Peter Breinholt
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Peter Breinholt (b. March 31, 1969 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania) is a recording artist popular in the Salt Lake City, Utah local music scene. His music is usually classified as folk.
Breinholt grew up in Devon, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, where his father Robert H. Breinholt taught Management at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Peter learned to play piano and guitar and began writing songs before the age of 11.
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[edit] Career
After graduating from the University of Utah in 1993, Peter released an album entitled Songs About the Great Divide (nicknamed "The Big Parade") which became an underground classic on Utah college campuses. Or not so underground, with the Brigham Young University Marching Band soon playing the song, "You Wear Flowers" from that first album, on the football field at halftime. Breinholt began performing (and selling out) major concert halls in his home state of Utah and eventually in surrounding states.
His touring band has included Capitol Records recording artist Ryan Shupe, banjo player Craig Miner, indie recording artist David Tolk, former Rubberneck percussionist Randy Herbert, and harmonica-player Greg Whiteley (who also directed the 2005 Sundance Film Festival documentary New York Doll).
Between 1993 and 1995, Breinholt & Big Parade played nearly 100 shows and slowly built their fan base. It was during these concerts the expanded Big Parade (now including long-time member David Tolk on keyboards) road-tested many of the songs that later appeared on Breinholt's second studio album, "Heartland". The underlying theme of that record is travel. Pete’s experiences roaming through Europe, South America and the United States as a college student inspired fan favorites like “Train Going South” and “In This Heartland.” For many listeners, the highlight of the record was an evocative trip to the Civil War through “Edwin’s Tale – 1862”—a song that has taken on even greater resonance as listeners grapple with feelings about the Iraq war.
Breinholt's live album, "Live September", was recorded over three sold-out nights at the Sundance amphitheater in the Utah mountains three days after the September 11, 2001 attacks. The concerts were nearly cancelled after President Bush declared September 14--the day coinciding with opening night--a "National Day of Prayer", however, the shows went on because of a contractual agreement with the venue. A fortunate thing, since "Live September" has become one of Breinholt's most popular recordings.
It would be five years before Breinholt would release another record of solely original material. "All the Color Green" was the first record to be released minus the Big Parade and is Breinholt’s most personal recording to date. It was also the first time Breinholt didn't produce his own album, opting instead to enlist Utah producer Scott Wiley.
In May 2008, a first-ever retrospective compilation is scheduled for released to celebrate Breinholt's 15-year music career. It will include six re-recordings of old material, two remixes, and three new songs, making the album part greatest hits and part new release.
[edit] Musical style
Although a folk artist, Peter has performed his music with many symphony orchestras and choirs. On New Year's Eve 2006, Peter appeared as a guest with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in an event broadcast worldwide by satellite.
Peter's songs have also been heard in CNN stories, movie trailers, and television programs. "First Song", from his 2006 release All The Color Green, is the current theme song for the nationally syndicated TV show, "BrideAccess.com". His music was used in 1999 to launch computer company iOmega's Hip Zip, a predecessor of the iPod. In 1997, Breinholt scored the music for a short film entitled We Didn't, and in 2006 he directed (and scored) a documentary film entitled Buckland's Station. In 2007 he wrote and performed six songs for the 2008 release Everybody Wants To Be Italian starring Penny Marshall, John Kapelos, and John Enos III.
[edit] Hearings
In 2000, Peter testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee field hearing organized by Senator Orrin Hatch on the subject of peer-to-peer technology, online file-sharing, and CD burning. Napster-founder Shawn Fanning also testified, along with half a dozen leaders from the high-tech computer industry.
[edit] Family
Peter is married to Rebecca Breinholt and they have three children. They currently live in Salt Lake City. Peter is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
[edit] Recordings
- Songs about the Great Divide (1993)
- Heartland (1996)
- Deep Summer (1999)
- Live September (2001)
- Noel (2002)
- All the Color Green (2006)
- The Best of Peter Breinholt (May 2008)
