Andrew Peterson (musician)

Andrew Peterson

Andrew Peterson performing at the First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, OH on October 27, 2008.
Background information
Born June 4, 1974
Origin Monticello, Illinois
Genres Contemporary Christian, folk
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, musician, author
Years active 1996–present
Labels Centricity Music
Website andrew-peterson.com

Andrew Peterson (born June 4, 1974) 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.

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, Jason Gray, Matthew Perryman Jones, Brandon Heath, 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 No. 9 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums.[5]

In August 2010 Peterson released Counting Stars, which debuted at No. 7 in Billboard's Top Christian Albums. His single from the album, "Dancing in the Minefields", reached No. 13 on Billboard's Top Christian Songs chart and stayed on the chart for 19 weeks.[5]

On August 24, 2012 Andrew released the album Light for the Lost Boy to critical acclaim, due to a fuller band sound which maintains his depth of lyrical content.

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. This novel was funded successfully through Kickstarter in August 2013 and was released in July 2014.

Personal life

The son of a pastor, Peterson spent his childhood in the rural farm town of Monticello, Illinois. Peterson's family relocated to Florida when he was seven. His parents originated from that state. After living outside of Jacksonville for a few years, his family settled in Lake Butler. Peterson graduated from Florida Christian College in 1997. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife and three children.

Discography

Albums

Year Album Type Peak positions
U.S. Christian
[8]
SWE
[9]
1996 Walk Studio
2000 Carried Along Studio 32
2001 Clear to Venus Studio 27
2003 Love and Thunder Studio
2004 Behold the Lamb of God Studio
2005 The Far Country Studio
Appendix A: Bootlegs and B Sides Compilation
(includes live tracks)
2006 Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies
(credited to Andrew Peterson and Randall Goodgame)
Studio
2007 Appendix M: Media / Music / Movies EP
2008 Resurrection Letters, Volume Two Studio 9
2009 Appendix C: Live with the Captains Courageous Live
Behold the Lamb of God: 10th Anniversary Edition Christmas
Studio and live tracks
Plus DVD
2010 Counting Stars Studio 7
2011 Above These City Lights Live 7
2012 Light for the Lost Boy Studio 8 54
2014 After All These Years: A Collection Compilation

Singles

(Selective singles and videos)

Video

Books

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Andrew Peterson – The Acoustic Roots Singer Finding New Outlets as an Author". CrossRhythms.co.uk. November 2007. Archived from the original on November 11, 2007. Retrieved December 3, 2007.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Andrew Peterson – Biography." Christianity Today. Retrieved December 3, 2007.
  3. Centricity Music Signs Veteran Singer/Songwriter, Andrew Peterson
  4. "andrew-peterson.com – Andrew Signs with New Label". October 2008. Archived from the original on October 8, 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2008.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Andrew Peterson
  6. Peterson, A & Godbey, C (2007): "The Ballad of Matthew's Begats", Thomas Nelson, ISBN 1-4003-0909-3
  7. "Andrew Peterson – Journal". January 2007. Retrieved December 3, 2007.
  8. Billboard.com: Andrew Petersen page
  9. "Andrew Peterson discography". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2013.

External links