Wikipedia

Draft:Don Peake


Donald Geoffrey Peake (born June 7, 1940, Los Angeles) is an American guitar player, arranger and composer. He has performed on innumerable recordings, including many as a session musician, arranger or producer and member of The Wrecking Crew studio musicians. He is also a film and television music composer.

Biography edit

In 1961 Peake's professional career began as lead guitarist with The Everly Brothers.[1] at the age of 21, playing in the U.S. and Europe for two years. Peake returned to Los Angeles to establish himself as a recording musican and played on many of the legendary recordings under Phil Spector[2]'s production including The Righteous Brothers'[3] Ike & Tina Turner's "River Deep – Mountain High"[4] as well as recording with Mahalia Jackson[5], Cannonball Adderley[6] and Marvin Gaye.[7]

In 1964 Peake became the first white musician to play with the Ray Charles[8] Orchestra, touring with Charles and recording with him for ten years. During that time Peake studied guitar with Barney Kessel, Howard Roberts and Joe Pass. Peake became one of the busiest session guitarists in Los Angeles, recording for Jan and Dean,[9] The Mamas and the Papas[10], Sonny & Cher[11], The Beach Boys[12] and many others. Don was inducted into an elite group of studio musicians led by drummer Hal Blaine[13] known as "The Wrecking Crew".

He played lead guitar for Marvin Gaye[14] (Let's Get It On) and on all The Jackson 5's original hitsLiving Legend: Don Peake - Premier Guitar, "ABC", "I Want You Back[15]", etc. Peake was a staff guitarist for Motown Records when the company moved to Los Angeles in the early seventies and played on many of the top Motown artists recordings.

Peake also played on all of Barry White[16][17]'s hit records, several of which he arranged.

He was then moving into arranging and composition. His first arrangement was Tim Hardin's "If I Were a Carpenter[18]" for Bobby Darin. He contributed arrangements to Gloria Gaynor's platinum album Love Tracks[19], the first disco record to become a pop crossover.

Peake has also composed music for film and commercials. He studied composition and orchestration with Dr. Albert Harris, Academy Award winning composer Paul Glass and conducting with Samuel Krachmalnick.

In addition to his music career, Peake served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve for 8 years as a damage control man Second Class, and was honorably discharged.

Peake also participated in road racing and was the Southern Pacific Division Champion (SCCA) in 1968.[20] He also held the course record for the fastest lap at Riverside Raceway, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix International Raceway for many years and finished 3rd for the National Championship in 1968.

He earned a United States Coast Guard 100 ton Captains License for mechanical and sail in 1983.

After serving 27 years as a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Reserve Detective, Peake was honorably retired in 2016.

Don Peake is a member of the Music Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and also the Television Academy. He has served as a judge for the Grammy Award arranging category and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Composers and Lyricists. He was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame[21] in Nashville, Tennessee, on November 26, 2007.

Recently Don Peake, along with fellow Wrecking Crew members Don Randi and Chuck Berghofer and in conjunction with Denny Tedesco (producer/director The Wrecking Crew film), have been performing around the Los Angeles area with their "Wrecking Crew - Golden Hits With a Splash of Motown"[22] shows.

Discography edit

With Jermaine Jackson

With Gloria Gaynor

With The Monkees

  • [26] More of the Monkees] Colgems 1967 – Guitar, Arranger

With Minnie Riperton

  • Stay In Love (Album) Epic 1977[27] – Arranger

With Barry White

  • The Love Unlimited Orchestra Trend[16] 1973 – Arranger, Songwriter
  • Love Unlimited Orchestra – Let 'Em Dance [28] Versailles 1993 – Arranger, Guitar

With Bobby Darin

With Tim Hardin

With Tavares

  • Don't Take Away the Music[31] – Capital 1976

With Noel Harrison

  • Suzanne[32] – Reprise 1968

With Jan and Dean

  • Jan and Dean Meet Batman [33] Liberty 1966 – Guitar

With Tommy Sands

  • Candy Store Prophet/Second Star to the Left[34] Imperial 1967 – Arranger

With Priscilla Paris

  • Love Priscilla [35] Ace Records 2012
  • Priscilla Sings Herself[36] York Records 1967 – Arranger

With Sonny Bono

  • My Best Friend's Girl is Out of Sight/Pammie's on a Bummer[37] Atco Records 1967 – Arranger

With Del Shannon

  • The Further Adventures Of Charles Westover[38] Liberty 1968 – Orchestrator
  • Raindrops/You Don't Love Me Liberty[39] 1968 – Arranger

With Brian Hyland

  • Come With Me/Delilah [40] Dot Records 1968 – Orchestrator

With The Eric Ekstrand Ensemble

  • Spiked Heel Stomp [41] Roller Coasters 1998 – Producer

With Wayne Newton

  • Husbands and Wives/I Just Can't Help Believin'[42] MGM 1968 – Arranger

Filmography edit

Films Scored by Don Peake:

Selected Short Films Scored by Don Peake:

  • Violet/Violet [51] Academy Award Winner Best Short Subject, Live Action Shelley Levinson / AFI
  • Leon's Case [52] Golden Award Winner Best Short Subject, Live Action
  • In the Region of Ice [53] Academy Award Winner Best Short Subject, Live Action Peter Werner / AFI
  • The Bulkin Trail [54] Golden Eagle Award, Christopher Award, Bronze Apple Winner Starring David Hasselhoff Upstart Productions / Michael Nathanson

Selected Movies For Television:

Television Series and Specials:

Peake has also scored over 40 television commercials.

References edit

  1. ^ Sharp, Ken (December 9, 2015). "Albert Lee on Everly Brothers, the Crickets and Decades of Rock History (Interview)".
  2. ^ Ribowsky, Mark (1989) He's a Rebel: Phil Spector--Rock and Roll's Legendary Producer, First Cooper Square Press Edition 2000 P. 50 ISBN 978-0-8154-1044-7
  3. ^ "The Righteous Brothers – Back To Back (1965, Vinyl) - Discogs".
  4. ^ "Ike & Tina Turner – River Deep ~ Mountain High (1966, Vinyl) - Discogs".
  5. ^ Kubernik, Harvey (October 31, 2013). "IZZY CHAIT By Harvey Kubernik | Cave Hollywood".
  6. ^ "Cannonball Adderley – Big Man: The Legend Of John Henry (1975, Gatefold, Vinyl) - Discogs".
  7. ^ https://musicbrainz.org/release/d7889b61-8fb7-4ac7-b92c-5f6bf6e60843/
  8. ^ Hartman, Kent (2012) The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret United States: St. Martin's Press. P. 81 - 86 ISBN 9780312619749, 031261974X
  9. ^ https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Dean-Record-Chronology-Performances/dp/0786498129?asin=0786498129&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1.
  10. ^ "The Mamas & The Papas – People Like Us (1971, Terre Haute Press, Vinyl) - Discogs".
  11. ^ "BEHIND THE MAKING OF SONNY & CHER Chapter 5 1967 Atco Imperial releases GOOD TIMES". www.sonnycher.com.
  12. ^ Badman, Keith (2004) The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band, on Stage and in the Studio, Backbeat Books p. 392 ISBN 0-87930-818-4
  13. ^ Blaine, Hal, Bonzai, Mr. (2010) Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew, Rebeats Publications [. 70 ISBN 0-918371-01-5.
  14. ^ "Living Legend: Don Peake - Premier Guitar".
  15. ^ "Michael Jackson – The Ultimate Collection (2004, CD) - Discogs".
  16. ^ a b "Kubernik: Barry White – Rocker and Disco Icon". Music Connection Magazine. August 15, 2023.
  17. ^ "Barry White – Let The Music Play (1976, Vinyl) - Discogs".
  18. ^ "1966 Bobby Darin – If I Were A Carpenter | Sessiondays".
  19. ^ "Gloria Gaynor - Love Tracks".
  20. ^ https://cdn.connectsites.net/user_files/scca/downloads/000/007/320/07-club-mediaguide2.pdf?1433533922
  21. ^ "Inductees". Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
  22. ^ "The El Portal Theatre". elportaltheatre.com.
  23. ^ "Jermaine Jackson – Frontiers (1978, Vinyl) - Discogs".
  24. ^ "Jermaine Jackson – Let's Get Serious (1980, Vinyl) - Discogs".
  25. ^ "Gloria Gaynor – Love Tracks (1978, Vinyl) - Discogs".
  26. ^ http://albumlinernotes.com/More_Of_The_Monkees.html
  27. ^ "1977 Minnie Riperton – Stay In Love | Sessiondays".
  28. ^ "Let Em Dance" – via Amazon.
  29. ^ http://bobbydarin.com/acarpenter.html
  30. ^ Chilton, Martin (April 1, 2023). "'Tim Hardin 2': A Beautiful Album That Stands The Test Of Time".
  31. ^ "Tavares – Don't Take Away The Music / Guiding Star (1976, Vinyl) - Discogs".
  32. ^ "Noel Harrison – Suzanne (1967, Vinyl) - Discogs".
  33. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  34. ^ "45cat - Tommy Sands - Candy Store Prophet / Second Star To The Left - Imperial - USA - 66229".
  35. ^ Records, Ace. "Love, Priscilla". Ace Records.
  36. ^ "Priscilla Paris : Love Priscilla -- Her 1960s Solo Recordings (Priscilla Sings Herself/Priscilla Sings Billie/bonus tracks) (CD)" – via www.dustygroove.com.
  37. ^ "Sonny – My Best Friend's Girl Is Out Of Sight / Pammie's On A Bummer (1968, Plastic Products, Vinyl) - Discogs".
  38. ^ "Del Shannon - The Further Adventures Of Charles Westover | Releases | Discogs".
  39. ^ "DELSHANNON.COM - Full Length Biography". www.delshannon.com.
  40. ^ "Psych! Brian Hyland Del Shannon Come With Me / Delilah | #151022738". Worthpoint.
  41. ^ "Recordings". www.ericekstrandmusic.com.
  42. ^ "45cat - Wayne Newton - Husbands And Wives / I Just Can't Help Believin' - MGM - USA - K-14014".
  43. ^ "FRANKIE AND JOHNNY ARE MARRIED". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.
  44. ^ McCarthy, Todd (April 19, 1999). "A Fare to Remember".
  45. ^ "The People Under the Stairs (1991)" – via letterboxd.com.
  46. ^ "Hard Justice (1995)" – via www.filmaffinity.com.
  47. ^ "The Dangerous (1995)" – via letterboxd.com.
  48. ^ "Modern Love (1990)" – via www.filmaffinity.com.
  49. ^ Canby, Vincent (15 June 1979). "Film: 'Walk Proud' is Upbeat Gang Movie:West Coast Story". The New York Times.
  50. ^ "The Hills Have Eyes (1977)". The Hills Have Eyes Wiki.
  51. ^ "Violet (S) (S) (1981)" – via www.filmaffinity.com.
  52. ^ "Leon's Case (1982) | MUBI" – via mubi.com.
  53. ^ "In the Region of Ice (1976)" – via www.filmaffinity.com.
  54. ^ Scott, Tony (November 24, 1993). "The Bulkin Trail".
  55. ^ "Code of Vengeance". Knight Rider.
  56. ^ https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=michael&p=259&item=T:24365
  57. ^ "Taxicab Confessions".
  58. ^ "Knight Rider Soundtracks by: Don Peake". www.kittstillrocks.com. March 5, 2019.
  59. ^ "My two dads (TV Series) (1987)" – via www.filmaffinity.com.

External links edit

https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/don-peake https://www.discogs.com/artist/386822-Don-Peake https://www.facebook.com/WreckingCrewFilm/posts/happy-birthday-to-guitarist-composer-and-arranger-don-peake-who-was-born-donald-/10158640333538023/

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