About | Peter1

BIO

Minnesota's Peter Mayer has been singing and songwriting full-time for 30 years, performing in venues across the United States and beyond. He writes songs for a small planet--songs about interconnectedness and the human journey--songs about life on earth and the mysterious and wondrous fact of our existence. He also writes songs about dress hats, pumpkins and pajamas, and other important stuff. His music has been performed by artists like Kathy Mattea, David Wilcox, Claudia Schmidt, Anne Hills, Priscilla Herdman, Darryl Purpose, Billy Jonas, and Ronny Cox, to name a few. His work has been included in song books, church hymnals, and folk radio playlists across the country. He is the recipient of fellowships from both the McKnight and the Bush foundations. Peter has eleven albums to his credit, and has sold over 100,000 of them. He lives in Stillwater, Minnesota with his wife and two daughters.

PRESS QUOTES

“Mayer's songs are crafted like Shaker furniture, with no place for superfluous embellishments or throwaway lines...(his) world is bright and hopeful and the transcendent nature of his lyrics...explore the mysteries of life...Mayer's fluid, clean, and tremendously intriguing guitar playing is topped with warm, rich vocals. This is music for the soul.”
--Ken Sheldon, Acoustic Guitar Magazine

“There are at least a dozen Peter Mayer songs that I would love to learn myself, but I could never play them as well as he does.”

--David Wilcox, Singer/Songwriter

“I have a thing for science-savvy songs and singers. They're out there, but no one I've found—no one—delivers the goods as well as Pete. So much of his music captures the joy, wonder and awe that drive every great scientist I know. Pete's passion, beautiful mind and playful soul are in all his tunes. He even made me feel better about wearing a grown-up hat. Thanks, Pete! I love your work.”
--Mat Kaplan, Host of the Planetary Society's Planetary Radio and the NEXT series of public science events for Southern California Public Radio

“Peter Mayer is a magician...(his) universe is full of metaphor and meaning, story and symbol—everything contains more than meets the eye.”

--Bill Reed music editor, Colorado Springs Gazette

"Peter Mayer is one of the finest songwriters on the planet. His intricate guitar work, breathtaking imagery, and nature mysticism are balm for the weary soul. Don't miss him."

--Fred Small, Singer/Songwriter

“If you love melody, if you love to laugh, if you love the universe and all of the marvels that astonish us every day of our lives, then Peter Mayer's music is just what the doctor ordered.”
--Brian Thomas Swimme, author of “Journey of the Universe”

“His guitar work is breath-taking, his lyrics mind-spinning, his singing soul-soothing and his feet-on-the-ground optimism nothing short of healing.”
--Marilyn Rea-Beyer, music director, WUMB Radio, Boston

“Peter Mayer makes it look easy—beautifully crafted that pose eternal questions—his arrangements make it sound like there is certainly more than one man and his guitar in the XM Satellite Radio studios.”
--Mary Sue Twohy, XM Radio

He is unafraid of complicated topics and always strives to look beyond the easy sentiment...Peter does nothing less than address the very nature of our existence...Trust me, most songwritiers can't pull this off. Peter Mayer does”
--Dale Connelly, Morning Show Host, Minnesota Public Radio

"Peter Mayer is the real deal, writing timeless songs that appeal to everyone with a big brain and a beating heart, young and old, every persuasion. His songs make you smile, think, laugh, and cry, and his musicianship is superb. If you're as smart as I think you are, you'll not only buy all his albums, you'll get them autographed so that your great great great great grandchildren will get good news next century when they bring them to The Antiques Road Show." -- Christine Lavin

“I'm a huge Peter Mayer fan, but only when I don't feel like killing him for being so good. I love Peter's work, though it irritates me that he playes so much better than I do. If I rocked half as hard as Peter does, I'd own the world by now.”

--Janis Ian, Singer/Songwriter

“Mayer offers up everything you could ever want from a singer/songwriter.”
--Dirty Linen Magazine

“Mayer is a performer at the top of his game who knows that the secret to living in a world of perplexing questions is enjoying the search for answers.”
--David Kleiner, Minor Seventh Reviews

“This native of Minnesota is a master storyteller.”
--Folk Roots Magazine

"Peter’s expressive voice and thoughtful lyrics reach my innermost being, challenge me to face the dark, face the truth, listen....and feel heard all in one sitting."

--Maria Sangiolo, The Vanilla Bean Cafe, Pomfret, CT

"To attend one of Peter's performances is an opportunity to travel through time, imagination, and spirit, and come out with a smile on your face and a good feeling in your heart."

--Mike Storms, musician