March 07, 2011
Photo: Little Dog Records
Pete Anderson
Pete Anderson rose to fame as a producer, guitarist and backup singer for country superstar Dwight Yoakam. But Pete's sound is firmly rooted in the blues, a direction he took on his latest album, Even Things Up.
Pete Anderson got his first taste of blues and country at an early age, first listening to his father's record collection, and then seeing Elvis Presley on national television.
His return to playing blues was only natural since Pete grew up in a city known for its musical legacy.
"Growing up in Detroit when I did was a great opportunity because the music wasn't segregated or segmented in any way," Pete explains. "Folk-blues existed with Delta blues [which] existed with field hollers [which] existed with [blues singer] Bobby Bland. So, I really listened and lived in a wide spectrum of music.
Pete Anderson's "Even Things Up" CD"In making this record I wanted to make sure that I represented what I do and how I do it," adds Pete. "I listened to a lot of Chicago blues growing up and saw a lot of those guys, so I kind of wanted to represent everything on the record that I felt was a part of what I do the best."
His versatility as a producer, arranger, and musician was just what Dwight Yoakam was looking for when the pair joined forces in 1984. Their partnership lasted for nearly two decades and included best-selling albums and sold-out world tours.
Looking back at their days as struggling musicians on the Los Angeles club circuit, Pete says it was pure chemistry that first brought them together.
"My motive was to play guitar and his was to write songs and sing, so we were a perfect match," notes Pete, "and the songs were definitely a vehicle. If Dwight felt down about something I was there to say, ‘No, that's not right, these are great songs. We've got to step this up. Don't worry about it. The material is terrific.' The two of us having the same dream and the same confidence, I think, in retrospect, was pretty powerful."
Pete's solo career continues to climb with 'Even Things Up,' produced on his own label, Little Dog Records. The deluxe edition includes two live tracks and an original tune titled "Still In Love," featuring Nashville vocalist Bekka Bramlett.