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'''Peter Wolf''' (born August 25, 1952, [[Vienna]], Austria) is a [[Grammy]] nominated composer, producer, songwriter and arranger who lived in Birmingham, Alabama for a period of time during the mid-1970s.  He was awarded knighthood in th form of the highest honor from his birth country of [[Austria]], "Das Grosse Ehrenkreuz der Republik Österreich für Kunst und Kultur" (the Great Honor Cross of the Republic of Austria for Art and Culture).   
[[Image:Ray_Reach_Chuck_Leavell_Peter_Wolf.jpg|right|thumb|300px|L to R: [[Ray Reach]], [[Chuck Leavell]] and Peter Wolf at the 2008 Birmingham Area Music Awards]]
'''Peter Wolf''' (born [[August 25]], [[1952]] in Vienna, Austria) is a Grammy-nominated composer, producer, songwriter and arranger who lived in [[Birmingham]] for a period of time during the mid-1970s.  He was awarded knighthood in the form of the highest honor from his birth country of Austria, "Das Grosse Ehrenkreuz der Republik Österreich für Kunst und Kultur" (the Great Honor Cross of the Republic of Austria for Art and Culture).  On [[March 20]], [[2008]], Wolf returned to Birmingham and was a performer during the [[Birmingham Area Music Awards]] ceremony held at the historic [[Carver Theatre]].


==Early years==
==Early years==
Wolf began classical piano study as a young boy at Vienna’s Conservatory of Music.  At age 16, he won the [[European Jazz Festival]] as a solo pianist, and was twice awarded the [[Deutscher Schallplattenpreis]], a German award, for his work on ''Andre Heller'' and ''[[Erika Pluhar]]''. Coming to America in his early twenties, he worked with local musicians such as [[Neal Starkey]] (bassist) and [[Bill Hatcher]] (guitarist) in Atlanta, Georgia and with [[Steve Sample Jr]] (drummer) and [[Ray Reach]] (keyboardist, guitarist, vocalist) in Birmingham, Alabama.  After his time in the southeastern United States, he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he played keyboards for [[Frank Zappa]] in the late 1970s.
Wolf began classical piano study as a young boy at Vienna’s Conservatory of Music.  At age 16, he won the European Jazz Festival as a solo pianist, and was twice awarded the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis, a German award, for his work on ''Andre Heller'' and ''Erika Pluhar''. Coming to America in his early twenties, he worked with local musicians such as Neal Starkey (bassist) and Bill Hatcher (guitarist) in Atlanta, Georgia and with [[Steve Sample, Jr]] (drummer) and [[Ray Reach]] (keyboardist, guitarist, vocalist) in Birmingham.  After his time in the southeastern United States, he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he played keyboards for Frank Zappa in the late 1970s.


==Recordings made with Frank Zappa==
==Recordings made with Frank Zappa==
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* ''Sheik Yerbouti'' (March 1979), #21 US (Single "Bobby Brown", Peter Wolf on Keyboards, Butter)
* ''Sheik Yerbouti'' (March 1979), #21 US (Single "Bobby Brown", Peter Wolf on Keyboards, Butter)
* ''Joe's Garage 1'' (1979), #27 US
* ''Joe's Garage 1'' (1979), #27 US
* ''Joe's Gagage 2 & 3'' (April-June 1979)
* ''Joe's Garage 2 & 3'' (April-June 1979)
* ''Tinsel Town Rebellion'' (May 11, 1981), #66 US
* ''Tinsel Town Rebellion'' (May 11, 1981), #66 US
* ''Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar'' (May 1981)
* ''Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar'' (May 1981)
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Peter produced eight #1 songs and has produced, arranged and/or written for a wide range of musical talents.  A list of his pop hit productions includes:
Peter produced eight #1 songs and has produced, arranged and/or written for a wide range of musical talents.  A list of his pop hit productions includes:


* [[Jefferson Starship]] ("No Way Out" #23 US, 1984)  
* Jefferson Starship ("No Way Out" #23 US, 1984)  
* [[The Commodores]] ("Nightshift" #3 US, #3 UK, 1985)
* The Commodores ("Nightshift" #3 US, #3 UK, 1985)
* [[Starship (band)|Starship]] ("We Built This City" #1 US, #12 UK, 16 and 23 Nov. 1985)  
* Starship ("We Built This City" #1 US, #12 UK, 16 and 23 Nov. 1985)  
* [[Starship (band)|Starship]] ("Sara" #1 US, March 15, 1986)  
* Starship ("Sara" #1 US, March 15, 1986)  
* [[Wang Chung (band)|Wang Chung]] ("Everybody Have Fun Tonight" #2 US, #76 UK, 1986)  
* Wang Chung ("Everybody Have Fun Tonight" #2 US, #76 UK, 1986)  
* [[Wang Chung (band)|Wang Chung]] ("Let's Go" #9 US, #81 UK, 1987)
* Wang Chung ("Let's Go" #9 US, #81 UK, 1987)
* [[El Debarge]] ("Who's Johnny" #1 US, 1986, main theme of the film, Short Circuit)   
* El Debarge ("Who's Johnny" #1 US, 1986, main theme of the film, Short Circuit)   
* [[Nik Kershaw]] ("The Works", 1989)  
* Nik Kershaw ("The Works", 1989)  
* [[Go West (band)|Go West]] ("King of Wishful Thinking" from the movie ''[[Pretty Woman]]'' #8 US, #18 UK, 1990)
* Go West ("King of Wishful Thinking" from the movie ''Pretty Woman'' #8 US, #18 UK, 1990)
* [[Go West (band)|Go West]] ("Faithful" #14 US, #13 UK, 1992)
* Go West ("Faithful" #14 US, #13 UK, 1992)
* [[Heart (band)|Heart]] ("These Dreams" #1 US, 1986),
* Heart ("These Dreams" #1 US, 1986),
* [[Heart (band)|Heart]] ("What About Love" #10 US, 1985) (Synth, Piano & Creative Input)
* Heart ("What About Love" #10 US, 1985) (Synth, Piano & Creative Input)
* [[Patti Labelle]] ("On My Own" #1 US, 1986)
* Patti Labelle ("On My Own" #1 US, 1986)
* [[Kenny Loggins]] ("Playing with the Boys" from the movies ''[[Top Gun (film)|Top Gun]]'' and ''Avalon'')  
* Kenny Loggins ("Playing with the Boys" from the movies ''Top Gun'' and ''Avalon'')  
* [[The Escape Club]] ("I'll Be There" #8 US, 1991)
* The Escape Club ("I'll Be There" #8 US, 1991)
* [[Starship (band)|Starship]] ("Good Heart" #81 US, 1991)  
* Starship ("Good Heart" #81 US, 1991)  
* [[Indecent Obsession]] ("Kiss Me" #1 South Africa for an amazing 27 weeks, 1992)
* Indecent Obsession ("Kiss Me" #1 South Africa for an amazing 27 weeks, 1992)


A list of others pop artists with which Wolf has worked includes: [[Pablo Cruise]], [[Grace Slick]], [[Santana (band)|Santana]], [[Survivor (band)|Survivor]], [[The Pointer Sisters]], [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]], [[Cliff Richard]], [[Natalie Cole]], [[Scorpions (band)|The Scorpions]], [['N Sync]], [[Oleta Adams]], [[Big Country]], [[Sergio Mendes]], [[Boz Scaggs]], [[Joe Sample]], [[Thomas Anders]], [[Laura Branigan]], [[BB King]], [[Zucchero]] and [[The Who]].
A list of others pop artists with which Wolf has worked includes: Pablo Cruise, Grace Slick, Santana, Survivor, The Pointer Sisters, Chicago, Cliff Richard, Natalie Cole, The Scorpions, 'N Sync, Oleta Adams, Big Country, Sergio Mendes, Boz Scaggs, Joe Sample, Thomas Anders, Laura Branigan, BB King, Zucchero and The Who.


==Film scores==
==Film scores==
Wolf has also scored a number of motion pictures including the 1993 film ''[[Neverending Story III]]'', and ''[[Weekend at Bernie's II]]''. He has also composed many scores in Europe including the new animated picture entitled “Nutcracker and Mouse King” featuring a star-studded cast which was nominated for the Deutscher Filmpreis.  He scored Leon DeWinter’s movie “The Hollywood Sign”, starring Rod Steiger, Burt Reynolds and Tom Berenger.   
Wolf has also scored a number of motion pictures including the 1993 film ''Neverending Story III'', as well as ''Weekend at Bernie's II''. He has also composed many scores in Europe including the new animated picture entitled “Nutcracker and Mouse King” featuring a star-studded cast which was nominated for the Deutscher Filmpreis.  He scored Leon DeWinter’s movie “The Hollywood Sign”, starring Rod Steiger, Burt Reynolds and Tom Berenger.   


Wolf’s compositional credits also include the score for the number one German picture in 1997 ''Irren Ist Maennlich'' (To Err is a Male Thing), as well as films such as ''Die Cellistin'' (The Cellist), ''Widows'', ''St. Pauli Nacht'' (St. Pauli Night) and ''The Fearless Four''. Peter is currently composing songs and score for the American picture ''Band on the Run'', slated for release in 2008. In 1995, Wolf received the "Billy Wilder Award" of the Austrian Film Academy and University of Vienna.
Wolf’s compositional credits also include the score for the number one German picture in 1997 ''Irren Ist Maennlich'' (To Err is a Male Thing), as well as films such as ''Die Cellistin'' (The Cellist), ''Widows'', ''St. Pauli Nacht'' (St. Pauli Night) and ''The Fearless Four''. Peter is currently composing songs and score for the American picture ''Band on the Run'', slated for release in 2008. In 1995, Wolf received the "Billy Wilder Award" of the Austrian Film Academy and University of Vienna.
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==References==
==References==
*[[Joel Whitburn]], ''The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits''.
*Whitburn, Joel ''The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits''.
 
*Thompson, Brent (March 13, 2008) [http://www.bhamweekly.com/archive_article.php?article_id=699&issue_id=106&vol=11#article "Hungry like the Wolf: Famed producer Peter Wolf returns to Birmingham."] ''Birmingham Weekly''.
{| style="margin:0.5em auto; clear:both; text-align:center; width:85%" align=center class="toccolours"
|-
!style="background:#ccccff"|''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard charts|charts]]
|-
|align=center bgcolor=ccccff|'''[[Billboard charts#Albums|Albums]]'''
|-
|align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | [[Billboard 200]] | [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] | [[Top Electronic Albums]] | [[Top Pop Catalog Albums]] | [[Billboard Comprehensive Albums]] | [[Top Heatseekers]]
|-
|align=center bgcolor=ccccff|'''[[Billboard charts#Singles and tracks|Singles and tracks]]'''
|-
| align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] | [[Billboard Hot 100 Airplay|Hot 100 Airplay]] | [[Hot 100 Singles Sales]] | [[Hot 100 Singles Recurrents]] | [[Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles]] | [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] | [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay]] | [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales]] | [[Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles]] | [[Hot Rap Tracks]] | [[Pop 100]] | [[Pop 100 Airplay]] | [[Hot Digital Songs]] | [[Hot Digital Tracks]] | [[Top 40 Tracks]] <small>(defunct)</small> | [[Top 40 Mainstream]] | [[Rhythmic Contemporary|Rhythmic Top 40]] | [[Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks]] | [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks]] | [[Latin Rhythm Airplay panel|Latin Rhythm Tracks]] | [[Modern Rock Tracks]] | [[Mainstream Rock Tracks]] | [[Hot Country Songs]] | [[Hot Dance Club Play]] | [[Hot Dance Airplay]] | [[Hot Dance Singles Sales]] | [[Hot Latin Tracks]] | [[Hot Christian Songs]] | [[Hot Ringtones]] | [[Hot RingMasters]] | [[Canadian Hot 100]]
|-
|align=center bgcolor=ccccff|'''Lists of number-ones'''
|-
|align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | [[List of number-one albums (United States)|Billboard 200]] | [[List of number-one hits (United States)|Hot 100]] <small>([[List of Motown number-one singles in the United States|Motown]]; by artist nationality: [[List of songs by Australian artists which reached number-one on the Hot 100 (USA)|Australian]], [[List of songs by British artists which reached number-one on the Hot 100 (USA)|British]], [[List of songs by Canadian artists which reached number one on the Hot 100 (US)|Canadian]], [[List of songs by European artists which reached number one on the Hot 100 (US)|European]]</small> | [[List of number-one dance hits (United States)|Hot Dance Club Play]] | [[List of number-one modern rock hits (United States)|Modern Rock Tracks]] | [[List of number-one mainstream rock hits (United States)|Mainstream Rock Tracks]] | [[List of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States)|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]]
|-
|align=center bgcolor=ccccff|'''Lists of artists who reached number-one'''
|-
|align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | [[List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)|Hot 100]] <small>([[List of artists by total number of U.S. number-one singles|by total number]]; [[Artists achieving simultaneous U.S. and UK number-one hits|simultaneous U.S. and UK hits]])</small> | [[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart|Hot Dance Club Play]] | [[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Modern Rock chart|Modern Rock Tracks]] | [[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart|Mainstream Rock Tracks]] | [[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart|Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks]] | [[List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]]
|-
|align=center bgcolor=ccccff|'''See also'''
|-
|align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | [[Billboard Radio Monitor]] <small>(defunct)</small> | [[Billboard Year-End]] | [[List of Hot 100 (U.S.) chart achievements and trivia|Hot 100 achievements]] <small>([[Most Hot 100 hit singles from an album|most hit singles from an album]])</small> |<BR> [[List of (U.S.) Billboard country chart chart achievements|Hot Country Songs achievements]] | [[List of Pop 100 chart achievements and trivia|Pop 100 achievements]] | [[R&R (magazine)|R&R]]
|-
| align=right | {{Tnavbar|Billboard}}
|}
 
<noinclude>
 
</noinclude>


==External links==
==External links==
*http://www.peterwolf.us/
*[http://www.peterwolf.us/ Peter Wolf] website
 
*[http://www.peterwolfmusic.com/ Peter Wolf Music] website
*http://www.peterwolfmusic.com/
*[http://www.powerhausmusic.com/ Powerhaus Music] website
 
*[http://www.myspace.com/peterwolfmusic Peter Wolf] on MySpace
*http://www.powerhausmusic.com/
 
*http://www.myspace.com/peterwolfmusic


[[Category:Billboard charts|*]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolf, Peter}}
[[Category:Pianists|Wolf, Peter]]
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:American music arrangers|Wolf, Peter]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Composers|Wolf, Peter]]
[[Category:Pianists]]
[[Category:American record producers|Wolf, Peter]]
[[Category:Composers]]
[[Category:Jazz arrangers|Wolf, Peter]]
[[Category:Bandleaders]]
[[Category:Bandleaders|Wolf, Peter]]
[[Category:American session musicians|Wolf, Peter]]

Latest revision as of 21:06, 8 November 2009

L to R: Ray Reach, Chuck Leavell and Peter Wolf at the 2008 Birmingham Area Music Awards

Peter Wolf (born August 25, 1952 in Vienna, Austria) is a Grammy-nominated composer, producer, songwriter and arranger who lived in Birmingham for a period of time during the mid-1970s. He was awarded knighthood in the form of the highest honor from his birth country of Austria, "Das Grosse Ehrenkreuz der Republik Österreich für Kunst und Kultur" (the Great Honor Cross of the Republic of Austria for Art and Culture). On March 20, 2008, Wolf returned to Birmingham and was a performer during the Birmingham Area Music Awards ceremony held at the historic Carver Theatre.

Early years

Wolf began classical piano study as a young boy at Vienna’s Conservatory of Music. At age 16, he won the European Jazz Festival as a solo pianist, and was twice awarded the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis, a German award, for his work on Andre Heller and Erika Pluhar. Coming to America in his early twenties, he worked with local musicians such as Neal Starkey (bassist) and Bill Hatcher (guitarist) in Atlanta, Georgia and with Steve Sample, Jr (drummer) and Ray Reach (keyboardist, guitarist, vocalist) in Birmingham. After his time in the southeastern United States, he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he played keyboards for Frank Zappa in the late 1970s.

Recordings made with Frank Zappa

Peter made several recordings as a member of Fran Zappa's band, including:

  • Sheik Yerbouti (March 1979), #21 US (Single "Bobby Brown", Peter Wolf on Keyboards, Butter)
  • Joe's Garage 1 (1979), #27 US
  • Joe's Garage 2 & 3 (April-June 1979)
  • Tinsel Town Rebellion (May 11, 1981), #66 US
  • Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar (May 1981)

Studio keyboard and arranging work

Wolf was recognized as one of America's top ranking studio keyboardists and arrangers from 1980 to 1985, and became very successful as a music producer and songwriter.

Peter produced eight #1 songs and has produced, arranged and/or written for a wide range of musical talents. A list of his pop hit productions includes:

  • Jefferson Starship ("No Way Out" #23 US, 1984)
  • The Commodores ("Nightshift" #3 US, #3 UK, 1985)
  • Starship ("We Built This City" #1 US, #12 UK, 16 and 23 Nov. 1985)
  • Starship ("Sara" #1 US, March 15, 1986)
  • Wang Chung ("Everybody Have Fun Tonight" #2 US, #76 UK, 1986)
  • Wang Chung ("Let's Go" #9 US, #81 UK, 1987)
  • El Debarge ("Who's Johnny" #1 US, 1986, main theme of the film, Short Circuit)
  • Nik Kershaw ("The Works", 1989)
  • Go West ("King of Wishful Thinking" from the movie Pretty Woman #8 US, #18 UK, 1990)
  • Go West ("Faithful" #14 US, #13 UK, 1992)
  • Heart ("These Dreams" #1 US, 1986),
  • Heart ("What About Love" #10 US, 1985) (Synth, Piano & Creative Input)
  • Patti Labelle ("On My Own" #1 US, 1986)
  • Kenny Loggins ("Playing with the Boys" from the movies Top Gun and Avalon)
  • The Escape Club ("I'll Be There" #8 US, 1991)
  • Starship ("Good Heart" #81 US, 1991)
  • Indecent Obsession ("Kiss Me" #1 South Africa for an amazing 27 weeks, 1992)

A list of others pop artists with which Wolf has worked includes: Pablo Cruise, Grace Slick, Santana, Survivor, The Pointer Sisters, Chicago, Cliff Richard, Natalie Cole, The Scorpions, 'N Sync, Oleta Adams, Big Country, Sergio Mendes, Boz Scaggs, Joe Sample, Thomas Anders, Laura Branigan, BB King, Zucchero and The Who.

Film scores

Wolf has also scored a number of motion pictures including the 1993 film Neverending Story III, as well as Weekend at Bernie's II. He has also composed many scores in Europe including the new animated picture entitled “Nutcracker and Mouse King” featuring a star-studded cast which was nominated for the Deutscher Filmpreis. He scored Leon DeWinter’s movie “The Hollywood Sign”, starring Rod Steiger, Burt Reynolds and Tom Berenger.

Wolf’s compositional credits also include the score for the number one German picture in 1997 Irren Ist Maennlich (To Err is a Male Thing), as well as films such as Die Cellistin (The Cellist), Widows, St. Pauli Nacht (St. Pauli Night) and The Fearless Four. Peter is currently composing songs and score for the American picture Band on the Run, slated for release in 2008. In 1995, Wolf received the "Billy Wilder Award" of the Austrian Film Academy and University of Vienna.

Recordings as a leader

Solo

Albums

  • 1968 - A Change in My Life
  • 2000 - Progression - A Symphony by Peter Wolf
  • 2003 - The Other Side
  • 2004 - Sense-ation - A Symphony by Peter Wolf

Singles

  • 1969 - "Kraft durch Freude"
  • 1980 - "Tutti" (dedicated to his friend Janus)

Gipsy Love

Albums

  • 1970 - Gipsy Love (The White Album)
  • 1972 - Here We Come

Wolf & Wolf

Albums

  • 1982 - Culture Shocked
  • 1984 - Wolf & Wolf

Singles

  • 1982 - "Think Pink"
  • 1984 - "Don't Take the Candy"

Vienna

  • 1987 - Guess What?


References

External links

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