Multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning Producer/Guitarist Pete Anderson is most widely known as the musical partner to Dwight Yoakam, whose records he produced/arranged/and played on from 1986-2003 resulting in sales of 25 Million and counting. Pete is also well known as a pioneer in the roots-rock genre and was an early champion of the Americana movement, where he had a hand in introducing the world to artists such as Lucinda Williams, Jim Lauderdale, Michelle Shocked, Rosie Flores, and, more recently, Adam Hood. He is also a renowned bandleader who has appeared on Saturday Night Live, David Letterman, and The Tonight Show (19 times since 1986) and has played over 3,000 live shows in upwards of 15 countries around the world.
While Pete's work as a producer/arranger/guitarist has resulted in acclaimed records in the Country, Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Rock, Pop, R&B, and Red Dirt genres of music, his focus as a solo artist has always been his first musical love - The Blues.
Pete was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan to blue collar parents working in the auto industry. His first exposure to music came in the form of Elvis Presley and the Country and Western music his father listened to, but at age sixteen Pete was transformed when he heard Muddy Waters on the radio. He went on to attend the first ever Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1968 which featured artists like B.B King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, T-Bone Walker, and Lighting Hopkins. After that experience he devoted himself to learning everything he could about the Blues.
Marrying young, Pete went to work in the factories of Detroit working for Chrysler, Uniroyal, and The Vernor's ginger ale bottling plant while spending his evenings practicing his craft in local Blues bands. A few years later, he made his move to the West Coast in order to pursue his dream of becoming a professional musician, soon he was in demand as a skilled guitarist playing the blues, as well as country, rock, and most anything else, plying his trade in the bars and clubs around Los Angeles.
Now, with years of critical and commercial success to his name, Pete is focusing on his roots and re-entering the blues world with a lifetime of experience behind him. In 2006 he was approached by Guitar Center to help judge and organize their "King of the Blues" guitar competition, the largest in history. Pete created all of the backing tracks that the contestants used in competition, acted as a judge and bandleader at the finale which featured B.B. King one year and The Black Crowes the next, and a Pete Anderson produced E.P was a prize for the winner.
Recently, Pete has been working with Reverend Guitars to design "The Pete Anderson PA 1", a highly anticipated signature Blues/Rockabilly Guitar which will be released in 2009, that builds on Pete's previous experience in designing an award-winning acoustic guitar for Larivee, and an earlier version signature Tom Anderson. He also worked with Bruce Zinky to help shape the tone of the Fender Dual Professional Amp series.
Pete Anderson's next project, however, is the most exciting one to date. Pete is drawing on all his talents – multi-platinum Grammy Award-winning producer/arranger/songwriter/guitarist, legendary bandleader, cutting edge record label owner, savvy instrument designer, and of course "guitar hero" –by releasing a Blues record featuring new, all original material. Even more exciting for his fans, he plans to hit the road touring the record with an all-new blues band featuring two of the best musicians he has worked with over the years.
From the blue collar, mixed race neighborhoods of Detroit to Hollywood's early roots-rock scene and country music stardom to the new digital music industry and beyond, Pete Anderson's talent, work ethic, and innovative spirit have not only set him apart from the herd, but ensure his continued presence as a bright point in the future of the American music scene.
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