The Life and Times of Mr. R.
Early Years
For two years, commencing in 1956, Peter formally studied bass with William Morton of the Victorian Symphony Orchestra. He moved on to Jazz studies under Graeme Hall (Melbourne University), Brian Brown (Hailebury College) and Graeme Lyall (Perth University), performing at most well known Australian Jazz venues of the time.
He was one of the very first Australian players to take up the Electric Bass and was quickly attracted to the emerging popular Rock styles, gaining a position with The Thunderbirds who were the first full time teenage band in Australia. Peter was involved in arranging and producing a number of hit records for the band in the early sixties.
He then switched to Electric guitar and enjoyed a two year stint around Australia with the well-known Sydney TV combo Ray Hoff and Offbeats. This rounded out a musical apprenticeship that was the springboard for the creation of The Strangers, one of Melbourne's best known and most highly respected groups in the 60's and 70's.
The 60’s
In The Strangers, Peter was again arranging and producing and contributing to a successful career in the Music business achieving no less than eight local Top 40 hit singles during the group’s life, including the national hit “Happy Without You”.
The Strangers also became the 'house' band for the long running national 'Go Show' on Channel 10 and Peter was appointed Musical Director for the show, a role he filled for six years until 1970. He then moved over to Channel 7 as Musical Director for the TV shows ‘Sunnyside UP’ and ‘Turning On’. This role let him branch out into Musical Comedy / Light Classical and other styles of 'In-House' music.
Concurrently, Peter worked as a freelance writer, arranger, producer and session musician for various record companies, building up and maintaining a fine reputation throughout the 60's, 70's and 80's. Peter produced and performed on over 100 charted hits for such major Australian artists as:
John Farnham, Johnny Young, Russell Morris, Ronnie Burns, Buddy England, Bev Harrell, Masters Apprentices, Town Criers, Lobby Lloyd and the Coloured Balls, John Williamson, Ted Mulry , Johnny Chester, Colin Cook, Merv Benton, Pat Carroll, Lionel Rose, the 18th Century Quartet, Johnny O'Keefe,
Liv Maesson, Grantley Dee, Jim Keays Matt Flinders and Bobby and Laurie.
He has also accompanied and performed with such local artists as John Farnham, Johnny O'Keefe, Normie Rowe, Denise Drysdale, Johnny Young, Barry Stanton, Lucky Starr, Johny Young
International
Peter has written, performed and arranged numerous hit records for successful overseas artists in the USA including Olivia Newton John, for whom he co-wrote her successful crossover country hit "Home Ain't Home Any More",
He has accompanied and/or performed live with a variety of international artists in Australia and overseas such as Roy Orbison, Cliff Richard (three tours through Australia and overseas), Fabian, Jack Scott, Olivia Newton John (Musical Director for her 1974 Australian tour, Dianna Trask in 2013
In addition he has appeared with the Beach Boys, The Surfaris, Chan Romero, Chubby Checker, Ricky Nelson, Tommy Sands, Matt Monroe, Trini Lopez, Val Doonican and Dame Kiri Tekanawa.
In 1978 Peter was approached to join the international recording group The Seekers, replacing original member Athol Guy. Peter stayed with the group until 1986, recording on albums and travelling the world for almost ten years.
Recent Years
As a complete change of pace, between 1997 and 1999 Pete played with the heavy rock/punk outfit Blacksmith Hopkins, formed by the highly regarded Rose Tattoo guitarist Peter Wells. The band featured such local rock legends as Les Stackpoole on guitar, Harold Frith on drums and Chris Wilson on blues harp. Peter recorded three albums with the band.
He then played for a few years with Danny Robinson (former singer with the Wild Cherries) Guitar legend Les Stackpoole ( The Chessmen ) in a band called ‘Right on the Night’ before forming the ‘Beach Buddies’ (a Beach Boys cover band) with Buddy England.on Mike Love vocals while filling in for Brian Wilson on the higher parts
Pete then went on to become an intregral member of the ‘all star’ British Invasion cover band called ‘The Substitutes’ thereby coming full circle back to his 60’s roots.
In the 2000’s: Pete was currently writing and recording all styles of music, as well as playing live around Melbourne,
as a member of “80’s on the Edge “With four voices, (2) female and (2) male, to satisfy his great love for arranging vocals which was a keynote feature of “The Strangers” sound. 80’s on the Edge, used all the latest Electronic and Lighting technology, In a show not to be missed, presenting a powerful combination of great hits from the 80’s and 90’s www.80sOTE.com With writing and Musical director chores building up he retired from the group to work more in the studio ,and on special productions, which he continues to do
CURRENT NEWS
Pete’s latest project is as Musical director for “GO SHOW” writing all the scores & re-creating the music for the live presentation of that Legendary Television show of the 60’s