The Peterson Family

LINDA PETERSON

Pianist • Vocalist • Songwriter • Composer

Linda Peterson is an accomplished pianist, vocalist, songwriter and composer whose career spans jazz, pop and contemporary music — and a lifetime immersed in one of Minnesota’s most celebrated musical families.

The daughter of legendary jazz pianist and vocalist Jeanne Arland Peterson and musician Willie Peterson, Linda grew up in a home where music was not simply an influence — it was a way of life. Alongside her siblings Billy, Ricky, Patty and Paul, she became part of a remarkable musical lineage now known throughout Minnesota and beyond as The Peterson Family, “Minnesota’s First Family of Music.”

But Linda’s story is distinctly her own.

A gifted pianist and vocalist with a sophisticated, soulful musical sensibility, Linda has spent decades performing, writing and recording  both in the US and abroad. Her style is rooted in jazz, but she is equally at home in pop, R&B and the Great American Songbook. Her work as a songwriter and composer has added another dimension to her career, with original music that reflects both the musicianship she inherited and the individual artistic voice she has developed over a lifetime.

Linda has performed extensively as a solo artist and with members of the Peterson family, including her son, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, saxophonist, songwriter and producer, Jason Peterson DeLaire. Their musical relationship represents another chapter in a family tradition that now spans four generations.

In 2019, Linda and the Peterson Family were inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, recognizing the family’s extraordinary contribution to Minnesota music and continuing a legacy established by family matriarch Jeanne Arland Peterson.

Today, Linda remains an active performer, recording artist and songwriter, appearing both independently and with The Petersons throughout the Twin Cities and beyond.

BILLY PETERSON

Bassist • Producer • Composer • Arranger

Billy Peterson is an internationally acclaimed bassist, producer, composer and arranger whose extraordinary career has spanned more than five decades and virtually every genre of American music.

Renowned for his versatility, musical instinct and unmistakable feel, Billy has built a career that moves effortlessly between rock, jazz, R&B, soul, pop, folk and country. His musicianship has made him a sought-after collaborator both onstage and in the studio, working with an extraordinary roster of artists including Bob Dylan, Steve Miller, Carlos Santana, Neil Young, Prince and Les Paul, among many others.

Billy’s long association with Steve Miller has been an especially significant chapter of his career, performing and recording as a member of the Steve Miller Band and bringing his distinctive musicianship to stages around the world.

Born into the Peterson musical family, Billy is one of five children of Jeanne Arland and Willie Peterson and a central figure in the family that has come to be known as “Minnesota’s First Family of Music.” Like his siblings Linda, Ricky, Patty and Paul, Billy forged an individual career while remaining deeply connected to the musical tradition that began at home.

In 2019, Billy and The Petersons were inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, honoring the family’s collective contribution to Minnesota’s musical legacy.

Whether holding down the foundation of a world-class band, producing in the studio or performing alongside generations of his own family, Billy Peterson remains a musician’s musician — defined not simply by the remarkable artists he has worked with, but by the sound, instinct and artistry he brings to every note.

PATTY PETERSON 

Vocalist • Recording Artist • Broadcaster • Producer

Patty Peterson is an award-winning vocalist, recording artist, broadcaster and producer who has been a distinctive voice in the Minnesota music community for decades.

Known for her soulful, sophisticated approach to jazz, R&B and contemporary music, Patty has performed for audiences across the country, from celebrated Minneapolis stages including the Dakota and Crooners to renowned Los Angeles jazz rooms including Vibrato, Catalina Jazz Club and The Jazz Bakery.

A seven-time Minnesota Music Award recipient, Patty has been recognized for both her work as a vocalist and her recordings. In 2019, she and her siblings were inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame as members of The Peterson Family, widely known as “Minnesota’s First Family of Music.”

For nearly two decades, Patty has also been an important presence at KBEM Jazz88 in Minneapolis, where her work as an on-air personality has given her another platform to champion jazz, its artists and the community surrounding it. Bringing the perspective of a lifelong working musician to broadcasting, Patty has become a respected advocate for both the music and the people who create it.

That commitment is perhaps most evident in “Jazz Legends,” a special series Patty produces for Jazz88 celebrating and documenting the lives and careers of significant figures in Twin Cities jazz. Through in-depth interviews and live performances, the series gives these artists an opportunity to tell their stories in their own voices while preserving an important part of Minnesota’s musical history. Patty’s work on the project extends from securing funding and developing each program to conducting the interviews and producing the live and recorded presentations.

In 2020, the Jazz Journalists Association named Patty a Minnesota Jazz Hero, recognizing her contributions to jazz not only as a performer, but as a broadcaster, producer, advocate and longtime supporter of the musicians around her.

Patty is equally at home connecting with an audience as an emcee and event host. A longtime advocate for the American Heart Association, she has lent her voice, visibility and personal commitment to advancing its mission — another reflection of her ability to use her platform to connect people and champion causes that matter.

As a recording artist, Patty has released five solo albums featuring an impressive roster of collaborators, including Sheila E., Stokley Williams, David Hazeltine and Ira Sullivan, along with members of the Peterson family. Her most recent release, “Count Your Blessings,” brings her signature warmth and musicality to a collection of holiday music.

The daughter of Jeanne Arland and Willie Peterson and sister to Linda, Billy, Ricky and Paul, Patty carries forward the remarkable musical tradition that began in the Peterson home while maintaining an artistic identity unmistakably her own.

Whether performing onstage, broadcasting from Jazz88, producing and preserving the stories of Twin Cities jazz legends, or using her voice in service of her community, Patty Peterson remains an enduring presence — and an important steward — of Minnesota music.

RICKY PETERSON

Keyboardist • Producer • Composer • Recording Artist

Ricky Peterson is an internationally acclaimed keyboardist, producer, composer and recording artist whose unmistakable sound has been heard alongside some of the most celebrated artists in contemporary music.

A remarkably versatile musician and producer, Ricky has spent decades moving effortlessly between jazz, rock, R&B, soul and pop, building a career that has taken him from the studios of Minneapolis to stages around the world.

His extensive work with Prince represents an important chapter in that career. Ricky played keyboards, wrote, arranged and produced for Prince across numerous projects, including Gold, Emancipation and Crystal Ball. Among his most notable credits, Ricky produced and arranged Prince’s international hit “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.”

Ricky also shared a decades-long musical relationship with legendary saxophonist David Sanborn. Beginning as a musician on Sanborn’s recordings in the 1980s, their collaboration grew to include extensive touring, recording and production work, including Ricky’s role as producer on Sanborn’s Songs from the Night Before.

For nearly two decades, Ricky has also been a member of Stevie Nicks’ touring band, a musical relationship that began in 2007 and continues today. In 2018, that role expanded when Ricky joined Fleetwood Mac as a touring keyboardist and backing vocalist for the band’s An Evening with Fleetwood Mac world tour. There, he performed alongside Christine McVie while simultaneously continuing his work as Stevie’s keyboardist — an extraordinary period that placed him onstage as part of both Stevie’s solo musical world and Fleetwood Mac itself.

His career has included performances, recordings and collaborations with an extraordinary roster of artists including Bonnie Raitt, Anita Baker, Mavis Staples, Chaka Khan, John Mayer, George Benson, Joe Sample, Steve Miller, Dave Koz, Kirk Whalum, Robben Ford, Rick Braun, Ben Sidran, Tuck & Patti and many others.

As a producer and writer, Ricky also played a significant role in George Benson’s That’s Right!, further establishing a body of work that extends well beyond his renowned career as a keyboardist.

Ricky is also an accomplished solo recording artist. His debut album, Night Watch, was released by Warner Bros. Records with legendary producer Tommy LiPuma. He continued his solo career with recordings including the critically acclaimed Smile Blue and A Tear Can Tell.

Born into the Peterson musical family, Ricky is one of five children of Jeanne Arland and Willie Peterson and an integral member of the family widely known as “Minnesota’s First Family of Music.” In 2019, Ricky and his siblings were inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, recognizing the Peterson Family’s extraordinary collective contribution to Minnesota music.

From his work with Prince and decades alongside David Sanborn to his ongoing role with Stevie Nicks and his years touring with Fleetwood Mac, Ricky Peterson has built a remarkable career defined by musicianship, versatility and an unmistakable musical voice.