Ricky Peterson, keyboardest and singer and a
life long Minnesotan who has always focused on
characteristically, "The Minneapolis" sound. Ricky is best known
for his 22 year association with saxophone legend David Sanborn
and for having, produced, written and played keyboards for Prince on
and off since his early days on the Twin Cities scene. Perhaps most
notably, arranging and producing "The Most Beautiful Girl in
the World", and many more of his hits.
This is just the icing on a career whose associations (either live or
in the studio) read like a diverse pop and jazz trivia encyclopedia:
Bonnie Raitt, Billy Joel, Steve Miller Band, Anita Baker, Phebe Snow, James Taylor, Mavis Staples,
Joe Sample, Sting, Sergio Mendes, Tuck & Patti, Brian Wilson, Ben Sidran, Rodger
Waters, Rick Braun, Euge Groove, Rhythm Syndicate, Kirk Whalum, Phil Upchurch, Jimmy Buffet, Fine
Young Cannibals, Jermaine Jackson, GoGos, Paula Abdul, Boz Scaggs,
Dave Koz, Howard Hewett, Lalah Hathaway, Jonathon Butler, Bruce Willis,
The Jets, Chaka Khan, Robben Ford, Sheryl Crow, Larry Graham, and John Mayer.
Having amassed one of contemporary music's most star-studded resumes;
Peterson always and chooses the colleagues he feels
are most appropriate to the spirit of the project. Along with family
members Jeanne (Mom on Piano), Patty and Linda (vocals), Paul
Peterson (bass, guitar), Billy Peterson (bass), and nephew Jason
Peterson DeLaire the Minneapolis based keyboardist plays with an
exciting cross section of his favorite Los Angeles and New York based
jazz/R&B friends: guitarists Robben Ford, Paul Jackson, Jr. and Hiram
Bullock; bassists John Pattatuci and Will Lee; saxmen Dick Oatts, Bob
Malach, Brandon Fields, David Sanborn; and drummers Vinnie Colaiuta,
Charlie Drayton, Michael Bland, Steve Jordan, Gene Lake and Joey Finger.
Ricky is now working on his 5th solo CD that will
be available soon. He's promising the same musicality and funkiness
that has been a mainstay in his previous CDs.
Friend and colleague Ben Sidran put it best when he said of Peterson:
"There are two kinds of genius, the kind that is, as the saying goes,
90 percent perspiration, 10 percent inspiration, and the other kind.
Ricky Peterson is clearly the other kind, a born singer with a great
range, a gifted keyboard player with his own sense of style and
literally, a musical force of nature.
