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Kevin Peek Biography

kevin-peek
  • Born:
  • Years Active: 1980s
  • Member of: Sky
  • Genre: Rock & Alternative

Guitarist Kevin Peek has kept his feet in both rock and classical music, recording with the likes of Leo Sayer and Cliff Richard and merging the two as a member of the progressive rock quintet Sky, in between chamber music and guitar-duo recitals. Peek started his professional musical life as a percussionist at the Adelaide Conservatorium of Music. It was while there that he taught himself the guitar, an instrument on which he eventually developed a virtuoso's proficiency. After moving to England, he played at a club in London's Soho as part of a jazz trio, one member of which -- Mike Moran -- subsequently worked with Leo Sayer and Kiki Dee, among others. He returned to Adelaide, Australia, to join a newly formed rock band which, despite a contract from England's Decca Records, proved a musical dead end on a creative level. For a time, following their move to London, he and his bandmates -- guitarist Terry Britten, bassist Alan Tarney, and drummer Trevor Spencer -- made their livings as session musicians together, playing with everyone from the New Seekers and Mary Hopkin (Earth Song, Ocean Song) to Cliff Richard, for whom they became his regular backing band on stage and on record during the 1970s. Peek also worked with Manfred Mann, Lulu, Tom Jones, Jeff Wayne (War of the Worlds), and Shirley Bassey, among others. In the late '70s, Peek also became a member of the jazz/progressive rock quintet Sky, in association with classical guitarist John Williams, keyboardist Francis Monkman, bassist Herbie Flowers, and drummer Tristan Fry. Peek has recorded three albums -- Guitar Junction, Awakening, and Life & Other Games -- but is more visible through his work with Sky and his session work with Olivia Newton-John, Kiki Dee, Sally Oldfield, the Alan Parsons Project, and the London Symphony Orchestra (in association with Francis Monkman on their Symphonic Rock: British Invasion releases). He has also played on various soundtracks, including Monkman's music for The Long Good Friday. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

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