Billy Peterson (born as Willard Peterson, in Minnesota) is an American bass player, songwriter, composer, session musician and producer. Growing up in a family of professional musicians, Peterson started with music at a very young age. Billy is brother of

Paul Peterson Paul Joseph Peterson (born October 18, 1964), also known as St. Paul Peterson, is a singer and musician best known for his memberships in the bands The Family and The Time. Life and career Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Peterson was the you ...

(bass guitarist/singer/songwriter/keyboardist) and Ricky Peterson (keyboardist/singer/song writer/producer).

Career

Early career

In 1967, he joined

The Righteous Brothers The Righteous Brothers are an American musical duo originally formed by Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield but now comprising Medley and Bucky Heard. Medley formed the group with Hatfield in 1963. They had first performed together in 1962 in the Los ...

on a summer tour. While going to school, Peterson played bass and drums in local orchestras, big bands, R&B bands and toured with the

Lawrence Welk Lawrence Welk (March 11, 1903 – May 17, 1992) was an American accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted the ''The Lawrence Welk Show'' from 1951 to 1982. His style came to be known as "champagne music" to his radio, tele ...

Show All Stars. After high-school, he started playing bass with trumpet-legend

Clifford Brown Clifford Benjamin Brown (October 30, 1930 – June 26, 1956) was an American jazz trumpeter and composer. He died at the age of 25 in a car accident, leaving behind four years' worth of recordings. His compositions "Sandu", "Joy Spring", an ...

's pianist Billy Wallace until 1973. In the mid 1970s, he was the bassist on three albums of folk guitarist

Leo Kottke Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. He overcame a series of personal obstacles, including parti ...

and also the electric and upright bassist on

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

's multi-platinum album ''

Blood On The Tracks ''Blood on the Tracks'' is the fifteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on January 20, 1975, by Columbia Records. The album marked Dylan's return to Columbia Records after a two-album stint with Asylum Records. Dy ...

'' for

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

. In 1976, he joined the Gibson guitar staff giving him the opportunity to perform with

B.B. King Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shi ...

, Johnny Smith,

Lenny Breau Leonard Harold Breau (August 5, 1941 – August 12, 1984) was an American-Canadian guitarist. He blended many styles of music, including jazz, country, classical, and flamenco. Inspired by country guitarists like Chet Atkins, Breau used fingers ...

Les Paul Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009), known as Les Paul, was an American jazz, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric guitar, and his prototype ...

, and Howard Roberts. During this decade record producer and engineer David Rivkin (aka David Z, who produced Prince in the 1980s) introduced Peterson to keyboardist

Ben Sidran Ben Hirsh Sidran (born August 14, 1943) is an American jazz and rock keyboardist, producer, label owner, and music writer. Early in his career he was a member of the Steve Miller Band and is the father of Grammy-nominated musician, composer and ...

, a beginning of a musical partnership remaining strong till today. He released his first solo album “Threshold of Surrender” in 1981. While continuing to tour the US and Europe with various artists, he recorded many albums plus national radio and TV commercials performing from solo bass to playing with a full symphony orchestra.

With the Steve Miller Band

In 1986,

produced an album for Steve Miller and hired Peterson to play bass on the recording ''Born to be Blue''. Afterwards Peterson became a member of the

Steve Miller Band The Steve Miller Band is an American rock music, rock band formed in 1966 in San Francisco, California. The band is led by Steve Miller (musician), Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals. The group had a string of mid- to late-1970s hit singles t ...

for 23 years, until 2010. He started to tour with the Steve Miller Band in spring 1987 and played bass on the ''Born to Be Blue'' (Capitol), ''Steve Miller Band Box Set'' (Capitol), and ''Wide River'' (Polydor) recordings, amongst numerous others. Simultaneously, when possible, he continued to tour Europe and Japan with

and worked on numerous recordings of other artists, including

Georgie Fame Georgie Fame (born Clive Powell; 26 June 1943) is an English R&B and jazz musician. Fame, who had a string of 1960s hits, is still performing, often working with contemporaries such as Alan Price, Van Morrison and Bill Wyman. Fame is the on ...

Phil Upchurch Philip Upchurch (born July 19, 1941) is an American jazz and blues guitarist and bassist. Career Upchurch started his career working with the Kool Gents, the Dells, and the Spaniels, before going on to work with Curtis Mayfield, Otis Rush, and ...

. In 1990 Peterson played on, produced and arranged Leo Kottke's album "That's What" for which he wrote a composition named “Mid Air”. Shortly after The Artist (also known as

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...

) approached him to create a string arrangement for

The New Power Generation The New Power Generation, also known as The NPG, was the backing band of musician Prince from 1990 to 2013. They were replaced by 3rdeyegirl as his backing band in 2013. In 2015, the New Power Generation reunited as Prince's backing band for h ...

's dynamo maven, Rosie Gaines. He also re-harmonized

Bryan Adams Bryan Guy Adams (born 5 November 1959) is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and photographer. He has been cited as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and is estimated to have sold between 75 million and mor ...

's hit “Everything I Do I Do It For You”. In 2004, he was the musical director and bass player for the Legends Rock TV Show shot in the South of France and produced by Megabien Entertainment.

2010 to present

After leaving the

, Peterson continues to work with various artists around the world. In 2012 he went on a European Tour with

. Later that year he co-hosted along with

Cynthia Johnson Cynthia Johnson (born April 22, 1956) is an American singer, songwriter and television personality. She is best known as the lead singer of the band Lipps Inc. with the worldwide smash hit "Funkytown". Musical career Beginnings Prior to bec ...

the Funkytown Movie, produced by Megabien Entertainment, which showcases some of the Twin Cities´ finest artists and musicians. In 2015, Peterson as the bassist of Bob Dylan's album “Blood on the Tracks” received the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Award, which was inducted due to its significance for musical, social, and cultural history.

Awards

* 2015 -

Grammy Hall of Fame Award The Grammy Hall of Fame is a hall of fame to honor musical recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of ...

– Induction of

's album "

Blood on the Tracks ''Blood on the Tracks'' is the fifteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on January 20, 1975, by Columbia Records. The album marked Dylan's return to Columbia Records after a two-album stint with Asylum Records. Dy ...

", with Peterson on bass * 2008 - Mid-American Music Hall of Fame – Induction Award, as a member of “The Peterson Family” * 2007 - Ancient City Blues Society – Honorary Lifetime Membership * 2005 - Minneapolis City Pages - Best Jazz Artist 2005 * 1989 - Minnesota Music Award – Best Jazz Bass * 1988 - Minnesota Music Award – Best Jazz/Fusion Bass Player * 1987 - Minnesota Jazz Music Awards – Special Recognition Award * 1985 - Minnesota Music Award – Jazz-Modern/Mainstream Instrumentalist * 1984 - Minnesota Music Award – Best Jazz Instrumentalist * 1984 - Minnesota Music Award – Best Bass * 1982 - Minnesota Music Award – Best Jazz Instrumentalist * 1975 -

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

- for

's album

, with Peterson on bass, awarded for "Best Album Notes". The album also received Double Platinum in the US, Platinum in Canada, Gold in the UK, amongst others.

Discography

Bob Rockwell Bob Rockwell (born May 1945 in Miami, Oklahoma) is a jazz saxophonist. He was born in the U.S. but emigrated to Denmark in 1983. Biography Rockwell was raised in Minneapolis, and in his early career he toured the U.S. in rock and rhythm and blu ...

: Androids (1974) *

: Dreams and All That Stuff (1974) *

: Ice Water (1974) *

(1975) * Art Resnick: Jungleopolis (1975) *

: Chewing Pine (1975) * Mark Gaddis: Carousel Man (1976) *

: Fly Like an Eagle (1977) * Dick Pinney: Devil Take My Shiny Coins (1977) * Michael Johnson: Ain't Dis Da Life (1977) * Jim Post: I Love My Life (1978) *

: On the Cool Side (1985) *

: On the Live Side (1986) * Prudence Johnson: Vocals (1987) * Claudia Schmidt: Big Earful (1987) * Steve Miller: Born 2B Blue (1988) (Capitol) *

: Too Hot to Touch (1988) * Bill Goodwin/Hal Galper: No Method (1989) *

: That's What (1990) * Ricky Peterson: Smile Blue (1991) *

: Cool Paradise (1991) * Larry Long: Troubadour (1992) *

: Wide River (1993) (Polydor) *

: Steve Miller Band

ox Set An ox ( : oxen, ), also known as a bullock (in BrE, AusE, and IndE), is a male bovine trained and used as a draft animal. Oxen are commonly castrated adult male cattle; castration inhibits testosterone and aggression, which makes the m ...

(1994) (Capitol) *

Neal Schon Neal (Neil) is a given masculine name and surname of Gaelic and Irish origin. The name is an Anglicisation of the Irish Niall which is of disputed derivation. The Irish name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", "victory", "hono ...

: Beyond the Thunder (1995) * Larry Long: Living in a Rich Man's World (1995) * Neal & Leandra: Old Love (1995) * Phil Upchurch: Whatever Happened to the Blues (1997) * Larry Long: Run for Freedom, Sweet Thunder (1997) * Various Artists: Jazz Christmas (1998) * The CCM Jazz Ensemble: Lady Bird (1998) * Jeanne Arland Peterson: Timeless (1999) *

: After Hours (1999) * Bob Malach: After Hours (1999) *

David Hazeltine David Perry Hazeltine (born October 27, 1958) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. Early life Hazeltine was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 27, 1958. He began studying the piano at the age of nine, and first pe ...

: After Hours, Vol. 2 (1999) *

Bill Carrothers Bill Carrothers (born July 13, 1964) is a jazz pianist and composer based in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.Irv Williams Irvin Williams (August 17, 1919 – December 14, 2019) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Throughout his nine-decade career, Williams focused on the Great American Songbook and the tenor sax as a solo vehicle. Musical history His firs ...

: Stop, Look, and Listen (2001) *

: Ice Water (2000) * Larry Long: Well May the World Go (producer only, 2000) * Ira Sullivan: After Hours (2001) * Various Artists: If I Had a Song: The Songs of Pete (2001) * Clementine Cafe: Apres-midi (2001) * Various Artists: Go Jazz All Stars: Live in Japan (2001) *

Irv Williams Irvin Williams (August 17, 1919 – December 14, 2019) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Throughout his nine-decade career, Williams focused on the Great American Songbook and the tenor sax as a solo vehicle. Musical history His firs ...

: Encore (2001) * Lee Konitz: After Hours, Vol. 7 (2002) * Tony Hymas: Hope Street MN (2002); * David Aaron Thomas: Wingin' It (2003) *

: Best of the Capitol Years (2003) * Ben Sidran/Bob Rockwell: Walk Pretty (2003) * Ben Sidran: Anthology (2003) * The Peterson Family: A compilation (2003) *

: That's All (2004) *

: Nick's Bump (2004) * Leo Sidran: BOhemia (2004) *

: The Collection, Vol. 3: Blonde on Blonde/Blood on the Tracks/Infidels (2005) * Moodfood: Ice (2005) *

: American Made World Played (2005) *

: Dedicated to You (2005) * Soulfood: Power Yoga (2006) * Soulfood: Buddha Chill (2008) * Soulfood: Zen Lounge (2009) *

Oleta Adams Oleta Adams (born May 4, 1953) is an American singer and pianist. She found limited success during the early 1980s, before gaining fame via her contributions to Tears for Fears's international chart-topping album ''The Seeds of Love'' (1989). Her ...

: Let's Stay Here (2009) *

: Bingo! (2010) *

: Let Your Hair Down (2011) *

: Duke's Mixture (2011) * Claudia Schmidt: Bend in the River - Collected Songs (2012) * Dave King with Bill Carrothers and Billy Peterson: I've Been Ringing You (2012) *

: Young Hearts - Complete Greatest Hits (2013) *

: Then Was Then, Now Is Now (2014) * Peg Carrothers: Edges of My Mind (2014) *

: Blue Camus (2015) * Irv Williams Trio: Pinnacle (2015) * Billy Peterson and

: Next Door (2016) * The Peterson Family: Legacy (2017) for references see allmusic or cduniverse.com

Filmography

* Legends Rock, live TV show (2004) * Steve Miller Band: Live from Chicago, video documentary (2008) * The Funkytown Movie, music documentary (2012)

References

External links

Official Artist Website of Billy Peterson

Billy Peterson, musical director of Megabien Entertainment

Billy Peterson, Legends Rock TV Show

Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians

The Peterson Family

Discogs

Dave King Trio: Live At The Village Vanguard

Dave King Trio with Bill Carrothers + Billy Peterson at the Dakota Jazz Club

Ben Sidran (with Billy Peterson, Bob Rockwell and Leo Sidran) at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peterson, Billy Living people Songwriters from Minnesota Guitarists from Minnesota American male composers 20th-century American composers American male bass guitarists American session musicians 20th-century births Place of birth missing (living people) Steve Miller Band members 20th-century American bass guitarists 20th-century American male musicians Year of birth missing (living people) American male songwriters