Colleen Peterson
Background:
With her soaring voice, engaging stage presence and songwriting talent, Colleen Peterson made a lasting presence for herself on both the Canadian and international music scene. Peterson's first public appearance was at a 1966 audition for the Mariposa Folk Festival. Peterson was discovered by Canadian legend, Bruce Cockburn, whom she began to tour with at the age of 17.Peterson's first accolade occurred in 1967, when she won the Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist, ironically repeating her win in the same category a decade later in 1976.
In 1974, Peterson moved to Nashville where she cut her first album Beginning to Feel Like Home in 1976, followed by two other albums the following years. Her signature song Souvenirs earned her a chart position on the US Billboard Country Charts. Peterson was brought to even wider attention when her song Carolina Sun was recorded by Anne Murray for her 1976 Keeping in Touch album. During the next few years, Peterson began recording with Gilles Godard, which earned her several more Juno and CCMA Award nominations. In 1988, Peterson released her first solo album in ten years. While in Nashville COlleen sang background vocals on albums by the Charlie Daniels Band, Marty Stuart, Roger Miller and Jamie Fricke.
Peterson was a regular on both American and Canadian television, appearing on CTV's 'Spirit of the Country' as well as hosting her own show 'The Road Show' on CBC Television.
Over the course of her career, Peterson worked with a remarkable list of musicians, including Anne Murray, Sylvia Tyson, Ronnie Prophet, Gordon Lightfoot and Alannah Myles. But perhaps her most successful and personally rewarding musical collaboration occurred in 1993, when she performed live at Toronto's Harbourfront with Sylvia Tyson, Caitlin Hanford and Cindy Church. The four recorded their first album Quartette, later that year which earned them both CCMA and Big Country Award nominations. In 1996, the group received a CCMA Award for Best Vocal Collaboration and in 1995, were nominated for a Juno Award for Best Country Group.
Colleen Peterson, who passed away in 1996, was not only a singer/songwriter but also a kind and compassionate person. Having grown up in a small community, Peterson embraced small town life in her residence of Lakefield, Ontario. She was heavily involved in the local music scene, donating her time and talent to many local charities. She wrote, performed and donated her song Together for the local United Way campaign and participated in numerous events for the Lakefield Animal Welfare Society.
