Pete Zorn
Encyclopedia
Pete Zorn is an American
multi-instrumentalist
who plays roots music
. He is best known as a longstanding member of Richard Thompson's touring band, where he serves as backing vocalist
and plays acoustic guitar, mandolin
, saxophone
, flute
, and tin whistle
.
Although he frequently tours with Thompson, Zorn has also played with many other singers and groups including Arizona Smoke Revue formed by older brother Bill Zorn, Show of Hands
, the Phil Beer Band
, Elaine Paige
, Thomas Anders
, Gerry Rafferty
, Barbara Dickson
and his band WAZ which currently features folk legend Steve Tilston
.
He also appeared in the UK Top 10 in 1979 as part of Driver 67 with his brother in law, Paul Phillips on the single, "Car 67
". He and Phillips met when Zorn came to London
with Fishbaugh, Fishbaugh and Zorn, a three-piece folk rock band signed to CBS Records
in London. Because of his talent on so many instruments and a remarkable vocal range, Zorn became a staple of many sessions produced by Phillips in the early and mid-Seventies. After the hit with Car 67, they made an album called Hey Mister Record Man, under the name Tax Loss. Bill and Conrad Zorn also played.
In 2009 Zorn joined Steeleye Span
on the Spring section of the band's 40th anniversary tour, replacing Rick Kemp
who was absent for health reasons. He also replaced Kemp on the American and Australian legs of the tour. Kemp initially returned for the Winter leg of the tour, but Zorn re-joined the fold due to various strains on the band. He will tour with Steeleye Span for their Spring tour in 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
who plays roots music
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
. He is best known as a longstanding member of Richard Thompson's touring band, where he serves as backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
and plays acoustic guitar, mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, and tin whistle
Tin whistle
The tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and...
.
Although he frequently tours with Thompson, Zorn has also played with many other singers and groups including Arizona Smoke Revue formed by older brother Bill Zorn, Show of Hands
Show of Hands
Show of Hands is an English acoustic roots and folk duo comprising singer-songwriter Steve Knightley and multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer. In recent years they have been accompanied on tour and in the studio by jazz double-bassist Miranda Sykes.-Origins:...
, the Phil Beer Band
Phil Beer
Phil Beer is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and one half of English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands.-Biography:...
, Elaine Paige
Elaine Paige
Elaine Paige OBE is an English singer and actress best known for her work in musical theatre. Raised in Barnet, North London, Paige attended the Aida Foster stage school, making her first professional appearance on stage in 1964, at the age of 16...
, Thomas Anders
Thomas Anders
Thomas Anders is a German singer, composer and record producer. Anders was the lead singer of Germany's popular pop-duo Modern Talking in 1984–1987 and in 1998–2003.-Early years:...
, Gerry Rafferty
Gerry Rafferty
Gerald "Gerry" Rafferty was a Scottish singer songwriter best known for his solo hits "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", "Days Gone Down", "Night Owl", "Get It Right Next Time", and with the band Stealers Wheel, "Stuck in the Middle with You". Rafferty was born into a working-class family in...
, Barbara Dickson
Barbara Dickson
Barbara Ruth Dickson, OBE is a Scottish singer whose hits include "I Know Him So Well" and "January February"...
and his band WAZ which currently features folk legend Steve Tilston
Steve Tilston
Steve Tilston is an English singer-songwriter.-Early years:Steve Tilston was born in Liverpool and raised in Leicestershire. Tilston was a graphic designer before taking up music in 1971, living in Bristol at the time, where he recorded his first album "An Acoustic Confusion". In the early...
.
He also appeared in the UK Top 10 in 1979 as part of Driver 67 with his brother in law, Paul Phillips on the single, "Car 67
Car 67
"Car 67" is a pop song by Driver 67 that appeared in the UK Singles Chart in December 1978. It was written by Paul Phillips and Pete Zorn and was sung by Paul Phillips...
". He and Phillips met when Zorn came to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with Fishbaugh, Fishbaugh and Zorn, a three-piece folk rock band signed to CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
in London. Because of his talent on so many instruments and a remarkable vocal range, Zorn became a staple of many sessions produced by Phillips in the early and mid-Seventies. After the hit with Car 67, they made an album called Hey Mister Record Man, under the name Tax Loss. Bill and Conrad Zorn also played.
In 2009 Zorn joined Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span are an English folk-rock band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British folk revival, and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles "Gaudete" and "All Around My Hat"....
on the Spring section of the band's 40th anniversary tour, replacing Rick Kemp
Rick Kemp
Rick Kemp is an English bass player, songwriter, vocalist and record producer, best known for his work with the pioneering electric folk band, Steeleye Span.-Projects:...
who was absent for health reasons. He also replaced Kemp on the American and Australian legs of the tour. Kemp initially returned for the Winter leg of the tour, but Zorn re-joined the fold due to various strains on the band. He will tour with Steeleye Span for their Spring tour in 2011.