maternal mortality, teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection issues.{{Cite web |last=Senah |first=Gbatemah |date=September 30, 2015 |title=Eric Geso and Miatta Fahnbulleh Tackle Maternal Mortality |url=http://www.bushchicken.com/eric-geso-and-miatta-fahnbulleh/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128202717/http://www.bushchicken.com/eric-geso-and-miatta-fahnbulleh/ |archive-date=January 28, 2016 |access-date=2023-03-29 |publisher=The Bush Chicken}} In August 2017, Geso appeared on Liberia Music Insider's list of the 5 Best Live Acts in Liberia.{{cite web |author1=Marie Kwende Collins |title=Liberia's 5 Best Live Acts |url=https://bushchicken.com/liberias-5-best-live-acts/ |publisher=The Bush Chicken |access-date=30 March 2023 |date=August 5, 2017 |archive-date=8 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008205749/https://bushchicken.com/liberias-5-best-live-acts/ |url-status=live }}
On June 14, 2018, Geso released the Kizzy W-assisted single "Taya", which was nominated for Collaboration of the Year at the 2018 Liberia Music Awards and for Song of the Year at the 2019 Tunes Liberia Music Awards.{{cite web |title=Taya (feat. Kizzy W) - Single by Eric Geso |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/taya-feat-kizzy-w-single/1402877809 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=30 March 2023 |date=June 14, 2018 |archive-date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330015236/https://music.apple.com/us/album/taya-feat-kizzy-w-single/1402877809 |url-status=live }} One of his aides told the Daily Observer newspaper that he released the song in order to issue an apology to the mother of his twin children.{{cite web |author1=Robin Dopoe |title=Liberia: Eric Geso's 'Taya' Is an Apology Song |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201808030367.html |publisher=Daily Observer |access-date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803121822/https://allafrica.com/stories/201808030367.html |archive-date=August 3, 2018}} In October 2018, Geso called record producer Duke Blac unprofessional and accused him of leaking his song "Bamplay".{{cite news |author1=Othello Garblah |author2=Jonathan Browne |title=Ericgeso to take Duke Blac to court |url=https://thenewdawnliberia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Vol.8-No.187-Friday-October-19-2018.pdf |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=The New Dawn |publisher=Searchlight Communications Inc. |date=October 19, 2018 |pages=10 |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329005218/https://thenewdawnliberia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Vol.8-No.187-Friday-October-19-2018.pdf |url-status=live }} According to a Facebook post by Geso, Duke Blac denied the accusation and said his girlfriend mistakenly leaked the song. Geso's 15-track debut studio album, Aziooo, was released on May 15, 2019.{{cite web |title=Aziooo by Eric Geso |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/aziooo/1463273924 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=4 April 2023 |date=May 15, 2019 |archive-date=17 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117011838/https://music.apple.com/us/album/aziooo/1463273924 |url-status=live }} It was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2019 Liberia Music Awards and for Best Album/Mixtape/Compilation at the 2020 Tunes Liberia Music Awards.
On July 1, 2020, Geso released the single "Oh Wow", which was nominated for Song of the Year at both the 2020 Liberia Music Awards and 2021 Tunes Liberia Music Awards.{{cite web |title=Oh Wow - Single by Eric Geso |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/oh-wow-single/1528622921 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=7 April 2023 |date=July 1, 2020}} The accompanying music video for "Oh Wow" was nominated for Video of the Year at the 2020 Liberia Music Awards. Geso launched Gesosound, an entertainment equipment rental service.{{cite web |title=Eric Geso gets into New Business Venture |url=https://liberianstarsviews.com/entertainment/ericgeso-gets-into-new-business-venture/ |publisher=Liberian Stars View |access-date=29 March 2023 |date=April 13, 2022 |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329005217/https://liberianstarsviews.com/entertainment/ericgeso-gets-into-new-business-venture/ |url-status=live }} Lester Tarr, DJ Blue, and Al Johnson, all well-known figures in the Liberian music industry, signed a career contract with Geso in May 2021.{{cite web |author1=Henry Karmo |title=Liberian Mega Star Eric Geso Signs Life-Changing Deal To Have His Music Branded In Africa And The USA |url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/lifestyle/liberian-mega-star-eric-geso-signs-life-changing-deal-to-have-his-music-branded-in-africa-and-the-usa/ |publisher=Front Page Africa |access-date=12 January 2025 |date=May 13, 2021}} The agreement aims to connect him with musicians outside of Liberia and branding firms in the U.S, as well as to promote his music abroad. On October 15, 2021, Geso released his second studio album, New Sound, which features guest appearances from Kpanto, Takun J, AFo4Doe, and Natif.{{cite web |title=New Sound by Eric Geso |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/new-sound/1586890228 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=30 March 2024 |date=October 15, 2021}}
Discography
Studio albums
- Aziooo (2019)
- New Sound (2021)
Awards and nominations
| class ="wikitable"
|colspan="5" style="font-size:110%"| {{center|Liberian Entertainment Awards}} |
| Year
!Recipient !Award !Result !Ref |
|---|
| 2016
|rowspan="3"|Himself |Best New Artist |{{won}} |
| 2017
|rowspan="2"|Best Artist |{{nom}} |
| 2020
|{{nom}} |
| colspan="5" style="font-size:110%"| {{center|Liberia Music Awards}} |
| Year
!Recipient !Award !Result !Ref |
| rowspan="2"|2015
|rowspan="7"|Himself |Male Artist of the Year |{{won}} |
| Afropop Artist of the Year
|{{won}} |
| rowspan="5"|2016
|Artist of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Male Artist of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| Afropop Artist of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| Performer of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| Artist of the Year Africa
|{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"|2017
|Himself |Afropop Artist of the Year |{{nom}} |
| "Go Home"
|Afropop/Afro Dance Song of the Year |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="3"|2018
|rowspan="2"|Himself |Male Artist of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Afropop Artist of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| "Taya" (featuring Kizzy W)
|Collaboration of the Year |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="3"|2019
|rowspan="2"|Himself |Artist of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Afropop Artist of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| Aziooo
|Album of the Year |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="6"|2020
|rowspan="4"|Himself |Artist of the Year |{{won}} |
| Male Artist of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| Afropop Artist of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| Traditional/Gbema Artist of the Year
|{{won}} |
| rowspan="2"|"Oh Wow"
|Song of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Video of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| rowspan="5"|2021
|rowspan="3"|Himself |Artist of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Male Artist of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| Traditional/Gbema Artist of the Year
|{{won}} |
| rowspan="2"|"Kekeleh" (featuring Natif)
|Song of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Collaboration of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| rowspan="3"|2022
|rowspan="3"|Himself |Artist of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Male Artist of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| Traditional Artist of the Year
|{{won}} |
| colspan="5" style="font-size:110%"| {{center|Tunes Liberia Music Awards}} |
| Year
!Recipient !Award !Result !Ref |
| rowspan="3"|2019
|rowspan="2"|Himself |Artist of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Afropop Artist of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| "Taya" (featuring Kizzy W)
|Song of the Year |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="4"|2020
|rowspan="2"|Himself |Artist of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Afropop Artist of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| "We Will Marry"
|Song of the Year |{{nom}} |
| Aziooo
|Best Album/Mixtape/Compilation |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="3"|2021
|rowspan="2"|Himself |Artist of the Year |{{won}} |
| Best Traditional/Gbema Artist
|{{won}} |
| "Oh Wow"
|Song of the Year |{{nom}} |
| colspan="5" style="font-size:110%"| {{center|Nigeria Entertainment Awards}} |
| Year
!Recipient !Award !Result !Ref |
| 2016
|Himself |African Male Artist of the Year (Non Nigerian) |{{nom}} |{{cite news|url=https://thenet.ng/full-nominee-list-for-2016-nigerian-entertainment-awards-nea/|title=FULL nominee list for 2016 Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA)|work=Nigerian Entertainment Today|author=Adedayo Showemimo|date=17 June 2016|access-date=12 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102011347/http://thenet.ng/2016/06/full-nominee-list-for-2016-nigerian-entertainment-awards-nea/|archive-date=2017-01-02|url-status=live}} |