Peter Erskine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Erskine
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Erskine in 2013
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Peter Clark Erskine |
| Born | June 5, 1954 Somers Point, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1972–present |
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Peter Clark Erskine (born June 5, 1954) is a famous American jazz drummer. He was a key member of popular jazz fusion groups like Weather Report and Steps Ahead.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Peter Erskine was born in Somers Point, New Jersey, in the U.S. He started playing the drums when he was only four years old! He went to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. Later, he studied percussion at Indiana University.
Music Career
Peter Erskine's professional music journey began in 1972. He joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra and played with them for four years. After that, he played with Maynard Ferguson for two years.
In 1978, he became part of the famous band Weather Report. He played drums alongside the amazing bass player Jaco Pastorius. They were a strong rhythm section together. Peter spent four years with Weather Report and recorded five albums. He also played on Jaco Pastorius's big band album, Word of Mouth. After Weather Report, he joined the group Steps Ahead.
In 1992, Peter toured the U.S. with the jazz legend Chick Corea.
Today, Peter Erskine balances his time as a musician and a teacher. He is a professor at the USC Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.
He has played with many other famous musicians. These include Kate Bush on her 2005 album Aerial. He also performed with Diana Krall, Eliane Elias, Queen Latifah, and Linda Ronstadt. He has even played with classical orchestras in Scotland and Finland. In 2011, he performed in a new opera called Anna Nicole at the Royal Opera House in London.
Awards and Special Recognition
In 1992, Peter Erskine received a special honor. He was given an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music. This is a big award for his contributions to music.
Personal Life
Peter Erskine is married to Mutsuko Erskine. They have two children. Their daughter, Maya Erskine, is an actress and writer. Their son, Taichi Erskine, is a film editor and producer.
Albums and Recordings
Peter Erskine has released many albums as a band leader. He has also played on countless recordings with other artists. Here are some of his albums as a leader:
- Peter Erskine (1982)
- You Never Know (1993)
- History of the Drum (1995)
- Dr. Um (2016)
He has also been a co-leader on albums like:
- Current Events with John Abercrombie and Marc Johnson (1986)
- The Hudson Project with John Abercrombie, Bob Mintzer, and John Patitucci (2000)
As a member of Steps Ahead, he recorded:
- Steps Ahead (1983)
- Magnetic (1986)
Peter Erskine has played drums for many other artists, including:
- Michael Bublé on his albums Crazy Love (2009) and Christmas (2011).
- Diana Krall on The Look of Love (2001).
- Joni Mitchell on Mingus (1979) and Both Sides Now (2000).
- Steely Dan on their live album Alive in America (1995).
- Barbra Streisand on Christmas Memories (2001) and Partners (2014).
- And many more!
Books by Peter Erskine
Peter Erskine has also written several books about drumming and music. These books help other drummers learn and improve their skills. Some of his books include:
- Time Awareness
- The Erskine Method for Drumset
- My Book
- The Drum Perspective
- Drum Concepts and Techniques
- No Beethoven: An Autobiography and Chronicle of Weather Report
DVDs
He has also released instructional DVDs, such as:
- The Erskine Method for Drumset (Alfred Publishing Company)
See also
In Spanish: Peter Erskine para niños
