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Pete Trappen - Biography

Pete Trappen at Common Ground Fest 2007'Chasing the Sky' has 6 original songs and 4 cover songs by: Van Morrison, Jack Johnson, Jimmy Buffett and Bob Dylan. The CD was recorded and produced by Pete in his home studio in 2006-2007 and released in November of 2007. The album features guest artists on several tracks as follows: Rush & Julie Clement sing harmonies on 'You Ain't Going Nowhere", Patrick John Dawdy on acoustic rhythm guitar & harmony vocals (Going My Way & Mother Natures Wine), Doug Gluckin on Saxophone & Flute (Talk To Me Lady, Mother Nature's Wine & Going My Way), Jerry Krause on keyboards & bass (Chasing the Sky & Talk To Me Lady), Patrick T. Malloy on lead guitar (Going My Way), Mike Willemin (drums and percussion (Chasing the Sky & Talk To Me Lady). All other songs were performed by Pete on lead & rhythm guitars, harmonica, bass, & sequencer keyboards. The cover photo 'Sails' was shot by Kevin Phillips www.kevinphillips.co.uk

IN DEPTH
I got my first guitar at about the age of 8. It was an old beat-up acoustic guitar. I learned to play that thing through sheer will and eventually saved up enough money to buy a cheap electric guitar from Sears. That was all I wanted to do. I have been a professional musician now for over 30 years. My vocal style sounds kinda like Jimmy Buffett meets Jim Morrison at a roadhouse deep in the backwoods of Michigan. I finger-pick acoustic and electric guitars with a genenous dose of Eric Clapton & Mark Knopfler on one hand and the Stooges and Ramones on the other. I grew up in Michigan but lived in South Florida for over 20 years and recently moved back for various reasons (like hurricanes and traffic). Since 2005, I've been playing all over Michigan as a solo artist doing Classic Rock, Blues and Buffett for clubs, deck parties, backyard BBQ's and recording original music with friends. I recently completed a course in Audio Mastering with Berklee College of Music. In 2007 I recorded and produced a CD called 'Chasing the Sky' with 6 original songs and 4 cover songs.

My solo acoustic show is Classic Rock & Blues, Trop-Rock & Floribean, a handful of current tunes and some Classic Country. It features artists such as: Jimmy Buffett, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, Tom Petty, John Fogerty and many original songs as well ... a vast array of excellent music. Click on 'Samples' in the menu bar to hear examples ...

 

~ Press Comments ~

"This ensemble of songs could easily be the soundtrack for theatre, with each song setting the mood for the next." Geoff Livingston Beach Magazine

"Trappen's voice has always been his strong suit, but he shows surprising lead guitar skills in the uptempo opener, 'Roll the Dice'." Bill Meredith TGIF

"...he has more than a few catchy choruses and a unique merging of styles."
Theodore Defosse: Splendid E-zine

"Trappen pulls off the trick of making his material sound familiar, without sounding stale. If he's got another one inside of him I'd like to hear it." Joe Hartlaub: music-reviewer.com

"This CD features very competent playing that is sometimes exquisite and moving... The more you listen, the more you appreciate Trappen's writing and the content of his heart. I almost dismissed this disc, but the second time was a charm, and the sixth time is pretty sweet too."
Cosmik Debris Magazine

 

DEEPER STILL
After the blizzard of '78 I moved to South Florida from Michigan and had a good run with a house band at the Gathering Restaurant in West Palm Beach. Our 3-year reign as 'Peter Trappen & Co.' is still talked about among long-time residents in the area. I traveled up and down the southeast coast of Florida playing music during those wonderful times of the 80's & 90's. During this time I also made my first trip to Europe singing folk/rock songs at Pubs and Universities.

As a founding member of South Florida's legendary retro band, "The White Owls", I had an opportunity to share the stage playing with some of the best musicians in Palm Beach County. We opened up for the Beach Boys, Chuck Berry and many others at the world-famous Sunfest festival held each May in West Palm Beach

Prior to 1978 ... I was a founding member of BUZZ WALKER (1968-1974, and toured extensively throughout the Mid-West in a big old school bus from our home-base in Portland Michigan. Other members incluce Patrick John Dawdy and Patrick T. Malloy and DEAN CALKINS of BETHLEHEM ROSE fame. BUZZ WALKER was formed around 1968 from a combination of OUR GENERATION and THE LOST DIMENSION both from Portland.

In 1977 I recorded a 45rpm record of "Oil On The Beach". This was a rock version that included Hal Beveridge on bass and *Tim Quinn on drums. (*also with BUZZ WALKER & BETHLEHEM ROSE)