Eric Hutchinson climbs back, with help from Perez Hilton

IT'S HARD to imagine many people who wouldn't quickly surrender to the catchy melodies, playful R&B-tinged rhythms and John Legend-by-way-of-Stevie Wonder vocals that come together in rising pop singer Eric Hutchinson's music. The bean counter on his MySpace page has clocked past 1 1/2 million plays for a handful of his songs, suggesting this New York-based musician is well past cult-hero status.

By Randy Lewis

May 18, 2008