Peter Wolf Historical Bio

Written & Researched by Bryan Wiser, and Sheila Warren

with Mimi Fox

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Photo By Joe Greene

Peter was born in New York City and grew up during the mid-fifties in the East Bronx, in a very small, three room apartment. He lived there with his parents, older sister, two cats, a dog, and a parakeet.

His father, Allen Blankfield, was a musician, vaudevillian and singer of light opera. Like Peter years later, his father left home when he was only fourteen, to join the Schubert Theater Touring Company, and performed and toured throughout the United States in "The Student Prince" and "Merry Widow". Also like his son, he had his own radio show called "The Boy Baritone", which featured Peter's father singing the latest songs from Tin Pan Alley. Because of the Great Depression, Peter's father went through long periods of unemployment, prompting Peter's mother to become a teacher. Her salary was the only steady source of income for the family, and it was a constant struggle to make ends meet.

Peter's Grandmother

Peter's mother, Lillian, was a very elegant and attractive woman. She was a political activist, union organizer and a staunch civil rights advocate. She attended many of the southern "Freedom rides" and marches. She also taught inner-city children in the South Bronx for twenty seven years. Peter's older sister, Nancy, was also a teacher and is currently a photographer. As a teenager, she was a dancer on Alan Freed's (the famous rock n' roll D.J.) television show "The Big Beat". She was responsible for many of Peter's early musical influences particularly Doo Wop (vocal group harmony). It was because of her that Peter attended his first rock n' roll concert featuring Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, The Chantels, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Ed Townsend, Buddy Holly, Jo Ann Campbell, and Big Jay McNelly - this concert had a profound and lasting effect on Peter.

Peter also spent some time living with his grandmother, Anna, who was an actress in the Yiddish Theater in New York City. It was from her that he got the name "Little Wolf".

As he was growing up, music continually filled his household. He attended many classical chamber concerts with his father as well as early be-bop performances. He also attended concerts given by the folk group "The Weavers". He also took part in a series for children with Woodie Guthrie, at the Little Red Schoolhouse. "Songs To Grow On" by Woodie Guthrie was the first record Pete owned.

Peter's Father

Radio played an extremely important part in Peter's life. He listened constantly, forever scanning the dial, sometimes right up through dawn taking the radio with him under his blankets , driving the rest of his family crazy (especially his sister, with whom he shared a room). Some of the DJ's that had a great effect on him were Alan Freed, Joko Henderson, The Magnificent Montague, and Symphony Sid (Pete dedicated his first solo record to these DJs). He also was able to pick up station WWVA, which broadcasted from Wheeling, West Virginia. Every Friday and Saturday night they broadcasted a live country jamboree featuring the original Stanley Brothers one of the greatest bluegrass groups. Peter was first exposed to the sound of doo-wop by his older sister, Nancy, and by local vocal groups who could be heard on street corners throughout the neighborhood. By the age of eleven, he started making regular subway trips down to Times Square, where he frequented the legendary Times Square Record Shop. The store was located on 42nd St. and Broadway, right beneath the Times Square building (directly outside the subway entrance). This store helped to define the New York doo-wop sound. There he was exposed to record buyers from all over the city and other younger disciples of rock n' roll. Many of the top doo-wop groups also performanced acappella on the radio, broadcasting live right from the back of the store.

Peter and Nancy

Peter took lessons on piano, and the guitar, but due to his dyslexia (which was undiagnosed in those years) it became very difficult and frustrating for him to learn these instruments. On the suggestion of his father, he also took violin lessons. His teacher's apartment was on the first floor, and while Peter was taking lessons, his friends would gather outsidehis teachers window to distract and tease him. Needless to say, the violin lessons didn't last very long either. Peter then entered a special music program during elementary and junior high school. He became the school drummer, but the teacher considered his playing too loud so he was transferred to the triangle. Peter's other great passion from the age of two and a half was drawing. He drew constantly. His family couldn't supply him enough paper. Many neighbors in his apartment building would contribute large stacks of paper, yet Peter would still draw on anything that he could get his hands on - marking every book and wall in the apartment.

When Peter was seven, his father worked briefly at the Tanglewood Music Festival, and Peter's family moved near the town of Sturbridge, Massachusetts. His father while doing chores, would leave Peter for afternoons in the studio of a local painter - Norman Rockwell.

Peter also attended many art programs that were offered to specially talented children. He was accepted as a student at the age of nine to The Museum of Modern Art Special Art Development program. This was one of many special art programs Peter took part in. Just before high school, while he was attending one of these summer art programs, he met a young lady who became one of the important loves of his life - her name was Edith Marie Hasselman. She was a great beauty, her father was Dutch-Indonesian and her mother from the South. She lived in a low income housing project near Peter's neighborhood. For Peter it was love at first sight, but it wasn't until many years later while taking a subway to his first day of high school, that he finally introduced himself. From that point on, they became inseparable. Both were painters and shared a great passion and love for music. They travelled and lived together until she was tragically killed in a car accident in Vermont in 1972.

Edie

Peter and Edie attended the High School of Music and Art (both were art students studying painting). This specialized public school had one of the highest academic standards in the city and in many ways was as demanding and challenging as most colleges. At the age of fourteen and a half, and while still in high school, Peter moved from his family's apartment in the Bronx to a studio he shared with several friends in Manhattan. It was during this period that his interests focused mostly on folk music and a new passion, jazz. Peter frequented Birdland, the renowned Jazz capital of the world, as well as the acclaimed Five Spot. There he saw jazz greats: Art Blakey, Jimmy Smith, Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, and Charles Mingus.

During one of his many painting marathons, while listening to the radio, he heard a young folk singer being interviewed who had just moved to New York. Peter loved what he heard and called up the radio station to find out more about the performer being interviewed. The moderator of the show put Peter on the phone with his guest - Bob Dylan. After a brief conversation, Peter, with paintings in hand, went to meet the young folk singer at his apartment. Dylan became a significant influence.

Peter With The Original Soul Clan Left To Right - Joe Tex, Ben E. King, Peter Wolf, Wilson Pickett, Soloman Burke, Don Covay Peter Toured With The Royal Soul Review which Included Many Of The Greatest Soul Artists

Peter's high school was located in Harlem, several blocks away from the legendary Apollo Theater, which Peter religiously attended. There he witnessed the Creme de la creme of soul music. Performers like James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Billy Stewart, Dinah Washington, Ray Charles, and an endless list of other artists. These experiences had a profound effect on his musical development, especially in his stage persona. Dropping out of high school, Peter started hitchhiking across the country, especially to the Midwest, to visit his friends who were involved in the folk music scenes around Chicago and at the University of Wisconsin. Peter hung out at different college campuses, pretending he was an art student from the college. He did this so he would be able to use the college's art facilities. During one of these visits to Brandeis University while Peter was pretending he was enrolled there, he overheard a rock n' roll band practicing in a dorm. Checking it out Peter became friends with the lead guitar player, Jon Landau, who later became an influential writer for Rolling Stone, a record producer, and the manager of Bruce Springsteen.

While living in Chicago, Peter was accepted at the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston. He hitchhiked to New England and spent several days living in cheap hotels. One day while searching for a permanent place to live he came across another student who was looking for a roommate. That student was the film maker, David Lynch. Peter and David became roommates until David eventually asked Peter to move out because he thought Peter was "too weird", and Peter always had trouble paying his half of the rent.

One night, Peter went to a loft party that was attended by many painters and musicians. There was a band playing at the party, consisting of art students from Peter's school. The band's singer had a little too much to drink and forgot some of the lyrics to the song. Peter, after several glasses of wine of his own, joined in and helped him finish the song.

Performing at this party was a revelation for Peter. The experience was so powerful for him, that he became completely consumed with joining this band. After much persistence and persuasion, Peter became a member, and eventually, their lead singer. They all dropped out of art school, so they could fully devote themselves to the band. They rehearsed constantly and became known as The Hallucinations. After a short time, they became one of the most popular new bands in the area, playing with such bands as the Velvet Underground, Sun Ra, and Dr. John. They also became the house band at the famed Boston Tea Party, which featured the first American appearances of such bands as Led Zeppelin, Traffic, The Who, Jeff Beck Group, and Fleetwood Mac.

Early Photo Of Pete's First Band, The Hallucinations, Playing At Sunset, Cape Cod, MA

In the mid-sixties, Peter moved across the river from Boston to Cambridge, befriending Barry Tashian, the leader of the famed Boston group, the Remains. The Remains were an extremely influential band throughout New England. They toured the United States with the Beatles, and were part of their famed Shea Stadium concert. Peter and Barry became roommates for a short time, during which Barry became an important influence and helped direct Peter's musical career. Barry later went on to play with Gram Parsons, who was attending Harvard University. Gram would later record a song Peter co-wrote, called "Cry One More Time". During this period Peter became very interested in Chicago Blues. One night he went to see John Lee Hooker perform at a coffee house, which was nearly empty. Peter guaranteed John Lee that Peter's band could pack the club so John Lee allowed them to be the opening act. This was the start of what became a very long friendship between Peter and John Lee Hooker.

Peter's Cambridge apartment was just a few blocks away from the celebrated Club 47 that showcased such great performers as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Junior Wells, The Son House, Bill Monroe, and Skip James. The dressing room in this club was so small that Peter invited many of the performers to use his apartment as a dressing room between sets. Around this same time, Peter also befriended Muddy Waters and became his unofficial valet when Muddy came to Boston. Many members of Muddy's band would stay at Peter's apartment when they played in the New England area.

Peter (Woolfa Goofa) Interviewing A Young Van Morrison On His All Night Radio Show

Peter interviewed many artists on the show, such as John Lee Hooker, Carla Thomas, Howlin' Wolf, Mose Allison, Rolland Kirk, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, and a young Irishman who just moved to town - Van Morrison. Peter and Van became close friends, spending many sleepless nights listening to their favorite records and playing together at the same clubs. It was the beginning of a long and close relationship that continues to this day.  In 1967 several members of The Hallucinations went off on a soul-searching retreat, leaving Peter behind without a full-time band. Peter searched for new musicians to play with, and while attending an open-mike event at a coffeehouse, there he met J. Geils, Magic Dick, and D. K. Together, with the former drummer of the Hallucinations, they formed the J. Geils Band.

At the time, the guitar player, J. Geils, was under an exclusive management contract. The manager, to protect his interests, would not let Peter and J. Geils play together unless the band was called the J. Geils Band.

To build a repertoire, the J. Geils Band moved to Montreal, where they learned obscure Blues and R&B material, mainly from Pete's vast record collection. When they moved back to Boston, the J. Geils Band immediately became a popular local favorite.

A year later, Mario Medious, a hip south side Chicago, fast talking promotion man for Atlantic Records, was visiting Boston with Dr. John. While attending a show at the Boston Tea Party Club, Mario heard the J. Geils Band from the back room. He assumed they were a south side Chicago blues band, and he wandered backstage to find the band so he could introduce himself.

The Master Blaster MC At The Famous Boston Tea Party Club

To his surprise, he found five young white musicians from Boston. He was so impressed, that very same night he called his boss, Jerry Wexler (co-owner and vice-president of Atlantic Records). The next week, Peter and his friend Jon Landau met with Jerry Wexler in New York, and the band was immediately signed to Atlantic Records. Jerry Wexler asked Jon Landau, who had just finished producing a record for the MC5 in Detroit, to see what the J. Geils Band sounded like in the studio. After a week, they all agreed that more time was needed before recording an album. Back in Boston, the Geils band set up home base at a basement club underneath several pool parlors called The Catacombs. The club offered a unique roster of artists such as John Lee Hooker, Billy Boy Arnold, and Pharaoh Sanders. It was also the place where Van Morrison debuted songs that he eventually recorded for his upcoming Astral Weeks album.

Seth Justman, a young Boston University student and musician from Washington D.C., became a frequent visitor to The Catacombs Club. After much persistence, he eventually became the final member to join the J. Geils Band.

Much to Seth's surprise during his first performance with the band, the other members decided that Peter's unconventional vocal style and frenetic stage approach might be a hindrance rather than an asset, and they asked him to leave the group. Several weeks later, realizing that this may not have been in the best interest of the band, they asked Peter back.

Seth and Peter cultivated a strong friendship and shared many musical tastes, which later developed into the band's song writing team.

The Marquee Of The Fillmore East Showing The Bill For Its Final Shows The Allman Brothers, J. Geils Band And Albert King

While building a large following in the New England area, the J. Geils Band established a reputation for their exciting, live performances. This reached the ear of legendary rock promoter Bill Graham. Bill invited them, sight unseen, to perform at his famed Fillmore East. The band did so well that night, and after receiving five encores, he immediately invited them back. He also invited them to appear at the Fillmore West in San Francisco. This started the band's long journey outside of Boston and exposed them to a national audience. Peter and Bill Graham remained close friends. Years later, after Bill's tragic death in a helicopter crash, Peter was asked to record the audio version of his autobiography, "Bill Graham Presents". In 1970 the band signed with Premier Talent, which at that time, was the most prestigious and important booking agent for rock n' roll. After extensively touring the states, Dee Anthony was brought in to be their manager.

Dee felt their studio albums had lacked the excitement of their live shows, and encouraged the band to record a live album. In 1973 the album Full House was recorded live in Detroit, becoming one of the bands' most popular albums.

After several European tours, the band found themselves constantly on the road. While Peter was away on tour, a devastating tragedy occurred. He received the news that his first and long time love, Edie, was killed in a car accident. He completely immersed himself into his work to combat his shock and deep depression.

Picture Of Pete And Faye Dunaway Backstage At A Recent Peter Wolf Concert

Years later, while performing in San Francisco at the Fillmore West, a friend introduced Peter to her girlfriend, actress Faye Dunaway. A strong friendship evolved, and, after a whirlwind courtship, they married. Their lives were filled with countless adventures in both the rock n' roll and Hollywood movie worlds. But this fast and consuming pace eventually took its toll. After four fast paced years, the marriage ended. The divorce, along with the band's increasing financial debt, made the period even rockier for Peter. The band also ended their working relationship with Dee Anthony, and Peter once again assumed the managerial role for the band. In 1978, after their contract with Atlantic expired, Peter helped get the band signed to a new record company - EMI America. The newly formed company provided energy and hope for the road weary band. They began recording a series of albums, expanding their popularity with each one. In spite of this increased popularity and seemingly incessant touring schedule, the band could never seem to get past their earlier financial debts.

Pete and Keith Richards during one of their many all nighters.

This lifestyle and pace started to exhaust some of the members. It's ironic that during the making of the album, Freeze Frame (which was to become their greatest commercial success), some of the members were starting to express their desire to leave the band. But with the release of Freeze Frame, along with the advent of MTV and a worldwide tour with the Rolling Stones, The J. Geils Band finally achieved worldwide acclaim. For the first time in over twelve years, they were out of debt and filling arenas and stadiums as headliners. Yet just when they seemed to achieve everything they had worked for, artistic differences made it all fall apart. Once again, Peter was asked to leave and the band. The group attempted to continue on without him with Seth Justman becoming their new lead singer. Alone, Peter began to establish a solo career. After nearly 20 years of being part of a group, going solo became a great challenge. He worked with an eclectic assortment of musicians, and recorded duets with Mick Jagger, Don Covay, and Aretha Franklin.

Wolf Performing With The Houseparty Band From The Long Line Tour

All of the solo albums received critical acclaim, but a combination of bad timing, and a succession of record company restructurings affected the commercial success that these albums should have attained. Except for a few major television appearances and radio tours, Peter withdrew from live performances for many years. It wasn't until the release of his Long Line album that he returned once again to the stage. He formed several different bands, each displaying a unique style. Long Line shows were often 3 or 3 1/2 hours in length, and never disappointed the fans that came out to see Peter after his 10 year hiatus from concert performances.

Peter's most recent solo recording, Fool's Parade, is his first for Mercury Records. It is probably his most intimate and musically sophisticated effort to date. The original compositions are probably his most personal. Pete incorporated the recording techniques from the early blues and R & B records that he always loved and admired. Using only vintage equipment and recording live with a unique group of legendary musicians all helped to create his most impressive work to date.

In commenting on Fool's Parade, Peter said "The music I tend to value most is when there's a certain honesty between the singer and the song. I feel I've finally made the album I've been trying to make for many years".

Fool's Parade begins yet another new chapter in a long and prolific career.

In the summer of 1999, the J. Geils Band made a historic reunion, performing in 13 cities throughout the east coast. Their 2 1/2 hour performances were filled with the great energy that has made them such a unique part of rock history.

At the time of this writing, Peter continues to pursue his solo endeavors.