About Brian

Creating an original point of view with his music and lyrics, Brian Peterson brings together a unique mixture of influences. Over the years, Brian has been at home with many styles of music. Original music was the motivation for Brian to organize rock bands when he was still in high school. Music from the Beatles, the Eagles, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young was a big influence on him. When learning songs from these groups, he was able to study the form and structure that make up a good song.

Playing electric guitar and singing, he performed for years with dance bands throughout the Midwest. These bands usually played for parties and receptions and they could play rock n’ roll, country western, old time polka and everything in between for dancing. “Dancers have a way of giving energy back to the musicians,” explains Brian. “I have always enjoyed playing for dancing.”

In college, Brian’s studies included courses in journalism and literature. He has had a life-long interest in good writing in fiction, poetry, drama and works of non-fiction. “I get a similar inspiration from seeing a good movie,” adds Brian. “A screenwriter must have a passion for a concise, clear way of expressing feelings in words, and a good actors’ reading of the lines often demonstrates a jazz-like instinct for timing, dynamics and emphasis.”

Dixieland jazz, the kind of music so dear to moviemaker Woody Allen, is another favorite of Brian’s. He has played banjo with an assortment of dixieland musicians through the years. Jazz players have been some of his closest friends and deepest influences. Brian says, “banjo music is typically so upbeat, so happy. As Steve Martin observes, it’s hard to imagine a sad, depressing song played on a banjo.”

Finally, playing as a singer-songwriter in coffeehouses and at colleges has been very satisfying for Brian. The kind of listener who really cares about the lyrics will always enjoy his kind of music. He has also shared his music at local churches. People familiar with Brian’s songs know they express the essential meaning of music – that of our deepest longings and hopes. Some of his music is light and carefree, some of it serious, but he always works to create songs with inspirational themes.

Brian will be playing and writing a lot more music and will be offering a lot more to hear. We hope you’ll enjoy the music Brian Peterson has to share with you.