Billy Peterson

Billy Peterson (born Willard Peterson in Minnesota) is an American bass player, songwriter, composer, session musician and producer. Peterson, who grew up in a family of professional musicians, became involved with music at a very young age. Billy is the brother of Paul Peterson (bass guitarist/singer/songwriter/keyboardist) and Ricky Peterson (keyboardist/singer/song writer/producer). Career Early career In 1967, Peterson joined The Righteous Brothers on a summer tour. While in school, he played bass and drums in local orchestras, big bands, and R&B bands, and toured with the Lawrence Welk Show All Stars. After graduating high school, he played bass with trumpet legend Clifford Brown’s pianist Billy Wallace until 1973. Peterson was the bassist on three of folk guitarist Leo Kottke’s albums in the mid ’70s, and played electric and upright bass on Bob Dylan’s multi-platinum Blood On The Tracks for Columbia Records. Peterson joined the Gibson guitar staff in 1976, giving him the opportunity to perform with B.B. King, Johnny Smith, Lenny Breau, Les Paul, and Howard Roberts. During this decade, record producer and engineer David Rivkin (aka David Z, who produced Prince in the 1980s) in