Peter van Gelder

For the 18th century English sculptor, see Peter Matthias Van Gelder.

American sitarist and musician

Peter Van Gelder

Van Gelder in 2019

Background information
Birth name| Peter Van Gelder
Born|  (1940-03-19) 19 March 1940 (age 85)
Genres|

* Psychedelic rock
* folk music
* Indian music

Occupation(s)| Musician, educator
Instrument(s)| Sitar, saxophone, bass guitar, flute
Years active| 2005–present
Website| https://petervangelder.com/

Musical artist

Peter Van Gelder (born March 19, 1940) is a sitarist and musician who played saxophone and bass in The Great Society.[1]

Van Gelder moved to San Francisco after college and learned bass to play in The Great Society; he played saxophone on White Rabbit.[2] He became interested in Indian music after working at a San Francisco radio station and took a summer class at University of California Berkeley with Ali Akbar Khan where he learned to play sitar.[2] Deciding to continue his studies with Khan in Kolkata, he lived in India for three years and became a disciple of Ali Akbar Khan.[2][3] While in India, he met other musicians with whom he formed the band The Saddhu Brand when he returned to California.[4]

He is an instructor at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California.[1][5][6]

## Early life

[edit]

Van Gelder grew up in a household where his parents listened to Western classical music.[2] He played clarinet and trumpet as a child.[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Peter van Gelder Master of the Sitar". Sonoma County Library. 2015-03-18. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
2. ^ a b c d e "East Indian Classical Music In Concert". The Taos News. March 30, 2005. p. 66. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
3. ^ "Entertainment: Saturday". Santa Cruz Sentinel. February 21, 1992. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
4. ^ Gaeddert, Beth (June 25, 1970). "Girl-voices combine with peaceful Indian harmonies". Daily Independent Journal. San Rafael California. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
5. ^ "Billboard". Ukiah Daily Journal. November 15, 1996. p. A9. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
6. ^ "Faculty - Ali Akbar College of Music". Ali Akbar College of Music. 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2021-01-24.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website