User:Ecmoko

Eric Charles Mokotoff, born in 1967 in Queens NY. Youngest son of 3. Parents Arlene and Burton Mokotoff. Siblings Mark and Gayle Mokotoff.

Eric grew up as the free spirit non-conformist of the family. At a young age Eric showed promise and talent for the arts, music and acting.

Having grown up in a suburban neighborhood filled with stereotypes, Eric found his way through the masses by way of the fantasy world of Heavy Metal Music and his creativity. After several years on the streets hanging out, getting into trouble and skipping school Eric decided to quit HS and obtain a GED diploma.

Immediately after he embarked on a college journey where he studied two years of Jazz Music at Five Towns College then went on to receive a Scholarship at CW Post LIU where he earned his BFA in Classical Music and remained on the Dean's List.

Following undergraduate work he was accepted to several Graduate programs for classical guitar study and composition. He chose University of Miami in FL where he studied with the late great Juan Mercadal.

During his undergraduate studies Eric had the honor of studying with guitar great Virginia Luque who was a private pupil of the late pioneer of modern classical guitar Andres Segovia.

During the late 1980's and early 1990's Eric Charles Mokotoff composed and published many of his original classical compositions as well as on of the first guitar transcriptions for the Jewish song Hatikvah.

Other liturgical music was donated to the Yivo Institute for Jewish research.

This would not be the end of his writing or publishing. Over the years many short stories were written however not published, he kept his writing alive and always copyrighted his work.

Upon leaving Graduate School Mr. Mokotoff taught music in a conservatory.

While teaching Eric took up one of his many childhood loves and opened the first and only high profile comic book store in Howard Beach Queens NY.

After a few years of success and neighborhood fame Eric's insight allowed him to close the store as the comic book industry took dive on Wall Street.

This began his amazing journey across the United States,