Born in Queens, New York to two classical musicians, Peter was playing the family piano and Hammond organ before his feet touched the floor. He joined his first band at age 13, and by 16 years of age was playing regularly with a surf rock band called The Wipeouts. At 17, he led a jazz combo, hauling the family organ in a U-Haul each weekend to a steady gig at the Easthampton Coach restaurant/lounge.

After attending Boston’s Berklee College of Music as a piano major, Peter moved to California’s Bay Area, where he took up the drums with master teacher Chuck Brown. A move to Florida found him co-leading and playing drums with the popular nightclub band KIKS and then in a long run as leader, drummer, percussionist, keyboardist and vocalist with the band CLIK!