Peter Schimke


Peter Schimke was an American piano player, songwriter, composer, session musician and producer. Growing up in a musical environment, Schimke started performing live in his early teens.

Career

Schimke was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After sitting in on vocals, keyboards and drums with bands throughout his teens, Schimke's first professional gig was with the New Psychenauts and went on as the lead singer of the Swingin' Combo; both bands formed part of the early Minneapolis rock scene that launched The Replacements and Hüsker Dü. Simultaneously, Schimke began composing for prominent Minneapolis theater companies. At about the same time, he played his first professional rock gig on keyboard with blues harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite at the Blue Max on Maui. While living in New York, Peter performed at a steady Monday night gig at the Dean Street Café with Craig Bailey of the Ray Charles Band.
Schimke toured, performed and/or recorded with many artists, such as Billy Preston, Sam Moore, Iffy, Likehell, Art Farmer, Tom Harrell, Fareed Haque, Mark Murphy, Frank Morgan, David Friedman, Jose Neto, Mike Gordon, Gregoire Maret, Danny Gottlieb, Mark Egan, Emil Richards, Pete Escovedo, Steve Wilson, members of the Wynton Marsalis group, Charlie Persip Big Band, Bill Perkins, Tino D'Geraldo, Jackie Ryan, Julee Cruise of "Twin Peaks", Billy Peterson, Estaire Godinez, El Buho, Jeff Sipes, Victor Wooten, Rita Coolidge, Tony Joe White, Gonzalo Lasheras.
At the time of his passing, Schimke was working on a solo album.

Discography

for references see cduniverse.com or allmusic.com

Filmography