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Peter Asher and Albert Lee with Peter Asher

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Multiple GRAMMY winners Peter Asher and Albert Lee combine their talents for an acoustic evening of songs and stories. As one half of Peter & Gordon, Peter Asher’s voice helped define the sound of the British Invasion, while it’s widely known that Albert Lee is Eric Clapton’s favorite guitarist. Influenced from their earliest days as musicians and performers by great American artists like Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers, Peter Asher and Albert Lee bring those influences to the fore in their first series of shows together as an acoustic duo.

Albert Lee

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www.albertlee.co.uk

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Artist Bio

"The greatest guitarist in the world."- Eric Clapton

“Albert is in every sense of the word, a genuine guitar wizard".- Earl Scruggs

Guitar legend ALBERT LEE first came to prominence during a 1964-68 stint in British Blues and R & B stalwarts Chris Farlowe’s Thunderbirds. After working in the UK bands for touring country acts such as Bobby Bare and Skeeter Davis, Lee’s next full-time berth was two years with the UK answer to the Flying Burrito Brothers and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-Head, Hands, and Feet. His reputation grew and session work blossomed, including appearances on “The London Bo Diddley Sessions” for Chess and Jerry Lee Lewis’ “The London Sessions”. This and other work with U.S. based greats led to a permanent position in the Crickets, and by the time that ended Albert had long since made Southern California his home. There he became friendly with Don Everly, who had also settled in Southern California; they played regularly on a formal and informal basis, with Albert contributing to Don’s 1974 solo effort “Sunset Towers”. The move to California also led to work on sessions for the debut album of Jackson Browne.

Lee joined Joe Cocker’s band in the mid-70s, a time that included recordings for the April 1976 release “Stingray”. From there A & M Records signed Albert as an artist in his own right. The solo album’s completion was delayed by constant studio and touring work, primarily in Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band; in 1976 Albert replaced James Burton when Burton left to continue work with Elvis Presley’s TCB band. The Emmylou Harris albums “Luxury Liner” (Jan. 1977), “Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town” (Jan. 1978) “Blue Kentucky Girl” (April 1979), “Roses in the Snow” (May 1980, recorded July 1979), and “Evangeline” (Jan 1981, recorded 1978-80) all include Albert. He ended his touring tenure with the Hot Band to complete his solo album, and “Hiding” was finally released in 1979.

An invitation around the Christmas season in 1978 led to a five-year adventure for Albert in Eric Clapton’s band. The live album “Just One Night”, recorded at Budokan in December 1979, was the first release (April 1980) to feature Albert. “Another Ticket” (Feb. 1981), “Time Pieces Vol 2-Live in the 70s” (1983), and “Money and Cigarettes” (Feb. 1983) all were part of Albert’s tenure with Eric.

His studio work in this period continued, including contributions to three albums by Rosanne Cash: 1979’s “Right or Wrong”, 1981’s “Seven Year Ache”, and 1982’s “Somewhere in the Stars”. Other sessions included work with Dave Edmunds, Rodney Crowell, Nanci Griffith, Carlene Carter, and countless others. His solo efforts continued as well, with the self-titled “Albert Lee” in 1982, and instrumental releases on MCA- the acclaimed “Speechless” (1986) and “Gagged But Not Bound” (1987).

When the Everly Brothers reunited on September 23, 1983 at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Albert was on hand as guitarist and Musical Director. He continued in that role for over 20 years until the Brothers retired. An invitation in 1987 by steel guitarist Gerry Hogan for Albert to play his annual festival led to the formation of Albert Lee and Hogan’s Heroes, who remain an active touring force in the UK and Europe- and a recording force worldwide, with 7 albums to their credit. The DVD “Live at the Tivoli” was released in 2011, and the new CD, “On the Town Tonight” was released on February 14, 2012.

Albert remains an occasional member of the Crickets, and tours regularly with Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. Sugar Hill Records released Albert’s solo efforts “Heartbreak Hill” in 2003 and “Road Runner” in 2006. A summer 2011 jaunt with John Jorgenson prompted Albert to form his own U.S. band for the very first time.

The Albert Lee Band includes John Thomas, aka “J.T’, on keyboards. J.T.’s musical resume includes 23 years with Bruce Hornsby, who graciously called John “the greatest keyboard player in the band.” Emmylou Harris, Don Henley, Sparks, Tracy Chapman and a host of other have called upon John’s gifts. Bass player Will MacGregor’s credits are a testament to his wide-ranging talents, having worked with the likes of the Pretenders, Pat Boone, Exene Cervenka, and more.

Peter Asher

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www.peterashermusic.com

Peter Asher, CBE was born in London June 22, 1944, the son of a doctor and a professional musician. He was educated at Westminster School in London and at Kings College, London University, where he studied philosophy.

Peter’s entry into the world of the performing arts was as a child actor. At the age of eight he starred in his first film, “The Planter’s Wife” as the son of Claudette Colbert and Jack Hawkins. He went on to act extensively in various film, TV, radio and stage productions.

His legendary music career began in 1964 as one-half of the singing duo Peter & Gordon, who amassed nine Top 20 records during their career. Their debut single, “A World Without Love” –a song given to them by Paul McCartney – went to number one in over 30 countries, including the U.S. and U.K. In 1968, Mr. Asher became head of A&R for the Beatles newly formed record company, Apple Records, where he found, signed and produced James Taylor and worked closely with the Beatles on their individual projects. During this period he became a key figure in the “revolution” of The Sixties, founding the book shop and art gallery “Indica” (where John and Yoko met and where Allen Ginsberg and William Boroughs visited) and found himself at the center of an era of profound social and artistic change.

         In 1971, Asher moved to the U.S. and founded Peter Asher Management, representing James Taylor and, beginning in 1973, the management and production of Linda Ronstadt as well. Peter Asher Management became one of the most successful Artist Management companies in the US, handling artists such as Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, and Carole King as well as James and Linda.

         As a producer, Mr. Asher has worked with such diverse artists as James Taylor, 10,000 Maniacs, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, Linda Ronstadt, Cher, Morrissey, Robin Williams, Jane Monheit, Kenny Loggins, The Dixie Chicks, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Hans Zimmer and Billy Joel, among many others. He has been awarded 37 RIAA-certified gold albums and 22 platinum albums in the U.S., and many more internationally. Mr. Asher has produced thirteen Grammy Award-winning recordings, and in 1977 and 1989 was honored individually with the Grammy Award for “Producer of the Year”. He won a further Grammy in the category of “Comedy Album of the Year” for his production work with Robin Williams.

After a 37 year gap, Peter & Gordon reunited in New York for one benefit concert for a friend on August 2, 2005 which was very successful and they went on to perform together on various special occasions just for the fun of it until Gordon’s untimely death in July of 2009 .

Since then Peter has continued to be in high demand as a record producer, consultant, lecturer and as a performer again in his successful one-man show, “A Musical Memoir of the 60s and Beyond”.   He has also received various international awards, is a member of Mensa and of SAG-AFTRA, a National Trustee of the Recording Academy and has been a frequent keynote speaker at industry events.

Other projects in recent years include “Carole King & James Taylor Live at the Troubadour”, an album from guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela (“Area 52”, recorded in Cuba) and the Buddy Holly tribute “Listen to Me” (an album and PBS TV Special

With Hans Zimmer, Peter produced music for “Pirates of the Caribbean 4”, “Sherlock Holmes 2”, “Madagascar 3”, “Man of Steel” and “Rush”. In fact, Peter sang and produced the only original song in “Madagascar 3”, the love theme “Love Always Comes as a Surprise” which Peter co-wrote with his friend Dave Stewart. He also collaborated with Zimmer and Pharrell Williams on the production of all the musical elements of the Academy Awards show 2012 and recently completed a production project with Elton John, with current artists singing the songs from “Yellow Brick Road” on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of that album. The artists include Ed Sheeran, Miguel, The Band Perry, John Grant, Fall Out Boy and Hunter Hayes and the album was released in March 2014.

Current projects include the production of the follow-up album to the highly successful (and Grammy-winning) “Love Has Come for You” (Steve Martin & Edie Brickell) which has also generated a PBS special and a stage musical, “Bright Star”, of which Peter is the music supervisor. “Bright Star”, directed by Walter Bobbie, will be opening on Broadway in the fall of 2015.

Peter also directed the highly acclaimed Hans Zimmer live concerts (“Hans Zimmer Revealed”) which took place in London on October 10thand 11th 2014 and has produced the songs for the forthcoming Barry Levinson movie, “Rock the Kasbah” (Bill Murray, Bruce Willis and Zoe Deschanel.)

In the New Year’s Honors list for 2015, Peter Asher was awarded a CBE (“Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire”) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. The official investiture took place at Buckingham Palace on February the 24th, conducted by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

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