Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Peter Rowan is one of America's most revered musical storytellers. A 2022 inductee into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, Rowan has spent over five decades shaping the sound and spirit of American roots music—from bluegrass and folk to rock, country, and beyond.
Raised in Wayland, Massachusetts, Peter found his voice in Boston’s vibrant 1950s folk scene, learning guitar from his uncle and frequenting the Hillbilly Ranch nightclub, where old-time legends like the Lilly Brothers lit the stage. By high school, he had formed his first band, The Cupids, and was already charting his own musical course.
Peter’s professional journey began at the source—joining Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1963. With Monroe, he co-wrote “Walls of Time,” now a standard in the bluegrass canon. “Monroe’s music had more blues in it,” Rowan later reflected. “It had more edge, and it carried the old ballad tradition I loved.”
In the decades that followed, Rowan pushed the boundaries of genre through pivotal projects including Earth Opera, Sea Train, Muleskinner, and The Rowans (with brothers Chris and Lorin). His work with Old & In the Way—alongside Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Vassar Clements, and John Kahn—brought bluegrass to a new generation, fusing counterculture energy with Appalachian roots.
Peter Rowan’s songwriting has etched itself into the American musical lexicon. He wrote “Panama Red,” a hit for New Riders of the Purple Sage, and fan favorites like “Midnight Moonlight” and “Lonesome L.A. Cowboy” remain staples across genres. His solo work spans bluegrass, Americana, folk, and spiritual fusion.
You may also like the following events from The Freight:
Also check out other
Music events in Berkeley,
Entertainment events in Berkeley.
