Peter Rowan Biography

Peter Rowan Biography

 Peter Rowan (b. July 4, 1942 Boston, Massachusetts) is an American bluegrass musician and composer. Rowan plays guitar and mandolin, yodels and sings. While in high school in 1956, Rowan formed the Tex-Mex group The Cupids, which became locally famous, self-releasing a single. In college he discovered bluegrass after hearing the Country Gentlemen and the Stanley Brothers. In 1963, he joined the Mother Bay State Entertainers and played mandolin on their record, The String Band Project. In late 1965, the 23 year old Rowan became a member of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys, and with Monroe he recorded a total of fourteen songs before forming Earth Opera with David Grisman in 1967. Earth Opera frequently opened for The Doors.

 In 1969, Rowan joined Seatrain, along with Richard Greene. In 1973, Rowan joined Grisman, Vassar Clements, Jerry Garcia and John Kahn to form Old and in the Way. In 1974, Rowan, Greene, Grisman and Kahn joined Bill Keith, Clarence White, and John Guerin in the group Muleskinner.Rowan has recorded and performed with his brothers, Lorin and Chris, at various times, starting in 1972. Since then, he has been involved in many group and solo projects and continues to tour. Rowan composed songs performed by The New Riders of the Purple Sage, including "Panama Red," "Midnight Moonlight" and "Lonesome L.A. Cowboy."