Peter Bradley Adams is a folk-pop Americana singer-songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama. Before embarking on his solo career in 2005, Adams was a founding member of the critically acclaimed folk/pop duo eastmountainsouth. Within a year of forming eastmountainsouth in 2001 (with Kat Maslich Bode), they were signed by Robbie Robertson to DreamWorks Records (founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg).
Adams co-produced their debut album (Release Date: June 17, 2003) with Mitchell Froom and toured extensively for the next year and a half with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Tracy Chapman, Joan Baez and Nelly Furtado. Their single, “You Dance” was a #1 AAA radio hit (top 5 for 2 months) in 2003 and eastmountainsouth performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on September 24, 2003. DreamWorks Records was subsequently sold to Universal Music Group in October 2003 which shifted their rights to a couple of different labels until Adams and eastmountainsouth eventually negotiated their official release. eastmountainsouth performed their last show in September 2004 at the Hollywood Bowl with Shelby Lynne and Lyle Lovett. It was not long after that when Adams decided to venture on his own and become a solo artist.
Peter's arrangement and interpretation of Stephen Foster's "Hard Times", the opening track on the eastmountainsouth CD, appeared in Cameron Crowe's film, "Elizabethtown" and also was included on the soundtrack album. Peter's songs and music from eastmountainsouth (as well as solo) has appeared in over 30 films and television shows in the US (including One Tree Hill, Smallville, The Mentalist and Alias). Years later sales of eastmountainsouth’s self-titled and only release rank in the top 20 in Amazon.com sales under the Alternative Folk category.
Peter Bradley Adams’ journey to singer/songwriter is a typical one as he combines his ideas with those of his musical influences. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Adams credits his grandfather, a former professional jazz clarinetist and accomplished pianist, as being his earliest musical inspiration. Adams began playing piano at the age of 6 and continued studying piano throughout high school and college. He worked with composer Michael Kapsner while studying abroad in Freiburg, Germany. While focusing on piano, organ, and music composition, his experience in Germany inspired Adams to continue his musical studies stateside.
Adams graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Music from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He continued his studies at the University of Alabama’s School of Music in Tuscaloosa where he earned a Master’s degree in Music Composition. Adams was drawn to Los Angeles in the mid ‘90s to study film scoring at USC Thornton School of Music’s famed Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television (SMPTV) program which is the world’s most acclaimed programs of its kind.
Adams worked as a freelance score composer for film and television until forming eastmountainsouth in 2001. After releasing a limited edition solo ep in 2005, Adams was praised by some critics, including The Boston Globe, who called it “a beautiful set of Americana music...It confirms the dreamy-voiced Adams as an artist to follow.” This effort was followed up by his first full-length solo release ‘Gather Up’ in 2006. Virtually all of this album was recorded in his apartment in 2005 between touring dates. Southern California’s super session man Greg Leisz on his famous Weisenborn guitar is featured on ‘Queen of Hearts.’ Based on the response from this release, Peter was named “Notable New Artist of the Year” in 2006 by The Loft (Sirius XM) Satellite Radio.” Before recording his next collection of music, Adams headed east to Nashville to be closer to musicians and producers with whom he wanted to work.
While working on ‘Gather Up’, Adams formed a collaborative bond with well-known session player and producer Lex Price. Now based out of Brooklyn, NY (via Nashville, Alabama, and Los Angeles) Adams is anything but a “Nashville artist.” Adams is currently signed to Sarathan Records (based in Seattle, Washington) which released his sophomore solo release, “Leavetaking”. This title was inspired by Mark Strand’s poem "The View." Peter Bradley Adams' most recent hit songs are "Los Angeles" and "The Longer I Run."
In November 2008, Adams was named by The Wall Street Journal as one of the "21st-century writers whose songs are worth exploring.” and as “ [having] a way with melody and lyrics....and ready to be seen and heard.”.
In May 2009, "Leavetaking" earned Peter Bradley Adams IAP's "Best CD's of 2008" Award for Best Singer-Songwriter-Male.
Discography:
Studio Albums
- self-titled ep - (2005)
- Gather Up - (2006)
- Leavetaking - (2008)
- Traces - (2009)
- Between Us - (2011)
Next on my “Hot List” is Eric Lindell, an American singer-songwriter from San Mateo, California, United States, who came to national prominence after relocating to New Orleans in 1999. His recording career began in 1996 as a local/regional New Orleans-based artist.
I hope you follow along and learn about his musical career and where it has taken him thus far and where he’s headed.
Until next time, keep following along and of course, remember to “Keep Playin’ The Blues” . . .
MUSICIAN by Night
GOD Save “The Blues”
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