Ed Pettersen's body of work over fifteen years has earned him respect as a Folk/Americana performer and recording artist, and in 2007 he garnered international recognition for his production of the 3-CD, 50-song compilation Song of America. In 2007 he also released his critically acclaimed fifth record The New Punk Blues of Ed Pettersen. In 2008 his songwriting brought him further into the limelight, with a track on the 2008 Grammy nominated record of Blues legend Bettye LaVette and a song on Soul powerhouse Candi Staton's latest (2009), "Who's Hurting Now?".
"a subtle genius in his own right"
- Dave Good, CD Reviews NBC San Diego
"a provocative and literate songwriter"
- John Conquest, 3rd Coast Music
"entirely addictive folk and acoustic rock"
- Damaris Hay, Miami New Times
"The New Punk Blues of Ed Pettersen is a sneaky great record"
- John Koenig, Appleton Post-Crescent
"what Bruce Springsteen and Richard Thompson would sound like if they were one artist"
- Jerome Clark, Rambles.net
As the creator and producer of the Song of America, a fifty-song, 3-CD set tracing the history of the United States from 1492 through modern times through popular tunes interpreted by contemporary Grammy winning and critically acclaimed artists, Pettersen has produced tracks for the Blind Boys of Alabama, Tim O'Brien, Suzy Bogguss, Folk Family Robinson (of the Black Crowes), Devendra Banhardt, Minton Sparks, The Fisk Jubilee Singers, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Julie Lee among others. His album production credits include Freedy Johnston, Rosasharn, Scott Kempner, Jeff Roberson and his own recordings. Ed is an experienced Pro-Tools engineer and has worked with professional audio gear companies to improve their designs for acoustic performance and recording. The production team of Ed Pettersen and Bob Olhsson represents the best of Scandinavian audio expertise in Nashville.
****From Ed--I started out as a folksinger then I got a band (I still consider myself a folksinger). I've really gotten into producing other artists as I just love the studio and making things happen. Some of the artists I've worked with include Devendra Banhart, The Black Crowes, Michelle Shocked, Freedy Johnston, The Mavericks, BR549, The Wrights, John Wesley Harding, Anthony David, The Funk Brothers, Bettye LaVette, Dion and Little Kings, Julie Lee, Matthew Ryan, Otis Gibbs, Karen Parks, Joanna Smith, Thad Cockrell, Joni Harms, Malcolm Holcombe, Tim O'Brien, The Old Crow Medicine Show, Suzy Bogguss, Minton Sparks, the Fisk Jubilee Singers and the Blind Boys of Alabama among others. I was the tour manager for the Dictators for 3 1/2 years and roomed with Scott Kempner also of the Del Lords so naturally those bands influence me big time. I also dig Neil Young. He always seems to be doing it for the art and love of it. I met Motown legend Bob Olhsson when I moved to Nashville and my work has improved 300% since. Thank God for Bob Olhsson. Bob is a great friend and co-conspirator. In 2007 I finished the Song of America project with David Macias and Bob which is the recorded history of the U.S. in song by major artists. It's been a blast and a ton of work but well worth it since all net profits go towards programs that teach U.S. history through song in public schools. I was a contributing writer to Tape Op for two years and I dig engineering records as much as producing. I also like building my own custom audio gear now (Check my website for more info on that). Who'da thunk? I've also been doing a ton of co-writing on Music Row which is very interesting experience. I released my first record of all-new material in over 5 years, The New Punk Blues of Ed Pettersen, in January of 2007. In early 2011 I will release "I Curse the River of Time", a collection of new songs inspired by my stay in my grandfather's homeland, Norway. I've had songs covered recently by soul legends Bettye LaVette on her Grammy-nominated Scene of the Crime CD and Candi Staton on her new CD "Who's Hurting Now? (Feb. 2009). That's been quite a thrill as Bettye and Candi are two of my three favorite singers (the other being Gladys Knight). I also have nine songs on Alice Marie's debut record (which I also produced). Here's hoping I get to meet some of y'all out on the road soon.
