Lombard Public Works employee shares his successful music past

LOMBARD, Illinois—It's the old adage that every person has a story to tell and Lombard Public Works employee, Eric Vorel has lived the life that most people only dream about!

Vorel is a successful musician, singer and songwriter and has performed with his own bands, Backdrop and The Last Waltz but has also toured and written for the Plain White T's, Scissors and composed songs for MTV's reality shows. However, there is a lot more to Vorel and his life keeps evolving!

Now a dad and full-time employee with the Village of Lombard Public Works Department, Vorel grew up locally and attended Willowbrook High School. His musical roots began in Lombard in the days when “Battle of the Bands”, hosted by the Tri-Town YMCA and the Lombard Park District, gave local teenage bands a chance to show their talents. You could see Vorel and close friend, Tom Higgenson, lead singer of the Plain White T's, perform at the Park District's Community Building. Vorel gave the former Lombard Park District's Teen Program Manager, Kathryn ‘Kosh' McCarver credit for fostering his rock-n-roll career.

“Kosh gave us our start. Tom Higgenson and I played in two bands during those early teen years. By the end of the first year, we started developing a following and it became a huge deal. It paved the way for us to eventually perform in Chicago,” said Vorel. It ultimately led to the moment when he knew they were professionally successful.

“I knew we made it when we played the Metro in Chicago. We felt like we were going somewhere as a band when we achieved Metro,” explained Vorel. Eleven years ago, his band, Backdrop was labeled by Illinois Entertainer as one of the “Best Bands of Chicago”. For Vorel, music was a way of keeping his friends together in the early years that eventually led him to some soul searching and self-examination.

Fast forward several years and with many ups and downs of the business, you find Vorel longing for stability and the person who stood by him in support, his wife Rosanna. “My life is richer with my family. They sustain me more than music ever was able to do but I did gain an appreciation for life by exploring my musical career,” said Vorel.

There is a lot to Vorel behind his shy demeanor. He is creative; he is an avid hockey player; he desires to learning new things and he has worked previously in a neighboring Public Works Department. “I worked part time in Oakbrook Terrace's Public Works Division after high school and liked it. When I settled back home, a job opened in the Lombard Public Works Department and I was fortunate enough to be hired”, said Vorel.

Music will always be a part of Vorel's life. He still collaborates on songs with his brother, Darren, and his band, Scissors and beams with pride at his older son's ability to play the drums. “Just as I was given the opportunity, I want to give my sons a chance to explore their musical interests and support their passions. I am lucky to have a supportive wife and family. Plus at 33, I realized that I couldn't fit into my tight pants from my band days and it was time to hang them up,” laughed Vorel.

While traveling through the streets of Lombard, take a second look at the Village employees paving the streets, trimming the trees or plowing the snow. These people are brothers and sisters, husbands and wives and each leads an interesting life with a story to tell and Eric Vorel is definitely one of them!