Talent and drive propel Ralph Peterson. He was born May 20, 1962 in Pleasantville, New Jersey. By age three he was learning drums and by age seven, he learned to read music as a result of his trumpet studies. 

In 1980, Ralph was accepted into the Jazz Studies program at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Some of his teachers there included Kenny Barron, Paul Jeffrey and drummer Michael Carvin, They instilled in him the importance of fundamentals as well as the importance of having the seeking spirit necessary for continued musical growth. 

Peterson met master drummer Art Blakey in 1983. A few months after sitting in, Blakey called Peterson (then a college junior) to play along side him in his two-drummer big band. This was for a performance at the Boston Globe Festival. Ralph continued in the Jazz Messenger Big Band until Blakey's passing. Peterson takes seriously the honor and responsibility of being the "Last Messenger Drummer" and later paid homage to Blakey on his 1992 recording "Art". 

In 1985, a year after his graduation from Rutgers, Peterson was hired to perform with piano giant Walter Davis Jr., as well as with trumpeter Jon Faddis. Ralph has since become a member of the jazz elite. His recording and touring resume includes jazz greats like Terrence Blanchard, Branford Marsalis, Stanley Turrentine, David Murray, The Count Basie Orchestra, Betty Carter, and Michael Brecker. 

Peterson's recording career began in 1985 with the Blue Note stable band OTB (Out of the Blue). Shortly thereafter, he was signed to the Blue Note Label as a leader and released six critically acclaimed recordings. His debut project V, won him the prestigious Swing Journal Gold Disc Award. Ralph has since recorded two CD's for the Evidence label, (the Reclamation Project and The Fo'tet Plays Monk), and two CD's for the British Sirocco Jazz label (Back to Stay) which featured Michael Brecker. And his latest recording, "Triangular 2 which features Dave Kikowski. Peterson has accomplished the difficult task of keeping a working band (The Fo'tet) together for over ten years. He is reactivating his quintet for an upcoming project on the Criss Cross Jazz Label. 

Ralph continues to maintain and set standards in creativity, both as a leader and a sideman by working with musicians such as Uri Caine, Tom Harrell and Stanley Cowell. Most recently, Ralph subbed with the legendary Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, at Elvin's request. 

As an educator, Ralph has been on the faculty at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, has been an artist in residence at Princeton University and is presently a Professor at Long Island University, The New School, NJ PAC'S Jazz for teens program, and Rutgers University. 

Biography from
Ralph Peterson web-site: (Jazz Corner)  http://ralphpeterson.info/