Jerry Peters
Encyclopedia
Jerry Peters is an American songwriter, record producer
, multi-instrumentalist
, conductor
and arranger
. He is best known for writing the hit song Going In Circles"
by The Friends of Distinction.
. At age 14, Jerry moved to Los Angeles
, California
where he attended Dorsey High School
. Upon graduating he then attended L.A. City College as an art major, while continuing to take music classes. He then transferred to the California Institute of Arts but left school just short of getting his degree to enter the music business. During his college years, Peters met Anita Poree and her brother, Greg Poree. They started writing songs together. This collaboration between Jerry and Anita Poree would became the R & B pop classic Going in Circles
, which was performed by The Friends of Distinction. This would become Jerry's first gold record. Around this time Jerry would become an in demand composer, songwriter, arranger, and producer. In 1972, Jerry would go on to record his only album on Mercury Records
, "Blueprint For Discovery". Also in 1972 Jerry would begin his association with The Sylvers
family. Working on all three of their Pride/MGM
albums, producing The Sylvers II
. He would produce both Foster Sylvers
albums. In 1975, would be the start of producing Gene Harris
four mid 1970's albums for Blue Note Records
. For the rest of the seventies well into the 1980s Jerry Petters would work with some of the very best in the business such as The Jacksons, Diana Ross
, Deniece Williams
, Gladys Knight
, Al Green
, Lionel Richie
and many others. In 2011, Jerry finally wins his first Grammy for co-writing the “Gospel Song of the Year” with Kirk Whalum
, “It’s What I Do”
Jerry Peters presently resides in Atlanta, Georgia
while spending a portion of his time working on projects in Los Angeles
, California
. Jerry is a member of Phi Beta Sigma
fraternity..
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
. He is best known for writing the hit song Going In Circles"
Going in Circles (song)
"Going in Circles" is a song written by Jerry Peters and Anita Poree, and originally performed by The Friends of Distinction on their 1969 album Grazin′, reaching #15 on the U.S. Hot 100, and #3 on the R&B chart...
by The Friends of Distinction.
Career
Jerry Peters was born in New Orleans, but was reared in Slidell, LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. At age 14, Jerry moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where he attended Dorsey High School
Susan Miller Dorsey High School
Susan Miller Dorsey High School is a high school located in Los Angeles, California.Dorsey is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school serves Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Jefferson Park, Leimert Park, and portions of Crenshaw....
. Upon graduating he then attended L.A. City College as an art major, while continuing to take music classes. He then transferred to the California Institute of Arts but left school just short of getting his degree to enter the music business. During his college years, Peters met Anita Poree and her brother, Greg Poree. They started writing songs together. This collaboration between Jerry and Anita Poree would became the R & B pop classic Going in Circles
Going in Circles (song)
"Going in Circles" is a song written by Jerry Peters and Anita Poree, and originally performed by The Friends of Distinction on their 1969 album Grazin′, reaching #15 on the U.S. Hot 100, and #3 on the R&B chart...
, which was performed by The Friends of Distinction. This would become Jerry's first gold record. Around this time Jerry would become an in demand composer, songwriter, arranger, and producer. In 1972, Jerry would go on to record his only album on Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, "Blueprint For Discovery". Also in 1972 Jerry would begin his association with The Sylvers
The Sylvers
The Sylvers were a popular R&B/soul and disco family group during the 1970s. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, the family would later relocate to Watts, California.- Beginnings :...
family. Working on all three of their Pride/MGM
MGM Records
MGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
albums, producing The Sylvers II
The Sylvers II
The Sylvers II is the second album by the Los Angeles, California-based R&B group The Sylvers.-Reception:Released in 1973, Produced by Keg Johnson and Jerry Peters.-Track listing:#"We Can Make It If We Try" - 2:40...
. He would produce both Foster Sylvers
Foster Sylvers
Foster Emerson Sylvers is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist...
albums. In 1975, would be the start of producing Gene Harris
Gene Harris
Gene Harris was an American jazz pianist known for his warm sound and blues and gospel infused style that is known as soul jazz....
four mid 1970's albums for Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...
. For the rest of the seventies well into the 1980s Jerry Petters would work with some of the very best in the business such as The Jacksons, Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, Deniece Williams
Deniece Williams
June Deniece Chandler known by her stage name Deniece Williams is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s...
, Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
, Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
, Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
and many others. In 2011, Jerry finally wins his first Grammy for co-writing the “Gospel Song of the Year” with Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
, “It’s What I Do”
Jerry Peters presently resides in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
while spending a portion of his time working on projects in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Jerry is a member of Phi Beta Sigma
Phi Beta Sigma
Phi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...
fraternity..
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Record label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
|||
| 1972 | Blueprint For Discovery Blueprint For Discovery Blueprint For Discovery is the only album by record producer and arranger Jerry Peters. Released in 1972, Produced by Jerry Peters, Keg Johnson and Richard Aaron for Organic Sound Productions.-Track listing:... |
— | — | Mercury Records Mercury Records Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal... |