Andrew Peterson (musician)
| Andrew Peterson | |
|---|---|
 Andrew Peterson performing at the First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, OH on October 27, 2008. |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Monticello, Illinois |
| Genres | Contemporary Christian, folk |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter, musician, author |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Centricity Music |
| Website | Official Web site |
Andrew Peterson is an American singer-songwriter of Contemporary Christian music and an author.
Peterson is a founding member of the Square Peg Alliance, a group of Christian songwriters. He has toured with Caedmon's Call, Fernando Ortega, Michael Card, Sara Groves, Bebo Norman, Nichole Nordeman, Jill Phillips, Andrew Gullahorn, Ben Shive, Eric Peters, and other members of the Square Peg Alliance. His regular touring band, The Captains Courageous consists of singer/songwriter/producers Andy Gullahorn and Ben Shive.
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[edit] Musical career
In 1996, Peterson began touring across America with his wife Jamie, and guitarist Gabe Scott. Peterson had yet to release a full-length album, and had no recording contract. Then one day, Caedmon's Call lead guitarist and vocalist Derek Webb came across his website, and was so impressed by the lyrics that he invited Peterson to open for his band at an upcoming show. The band enjoyed his performance and he was invited to join them on their 1998 tour.[1]
This led to Peterson signing in 1999 with Watershed/Essential Records. His first full-length album, Carried Along was released in 2000. The album was listed on CCM Magazine's list of the Top 10 albums of 2000.[1] It featured the top ten radio single, “Nothing to Say.” [2]
Peterson's second album, Clear to Venus released on September 11, 2001.
In 2003, Peterson released Love and Thunder. It featured Alison Krauss, Cliff Young and Randall Goodgame and was produced by Dove Award-winning Christian music veteran, Steve Hindalong.[1] Also in 2003, Peterson read narration for the audio version of Ray Blackston's novel Flabbergasted, and Caedmon's Call recorded "Mystery of Mercy", a song Peterson co-wrote with Randall Goodgame, for their album Back Home
In 2004, Peterson's song "Family Man", from the album Love and Thunder, was nominated in the category "Country Recorded Song of the Year" for the 35th Annual Dove Awards.[2] Peterson also released a Christmas album, Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ. Since the holiday season of 2004, Peterson and a wide variety of fellow Nashville area musicians have gone on tour playing the songs from the album. Musicians involved in the tour include: Ron Block, Todd Bragg, Garett Buell, Cason Cooley, Sara Groves, Andrew Gullahorn, Phil Keaggy, Sandra McCracken, Bebo Norman, Fernando Ortega, Andrew Osenga, Eric Peters, Pierce Pettis, Jill Phillips, Gabe Scott, Ben Shive, David Wilcox and Derek Webb. The tour culminates in an annual performance in Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.
In 2005, Peterson released The Far Country and Appendix A: Bootlegs and B Sides.
In 2006, Peterson worked with his friend Randall Goodgame to release Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies, a children's album. The album produced two tracks which were featured on the newest video in the best-selling Veggie Tales series called The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's.[1] Peterson sang the song "Arise, Arise" on Songs from the Voice, Vol. 2: Son of the Most High, a compilation album produced by Don Chaffer of Waterdeep. That same year, Michael Card recorded Peterson's song "The Silence of God" for his album The Hidden Face of God. Peterson has appeared on Card's radio show on numerous occasions.
In 2007, Peterson independently released Appendix M: Media / Music / Movies, an EP containing live versions, original demos, and rarities. Later that year, Randy Travis recorded Peterson's "Labor of Love" for his 2007 Christmas album "Home for the Holidays".
In July 2008, Peterson signed with the Christian label Centricity Music.[3] On October 21, 2008, Peterson released Resurrection Letters, Volume Two, a collection of songs about what the resurrection of Jesus Christ means for people today.[4] The album reached #9 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums.[5]
In August 2010 Peterson released Counting Stars, which debuted at #7 in Billboard's Top Christian Albums. His single from the album, Dancing in the Minefields, reached #13 on Billboard's Top Christian Songs chart and stayed on the chart for 19 weeks.[5]
[edit] Writing
In 2007, Andrew Peterson published The Ballad of Matthew's Begats with illustrator Cory Godbey. It is a children's book based on the song of the same name from Peterson's annual Christmas show, Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ. [6]
Peterson is also currently writing a series of fantasy/adventure novels for young adults entitled The Wingfeather Saga published by Waterbrook Press, a subsidiary of Random House. The first novel, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, was released March 18, 2008.[1][7] The second novel in the series, North! Or Be Eaten was released August 18, 2009, and the third novel in the series, The Monster in the Hollows, was released in May 2011. The series will conclude in the forthcoming novel, The Warden and the Wolf King.
[edit] Personal life
Peterson graduated from Florida Christian College in 1997. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife Jamie, sons Aedan and Asher, and daughter Skye.
[edit] Works
[edit] Albums
- 1996: Walk
- 2000: Carried Along
- 2001: Clear to Venus
- 2003: Love and Thunder
- 2004: Behold the Lamb of God
- 2005: The Far Country
- 2005: Appendix A: Bootlegs and B Sides
- 2006: Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies
- 2007: Appendix M: Media / Music / Movies
- 2008: Resurrection Letters, Volume Two
- 2009: Appendix C: Live with the Captains Courageous
- 2009: Behold the Lamb of God 10th Anniversary Edition
- 2010: Counting Stars
[edit] Books
- 2007: The Ballad of Matthew's Begats
- 2008: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: The Wingfeather Saga, Book One
- 2009: North! Or Be Eaten: The Wingfeather Saga, Book Two
- 2011: The Monster in the Hollows: The Wingfeather Saga, Book Three
[edit] Video
- 2005: Behold the Lamb of God Live (DVD)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "Andrew Peterson - The Acoustic Roots Singer Finding New Outlets as an Author". CrossRhythms.co.uk. November 2007. http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Andrew_Peterson__The_acoustic_roots_singer_finding_new_outlets_as_an_author/29561/p1/. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ^ a b "Andrew Peterson - Biography." Christianity Today. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ^ Centricity Music Signs Veteran Singer/Songwriter, Andrew Peterson
- ^ "andrew-peterson.com - Andrew Signs with New Label". October 2008. http://www.andrew-peterson.com/news.php?id=149. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ a b Andrew Peterson
- ^ Peterson, A & Godbey, C (2007): "The Ballad of Matthew's Begats", Thomas Nelson, ISBN 1-4003-0909-3
- ^ "Andrew Peterson - Journal". January 2007. http://www.andrew-peterson.com/journals.php?q=1&y=2007. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
[edit] External links
- Andrew Peterson's Web site
- www.WingfeatherSaga.com The Wingfeather Saga Online
- www.rabbitroom.com Andrew and friends discuss books, music, and art
- www.Compassion.com Andrew has teamed with Compassion International to help children out of poverty.
- www.loveandthunder.com Andrew Peterson guitar tabs
