Paul Peterson
Encyclopedia
Paul Peterson, also known as St. Paul, is a musician
best known for his memberships in the bands The Family
and The Time
and the single "Intimacy."
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Peterson was the youngest son in a musical family. He was discovered by Prince
in 1983 and groomed to replace Monte Moir
as keyboardist
of R&B band The Time. Peterson gained exposure when the band appeared in the breakaway hit movie Purple Rain
.
When The Time broke up in 1984, Prince gathered the remnants to form The Family, with Peterson as lead singer, along with Prince's girlfriend, Susannah Melvoin (twin sister of The Revolution guitarist Wendy Melvoin). The band also took Jellybean Johnson and Jerome Benton from The Time. Eric Leeds, sax player of the Revolution, also played on The Family's debut (and only, to date) album. The group's tenure was brief, performing only once live (at First Avenue, where Purple Rain was filmed). Peterson left to pursue a solo career, releasing his eponymous debut album in 1986. Peterson released a single & video from the album entitled "Rich Man." Prince wrote a song about Paul's early jump from the Family ship called "Dream Factory," which was later released on 1998's Crystal Ball compilation. Peterson released two solo albums in the 1990s on Atlantic Records
and a live recording with the group the Minneapolis All-Stars.
Peterson also toured as a member of the Steve Miller Band in the late 80's.
Peterson is also a session musician
and has backed up many acts in concert. He currently still tours with Kenny Loggins, and has some appearances as a band member with Oleta Adams
. He also played bass for the house band
on the Donny & Marie
TV program. He has co-written many hit songs for various artists over the years. His latest album, Everything, was released in 2004. Peterson is married and has two children, and still resides in the Minneapolis area.
According to a January 31, 2007, press release on PaulPeterson.com, the The Family is getting back together. It is due to release their long-awaited follow up album in the summer of 2009, under the name Fdeluxe.
Peterson produced two songs and co-produced two more songs on Oleta Adams
' 2009 album, Let's Stay Here. He also played on the whole album, which was released April 21, 2009.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
best known for his memberships in the bands The Family
The Family (band)
The Family is a band formed by Prince, and one of the first signed to his record label, Paisley Park Records. The band renamed themselves Fdeluxe in 2009.-History:...
and The Time
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
and the single "Intimacy."
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Peterson was the youngest son in a musical family. He was discovered by Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
in 1983 and groomed to replace Monte Moir
Monte Moir
Monte Moir is the original and current keyboardist for The Time, as well as songwriter and producer for Janet Jackson, Alexander O'Neal, Gladys Knight, the Deja duo and Lolly Pop. He is also credited for working with Prince, Vanity 6, Deniece Williams, Thelma Houston and various other artists...
as keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
of R&B band The Time. Peterson gained exposure when the band appeared in the breakaway hit movie Purple Rain
Purple Rain (film)
Purple Rain is a 1984 film directed by Albert Magnoli and written by Magnoli and William Blinn. Prince makes his film debut in this movie, which was developed to showcase his particular talents, hence, the film contains several extended concert sequences. The film grossed more than US$80 million at...
.
When The Time broke up in 1984, Prince gathered the remnants to form The Family, with Peterson as lead singer, along with Prince's girlfriend, Susannah Melvoin (twin sister of The Revolution guitarist Wendy Melvoin). The band also took Jellybean Johnson and Jerome Benton from The Time. Eric Leeds, sax player of the Revolution, also played on The Family's debut (and only, to date) album. The group's tenure was brief, performing only once live (at First Avenue, where Purple Rain was filmed). Peterson left to pursue a solo career, releasing his eponymous debut album in 1986. Peterson released a single & video from the album entitled "Rich Man." Prince wrote a song about Paul's early jump from the Family ship called "Dream Factory," which was later released on 1998's Crystal Ball compilation. Peterson released two solo albums in the 1990s on Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
and a live recording with the group the Minneapolis All-Stars.
Peterson also toured as a member of the Steve Miller Band in the late 80's.
Peterson is also a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
and has backed up many acts in concert. He currently still tours with Kenny Loggins, and has some appearances as a band member with Oleta Adams
Oleta Adams
Oleta Adams is an American soul, jazz, and gospel singer and pianist.-Biography:Adams was born the daughter of a preacher and was raised with gospel music. In her youth her family moved to Yakima, Washington, which is sometimes shown as her place of birth.Before gaining her opportunity to perform,...
. He also played bass for the house band
House band
For the British band that existed from 1984-2001, see The House BandA house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to...
on the Donny & Marie
Donny & Marie (1998 TV series)
Donny & Marie was an American talk show hosted by Donny and Marie Osmond, that aired in syndication from September 1998 to May 2000. The show had a "house band", featuring Jerry Williams , Kat Dyson , Paul Peterson , and Nick Vincent . The show aired from 1998 to 2000.-External links:*...
TV program. He has co-written many hit songs for various artists over the years. His latest album, Everything, was released in 2004. Peterson is married and has two children, and still resides in the Minneapolis area.
According to a January 31, 2007, press release on PaulPeterson.com, the The Family is getting back together. It is due to release their long-awaited follow up album in the summer of 2009, under the name Fdeluxe.
Peterson produced two songs and co-produced two more songs on Oleta Adams
Oleta Adams
Oleta Adams is an American soul, jazz, and gospel singer and pianist.-Biography:Adams was born the daughter of a preacher and was raised with gospel music. In her youth her family moved to Yakima, Washington, which is sometimes shown as her place of birth.Before gaining her opportunity to perform,...
' 2009 album, Let's Stay Here. He also played on the whole album, which was released April 21, 2009.
Discography
- Ice Cream CastleIce Cream CastleIce Cream Castle is a 1984 album by The Time. Much like the two previous albums, the album consists of six tracks in the funk-pop or ballad genre and it was produced and arranged by Prince as "The Starr ★ Company"...
The Time (1984) - The Family The Family(1985)
- St. Paul (1986)
- Down to the Wire (1990)
- Blue Cadillac (1996)
- A Child Is Born The Petersons (1997)
- Live at the Quest The Minneapolis Allstars (1998)
- My Calendar Jeanne Arland Peterson (2000)
- A Compilation The Peterson Family (2003)
- Everything (2004)
- Let's Stay Here Oleta Adams (2009) (session musician, producer and coproducer, US touring band)