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The Petersens are an American bluegrass family band from Branson, Missouri. Since the group's inception, they have been a regular feature on Country Music and Bluegrass television specials.
The Petersens | |
|---|---|
 The Petersens of Branson, Missouri | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Branson, Missouri, US |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Members | Katie Petersen Ellen Petersen Haygood Matt Petersen Julianne Petersen Karen Petersen Emmett Franz Jon Petersen |
| Website | www |
Band history
editThe Petersen children grew up playing music together, but first heard bluegrass in 2003 at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival. The band was formed and held their first performance in 2005 at the First Christian Church of Mountain Grove, Missouri[1], their mother's hometown church.
The band was originally composed of siblings Katie (on fiddle), Ellen (on banjo), Matt (on bass), Julianne (song and dance), their mother, Karen (on mandolin), and their father, Jon (on guitar). Over time, Julianne switched to mandolin, Karen switched to bass, and Matt switched to guitar. Jon switched to piano on some of their gospel songs. These early performances were mostly held initially in local festivals, churches, and cafes.[2]
In 2010, the band won the CAM Gospel Sing-Off[3] competition at the Sight & Sound Theatre in Branson, which performance caught the attention of the IMAX Entertainment Complex, where they were then invited to play regularly at the Little Opry Theater for the entertainment of local and state residents.
In 2015, the band received international recognition when their banjo player Ellen Petersen competed in the singing reality TV show, American Idol, placing in the top 48.[4][5][6][7][8] In 2017, Emmett Franz joined the band as their dobro player.[2]
In 2018, the band placed 4th in the International Bluegrass Music Competition in Nashville.[9]
Katie Petersen, vocalist and composer, has composed "California" and "My Ozark Mountain Home". The latter is a tribute to the Ozarks and was named the first official song by the City of Branson in 2023.[10] Julianne Petersen is a multi-talented performer with a history of buck-dancing whilst playing the violin at the same time.[11]
The band, although young and upcoming, has garnered praise from top music professionals in the United Kingdom, who see the group as being unique in the field of bluegrass music.[11]
The band has also frequently covered songs composed by other musicians, such as Dolly Parton's "Jolene," which has received more than 17 million views on YouTube, and "Take Me Home, Country Roads" which received 20 million views in just twelve months.[12]
Touring
editPrior to 2019, The Petersens had performed to audiences throughout the continental United States, in Canada, and Ireland. In early 2019, they toured Ireland again, as well as the United Kingdom.[13] In late 2019, The Petersens went on additional singing tours to Finland and to Ireland, the trip to Ireland being the group's fourth tour of that country. Social media platforms are often used to document their performances and recordings.
Discography
editAlbums and music videos
edit| Title | Release date | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travelin’ Shoes - the Petersen Family Band (EP)[14] | |||
| Finally Going Home - The Petersens[15] | May 1, 2014 | ||
| Shenandoah - The Petersens | October 22, 2017 | CD Baby[16] | |
| Homesick for a Country | August 9, 2019 | The Petersens[17] | |
| Gentle on My Mind - The Petersens (EP) | November 1, 2019 | CD Baby | |
| The Petersens - Live Sessions, vol. 01[18] | August 8, 2020 | ||
| The Petersens - Live Sessions, vol. 02 | October 20, 2020 | ||
| Christmas with the Petersens | November 6, 2020 | CD Baby | |
| The Petersens - Live Sessions, vol. 03 | September 15, 2021 | ||
| The Petersens - Live Sessions, vol. 04 | November 19, 2021 | ||
| My Ozark Mountain Home | November 18, 2022 | ||
| We Don’t Need Anything This Year | November 10, 2023 |
Several of the group's newer releases, as well as covers of other artists, have been made available on Spotify[19] and iTunes.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Meet The Petersens - American Roots Music from Branson". The Petersens. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
- ^ a b "Meet the Family Band From Branson". The Petersens. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ Gull, O. C. (6 September 2010). "Petersen Family Band wins 2nd Annual Branson CAM Gospel Sing-Off | The Branson Blog by Branson Tourism Center". Retrieved 2020-09-12.
- ^ "Banjo Newsletter". Banjo Newsletter. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
- ^ Groman, Gary (17 February 2015). "Ellen Petersen's amazing faith deeply contributes to her American Idol experience | The Branson Blog by Branson Tourism Center". Retrieved 2020-09-12.
- ^ "Ellen Petersen on American Idol StateoftheOzarks". stateoftheozarks.net. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
- ^ "Meet Ellen Petersen of American Idol Season 14 | Idol Chatter & Voice Views". 16 January 2015. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
- ^ Rehwald, Jackie. "Branson native, MSU grad sent home on 'American Idol'". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
- ^ "The Petersens Take Fourth Place At SPBGMA International Band Championship". The Petersens. 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "Petersens recording named the first official Branson song". Branson Tri-Lakes News. 2023-04-25. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ a b "The Petersens Family Blue Grass Band from the USA". The Music Man, London. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ "Take Me Home, Country Roads - The Petersens (LIVE) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- ^ The Petersens tour the Emerald Isle, Bluegrass Today, Feb. 12, 2019
- ^ Produced by Bruce Hoffman with Hoffman Studio Productions
- ^ "Finally Going Home". The Petersens. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ Shenandoah - The Petersens, Album label: CD Baby. (Amazon music), in collaboration with John and Bill Chapman
- ^ Homesick for a Country - The Petersens, Album label: The Petersens (Amazon music)
- ^ "The Petersens release new album featuring YouTube songs". The Petersens. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ The Petersens
- ^ "The Petersens on Apple Music". Apple Music (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2020-09-01.