I got kind of psyched about doing up some more in the Memphis Series. The original intention was to showcase some of the musicians from my hometown who would probably never be able to get out of Elvis’ shadow. I was thinking about who I could mention and Pete Pederson sprang to mind. Pete Pederson is an obscure footnote to Memphis music. He played the chromatic harmonica with The Harmonica Madcaps who later went on to become The Harmonicats and score a #1 hit with “Peg O’ My Heart” in 1947. Yeah, 1947. Pete left the group well before all that, though, and went on to create jingles for the likes of Pontiac and McDonalds. I suppose he could see the writing on the wall and didn’t want to hack out a career in a jazz group who, to this very day, exclusively play harmonicas.
While I realise probably nobody gives a fuck about Pete Pederson or The Harmonicats, I do have to say that I’ve always liked their version of “Tico Tico.”
So here it is, for no conceivable reason, that old nugget “Tico, Tico” as interpreted by The Harmonicats:
MP3
[audio:https://nialler9.com/mp3/The_Harmonicats_-_Tico_Tico.mp3]Just to make this post well-rounded, here’s Ethel Smith ripping the motherfucker up on a Hammond:
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
Man that Ethel Smith thing is so surreal. It’s like those girls are about to tear the place apart!
great tune
nuff respec donnie boy
holy shit! ethel rips that shit harder than anything out now. even jay z + ghostface + dmx on PCP cannot compete!!!
I appreciate your mentioning Pete Pedersen in your ‘Memphis Series’ – but for starters his name is spelled P-e-d-e-r-s-e-n, and contrary to what you might think, many people “give a f – – k.’
Pete was (and is, though he passed away in 2002)far from ‘an obscure footnote to Memphis music.” Just take a walk along the Beale Street Walk of Fame and you’ll find his brass note in front of B.B. King’s Blues club. Pick up a copy of his biography (Be of Good Cheer)and ou’ll find that mr. Pedersen was an internationally known and respected jazz chromatic player, composer, arranger and performer. SPAH – The international harmonica organization – honors harmoinca artists annually with its “PETE PEDERSEN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD” – and collectors around the world own his albums (Groovin’ High, Some of These Days & Some of Those Days and Music and Memories), play his concertos (commissioned by the World Harmonica Federation for two different World harmoinca Championships, one in Japan, the other in France), and watch his taped performances which are available through the SPAH organization. Yes, he performed with the Madcaps, toured with the Harmonicats and wrote their arrangements, but he went on to become an incredible performer and arranger, wrote and produced over a dozen best-selling albums during the disco years, appeared as a studio musician on dozens of albums for major artists throughout his career, was Music Director of one of America’s largest music production houses, writing dozens of radio station ID packages and singing commercials for the likes of Pontiac and Kellogg’s, owned his own production company for years, wrote, among other things, the theme to ABC’s One Life to Live, and toured internationally until shortly before his death in 2002. To learn more about Pete Pedersen and his music go to petepedersen.com.
Thank you for including Pete Pedersen in your blog. Hopefully in giving those who know his background and his music a chance to respond, you will introduce this amazing and contemporary musician and his music to a whole new audience. For while he arranged the 1947 Harmincat hit “Peg O’ My Heart’ – he went on to write perform and dazzle audiences for another 55 years.
I had the great good fortune to meet and develop a close friendship with Pete Pedersen which lasted from the mid seventies until he passed away in 2002.
I had a solo music gig at a popular Italian restaurant playing keyboards two nights a week. Someone said “Pete Pedersen is here, ask him to sit in”. I knew of his reputation but when be began to play, I realized in astonishment that I was performing with one of the greatest musicians in the world. After that evening he came almost every week to sit in with me and we began performing together regularly at various events around Memphis and beyond. I am the keyboardist on the “Music & Memories” album ralph mentioned above. We performed together at several SPAH events in various places including Detroit, Columbus, Tampa and Birmingham.
Pete was the most important musical inspiration in my life and the lives of many others, especially those of us who were struggling master the chromatic harmonica.
His biography, “Be of Good Cheer” by Jaine Rodack should be read by every aspiring harmonica player as well as every jazz enthusiast.
Pete Pederson was a great guy with a wonderful sense of humour. He and his wife Barbara moved to Toronto where I met him and worked with him. I’m a jazz piano player and we worked Toronto’s George’s Spaghetti House together 4 times, a week at at time, recorded jingles together, and did an album including a recording of his incredible rendition of an American In Paris. I toured with him to a SPAH event – The international harmonica organization and was so honoured to be with him at any time. His enthusiasm and musicianship were a source of wonder. As for his sense of humour, I remember one incident when he was being interviewed on the radio. The buildup to the interview, mentioning his huge musical accomplishments went on and on until the announcer said: “And now we are very excited to bring you Mr. Pete Pedersen”, whereupon Pete said, “You’re EXCITED! What about me? I can’t wait to hear what I’m going to say!” Pure gold.