Andrew Peterson
Encyclopedia
Andrew Peterson 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.
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.
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. It featured the top ten radio single, “Nothing to Say.”
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
. 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. 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
, 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, 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
. 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
. 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. The album reached #9 on Billboard
's Top Christian Albums.
In August 2010 Peterson released Counting Stars, which debuted at #7 in Billboard's Top Christian Albums. His single from the album, Dancing in the Minefields, reached #13 on Billboard's Top Christian Songs chart and stayed on the chart for 19 weeks.
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. 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.
in 1997. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee
with his wife Jamie, sons Aedan and Asher, and daughter Skye.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
of Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
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
Caedmon's Call
Caedmon's Call is a Contemporary Christian band which fuses traditional folk with world music and alternative rock. They are composed of Cliff Young , Danielle Young , Derek Webb , Andrew Osenga , Garett Buell , Jeff Miller , Todd Bragg , and...
, Fernando Ortega
Fernando Ortega
Fernando Ortega is an adult contemporary singer-songwriter in contemporary Christian music. He is noted both for his interpretations of many traditional hymns and songs, such as "Give Me Jesus" and "Be Thou My Vision", and for writing clear, easily understood songs, such as "This Good...
, Michael Card
Michael Card
Michael Card is an American Christian singer-songwriter, musician, author, and radio host from Franklin, Tennessee. He is best known for his contributions in Contemporary Christian Music, which couple folk-style melodies and instrumentation with lyrics that stem from intensive study of the Bible...
, Sara Groves
Sara Groves
Sara Groves is an American Contemporary Christian singer, record producer, and author....
, Bebo Norman
Bebo Norman
Jeffrey Stephen "Bebo" Norman is a contemporary Christian musician from Columbus, Georgia, USA. His most successful album to date is Myself When I Am Real, which included hit songs "Great Light of the World" and "Falling Down". Other popular songs by Norman include "Disappear", "Nothing Without...
, Nichole Nordeman
Nichole Nordeman
Nichole Ellyse Nordeman is an eight-time Dove Award-winning contemporary Christian American singer–songwriter.-Biography:Nordeman was raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she played the piano in church...
, Jill Phillips
Jill Phillips
Jill Phillips is an American Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter based out of Nashville, Tennessee, who brings a folk-rock sound.Phillips got her start in a music career when she graduated from Belmont University in 1998. Her first, self-titled album was produced by grammy-award winning Wayne...
, 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 CallCaedmon's Call
Caedmon's Call is a Contemporary Christian band which fuses traditional folk with world music and alternative rock. They are composed of Cliff Young , Danielle Young , Derek Webb , Andrew Osenga , Garett Buell , Jeff Miller , Todd Bragg , and...
lead guitarist and vocalist Derek Webb
Derek Webb
Derek Walsh Webb is an American singer-songwriter who first entered the music industry as a member of the band Caedmon's Call, and later embarked on a successful solo career....
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.
This led to Peterson signing in 1999 with Watershed/Essential Records
Essential Records (Christian)
Essential Records is a Contemporary Christian record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It is a division of a major label, Sony Music Entertainment.-History:...
. His first full-length album, Carried Along
Carried Along
Carried Along is the second album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, released in 2000.-Track listing:All songs by Andrew Peterson unless otherwise noted.# "All The Way Home" – 4:52# "The Chasing Song" – 3:43...
was released in 2000. The album was listed on CCM Magazine's list of the Top 10 albums of 2000. It featured the top ten radio single, “Nothing to Say.”
Peterson's second album, Clear to Venus
Clear to Venus
Clear to Venus is the third album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, released in 2001.-Track listing:All songs by Andrew Peterson unless otherwise noted.# "No More Faith" – 4:13...
released on September 11, 2001.
In 2003, Peterson released Love and Thunder. It featured Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
, Cliff Young
Caedmon's Call
Caedmon's Call is a Contemporary Christian band which fuses traditional folk with world music and alternative rock. They are composed of Cliff Young , Danielle Young , Derek Webb , Andrew Osenga , Garett Buell , Jeff Miller , Todd Bragg , and...
and Randall Goodgame and was produced by Dove Award-winning Christian music veteran, Steve Hindalong
Steve Hindalong
Steve Hindalong is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band The Choir...
. Also in 2003, Peterson read narration for the audio version of Ray Blackston
Ray Blackston
Ray Blackston is an award-winning Christian novelist. He quit his stock-broking business in 2000 and started writing Christian fiction. He has written six novels; the first three were part of a series which started with his debut, Flabbergasted...
's novel Flabbergasted, and Caedmon's Call
Caedmon's Call
Caedmon's Call is a Contemporary Christian band which fuses traditional folk with world music and alternative rock. They are composed of Cliff Young , Danielle Young , Derek Webb , Andrew Osenga , Garett Buell , Jeff Miller , Todd Bragg , and...
recorded "Mystery of Mercy", a song Peterson co-wrote with Randall Goodgame, for their album Back Home
Back Home (Caedmon's Call album)
Back Home is the fifth major album release from Caedmon's Call.- Track listing :# "Only Hope" – 2:54# "You Created" – 3:27# "Walk with Me" – 4:19# "Hands of the Potter" – 3:51# "The Emptiest Day" – 3:51# "The Kingdom" – 4:30...
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. 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
Ron Block
Ronald Frankin "Ron" Block is an American bluegrass and alternative country musician, mainly playing the banjo and the guitar, singing, and writing gospel music.-Biography:...
, Garett Buell
Caedmon's Call
Caedmon's Call is a Contemporary Christian band which fuses traditional folk with world music and alternative rock. They are composed of Cliff Young , Danielle Young , Derek Webb , Andrew Osenga , Garett Buell , Jeff Miller , Todd Bragg , and...
, Cason Cooley, Sara Groves
Sara Groves
Sara Groves is an American Contemporary Christian singer, record producer, and author....
, Andrew Gullahorn, Phil Keaggy
Phil Keaggy
Phil Keaggy is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist who has released more than 50 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets...
, Sandra McCracken
Sandra McCracken
Sandra McCracken is an independent singer-songwriter. She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and fellow singer-songwriter Derek Webb.-Background:...
, Bebo Norman
Bebo Norman
Jeffrey Stephen "Bebo" Norman is a contemporary Christian musician from Columbus, Georgia, USA. His most successful album to date is Myself When I Am Real, which included hit songs "Great Light of the World" and "Falling Down". Other popular songs by Norman include "Disappear", "Nothing Without...
, Fernando Ortega
Fernando Ortega
Fernando Ortega is an adult contemporary singer-songwriter in contemporary Christian music. He is noted both for his interpretations of many traditional hymns and songs, such as "Give Me Jesus" and "Be Thou My Vision", and for writing clear, easily understood songs, such as "This Good...
, Andrew Osenga
Andrew Osenga
Andrew Osenga is an American singer/songwriter and progressive rock musician. He also writes, produces, engineers and plays guitar for other artists. Formerly the lead singer of The Normals, which broke up in 2003 for financial and family reasons, Osenga currently pursues a solo career in which he...
, Eric Peters, Pierce Pettis
Pierce Pettis
- Biography :A former staff writer for PolyGram Publishing in Nashville, Pettis' musical career was started in 1979 when Joan Baez covered one of his songs, "Song at the End of the Movie", on her album Honest Lullaby...
, Jill Phillips
Jill Phillips
Jill Phillips is an American Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter based out of Nashville, Tennessee, who brings a folk-rock sound.Phillips got her start in a music career when she graduated from Belmont University in 1998. Her first, self-titled album was produced by grammy-award winning Wayne...
, Gabe Scott, Ben Shive, David Wilcox and Derek Webb
Derek Webb
Derek Walsh Webb is an American singer-songwriter who first entered the music industry as a member of the band Caedmon's Call, and later embarked on a successful solo career....
. The tour culminates in an annual performance in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
's Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
.
In 2005, Peterson released The Far Country and Appendix A: Bootlegs and B Sides
Appendix A: Bootlegs and B Sides
Appendix A: Bootlegs and B Sides is the seventh album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, released in 2006.-Track listing:# "Land of the Free " # "Bigfoot's Weapons"# "Little Boy Heart Alive "...
.
In 2006, Peterson worked with his friend Randall Goodgame to release Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies
Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies
Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies is the eighth album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, with his friend and collaborator Randall Goodgame, released in 2006. It consists of 18 original songs. You Can Always Come Home was featured on the Veggie Tales' The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's . The CD...
, 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
The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's
The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's is the 33rd episode in the VeggieTales series, and was released on DVD on October 6, 2007 in Christian Bookstores and on October 9, 2007 in other stores. It is based on the parable from the Bible, The Prodigal Son, and a parody of The Wizard of Oz film adaptation...
. 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
Waterdeep (band)
Waterdeep is an independent Christian band from Kansas City, Missouri made up of husband and wife Don and Lori Chaffer.Waterdeep was formed in 1995 following the break-up of Hey Ruth...
. That same year, Michael Card
Michael Card
Michael Card is an American Christian singer-songwriter, musician, author, and radio host from Franklin, Tennessee. He is best known for his contributions in Contemporary Christian Music, which couple folk-style melodies and instrumentation with lyrics that stem from intensive study of the Bible...
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
Randy Travis
Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
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
Centricity Music
Centricity Music is an American record label founded in Washington with artists in contemporary Christian music. Some of its artists include Aaron Shust, Andrew Peterson, downhere, and Jason Gray, among others.-History:...
. 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. The album reached #9 on Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
's Top Christian Albums.
In August 2010 Peterson released Counting Stars, which debuted at #7 in Billboard's Top Christian Albums. His single from the album, Dancing in the Minefields, reached #13 on Billboard's Top Christian Songs chart and stayed on the chart for 19 weeks.
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.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
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
. The first novel, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is a fantasy novel published in 2008, written by Andrew Peterson.On The Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is about three siblings, Janner, Tink and Leeli Igiby, their mother, Nia Igiby, their ex-pirate grandfather, Podo Helmer, and the Fangs of Dang,...
, was released March 18, 2008. 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.
Personal life
Peterson graduated from Florida Christian CollegeFlorida Christian College
Florida Christian College is a higher education institution located in Kissimmee, Florida affiliated with the Independent Christian Church. The college provides non-denominational conservative Christian education ranging from preaching to elementary education. The school was founded in 1976 as...
in 1997. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
with his wife Jamie, sons Aedan and Asher, and daughter Skye.
Albums
- 1996: WalkWalk (album)Walk is the first album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, released in 1996.-Track listing:All songs by Andrew Peterson.# "Carolina"# "Another Day"# "If I Wanna Walk"# "Lullaby"# "Shades of Home"# "Let Me Sing"...
- 2000: Carried AlongCarried AlongCarried Along is the second album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, released in 2000.-Track listing:All songs by Andrew Peterson unless otherwise noted.# "All The Way Home" – 4:52# "The Chasing Song" – 3:43...
- 2001: Clear to VenusClear to VenusClear to Venus is the third album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, released in 2001.-Track listing:All songs by Andrew Peterson unless otherwise noted.# "No More Faith" – 4:13...
- 2003: Love and ThunderLove and ThunderLove and Thunder is the fourth album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, released in 2003.-Track listing:All songs by Andrew Peterson unless otherwise noted.# "Canaan Bound" – 3:27...
- 2004: Behold the Lamb of GodBehold the Lamb of GodBehold the Lamb of God is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, released in 2004.Each December, Andrew travels the country with fellow musicians to present Behold the Lamb of God. The first half of the concert is spent storytelling songs with each guest artist on the tour...
- 2005: The Far CountryThe Far Country (album)The Far Country is the sixth album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson , released in 2005.-Track listing:All songs by Andrew Peterson unless otherwise noted.# "The Far Country" – 4:35# "Lay Me Down" – 4:07...
- 2005: Appendix A: Bootlegs and B SidesAppendix A: Bootlegs and B SidesAppendix A: Bootlegs and B Sides is the seventh album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, released in 2006.-Track listing:# "Land of the Free " # "Bigfoot's Weapons"# "Little Boy Heart Alive "...
- 2006: Slugs & Bugs & LullabiesSlugs & Bugs & LullabiesSlugs & Bugs & Lullabies is the eighth album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, with his friend and collaborator Randall Goodgame, released in 2006. It consists of 18 original songs. You Can Always Come Home was featured on the Veggie Tales' The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's . The CD...
- 2007: Appendix M: Media / Music / Movies
- 2008: Resurrection Letters, Volume TwoResurrection Letters, Volume TwoResurrection Letters, Volume Two is the tenth album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, released in 2008.-Track listing:All songs by Andrew Peterson unless otherwise noted.# "All Things New" – 3:49...
- 2009: Appendix C: Live with the Captains Courageous
- 2009: Behold the Lamb of God 10th Anniversary Edition
- 2010: Counting StarsCounting StarsCounting Stars is an album by Andrew Peterson. It was released on July 27, 2010, through Centricity Music.-Track listing:#"Many Roads" - 4:22#"Dancing In The Minefields" - 3:30#"Planting Trees" - 3:31#"The Magic Hour" - 3:39#"World Traveler" - 4:06...
Books
- 2007: The Ballad of Matthew's BegatsThe Ballad of Matthew's BegatsThe Ballad of Matthew's Begats is a children's picture book published in 2007, written by Andrew Peterson and illustrated by Cory Godbey. The book is based on the song of the same name from Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God.-Notes and references:...
- 2008: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of DarknessOn the Edge of the Dark Sea of DarknessOn the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is a fantasy novel published in 2008, written by Andrew Peterson.On The Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is about three siblings, Janner, Tink and Leeli Igiby, their mother, Nia Igiby, their ex-pirate grandfather, Podo Helmer, and the Fangs of Dang,...
: The Wingfeather Saga, Book One - 2009: North! Or Be Eaten: The Wingfeather Saga, Book Two
- 2011: The Monster in the Hollows: The Wingfeather Saga, Book Three
External links
- Andrew Peterson's Web site
- www.WingfeatherSaga.com The Wingfeather Saga Online
- www.rabbitroom.com Andrew and friends discuss books, music, and art
- www.Compassion.com Andrew has teamed with Compassion International to help children out of poverty.
- www.loveandthunder.com Andrew Peterson guitar tabs