BIOGRAPHY

Big Pete Person was born in Jamaica on October 4, 1936 and was raised in Austin, Texas where he gave his first performance at a local bar at the tender age of 9 years old. He became a regular at juke joints such as the Victory Grill, Charlie’s Playhouse, Big Mary’s Bar & Grill, Ernie’s Chicken Shack and Sam’s Showcase.  Big Pete has not left the stage since and is a veteran performer/song writer of 77 years and has been on countless festival and club stages throughout the world.In the 1950’s Pete came to Phoenix and has ruled the Phoenix blues scene ever since.  His physical stature and overwhelmingly strong voice commands attention.  He is a father figure to many blues men and women who have cut their teeth playing in his band.  Though he is a local legend, being inducted in the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame in 1995, Big Pete’s greatness is known throughout the world.  In the last few years Big Pete has become a European household name performing with his European band, The Gamblers.  (You are invited to go to Youtube.com and type in, “Big Pete Pearson and the Gamblers”.  There you will see some of his many performances in Europe).  While in the States he performs with his other band, The Big Pete Pearson Blues Band.    Over his long career, Big Pete has worked with legends such as Ray Charles, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Tina and Ike Turner, Big Joe Turner, Etta James, Aaron Neville and the Neville Brothers, Koko Taylor, Gate Mouth Brown, Johnny Ace, T.D. Bell, Big Mama Thornton, T-Bone Walker, Screamin’ J. Hawkins, Pinetop Perkins, Joey DeFrancesco, Buddy Guy, Janiva Magness, Erbbie Bowser, Blues Boy Hubbard, Candye Kane and an endless array of others.Big Pete has created and written many albums but his most memorable CDs include, “One More Drink”, “I’m Here Baby” (which hit # 1 worldwide and won Best Blues Album of the Year at the Independent Music Awards in 2007) “Finger In Your Eye”,  his 2009 release, “The Screamer”.  Since the Screamer’s release it has hit #1 worldwide on the blues charts.In April of 2012, Big Pete released his album entitled, "Choose", his first album recorded with celebrated Italian blues band, The Gamblers.  Today, Big Pete can be seen, more often than not, performing live in Europe with the Gamblers.  Songs from his latest album, ""Stepping Out", is being played on the TV shows, Chicago Fire and Chicago PD