Holger Petersen, CM AOE (born 23 November 1949) is a Canadian businessman, record producer and radio broadcaster.[1] He founded the independent roots music record label Stony Plain Records in 1975 with partner Alvin Jahns. The label was sold to True North/Linus Music in 2018, but Petersen continues to act as executive producer on many recording projects. He was born in Pellworm Island, West Germany.
Holger Petersen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 November 1949 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, record producer, radio broadcaster and author |
| Known for | A founder of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and Canadian "Ambassador of the Blues" |
Petersen has hosted Saturday Night Blues since 1987, heard on CBC Radio (at various times on CBC Radio One, CBC Radio Two, CBC Music, CBC Listen and SiriusXM 169) and Natch'l Blues since 1969, the longest running blues program in Canada, on the CKUA Radio Network.[2] Petersen was a founder of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and served as the artistic director from 1986 to 1988.[3] He has served on boards of numerous industry organizations, including SOCAN, CMRRA, CARAS and CIRPA and helped found the Alberta Recording Industries Association (now Alberta Music).
His first book, Talking Music: Blues Radio and Roots Music, was published in 2011 by Insomniac Press.[4] His second book, Talking Music 2: Blues and Roots Music Mavericks, was released in January 2017.[5]
He has also been a drummer and was a member of Spiny Norman's Whoopee Band and Hot Cottage.
Petersen was inducted as a Member into the Order of Canada in 2003 for contributions to Canadian culture, and has received honorary doctorates from both the University of Alberta and Athabasca University.[6] He was appointed as a Member to the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2020.[7]
Petersen has contributed to more than 200 music projects since 1970.[8]
Awards
edit| Maple Blues Award - Blues With A Feeling Lifetime Achievement | 1987 | |
| Canadian Country Music Association - Record Company Person of the Year | 1989 | |
| Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame | 1992 | |
| Maple Blues Award - Media Person of the Year | 1997 | |
| Prairie Music Association - Outstanding Producer | 1999 | |
| Alberta Recording Industries Association - Record Producer of the Year | 1999 | |
| Canadian Country Music Association - Record Company Person of the Year | 2001 | |
| American Foundation for Independent Music - Record Producer | 2002 | |
| Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal | 2002 | |
| Member of the Order of Canada | 2003 | |
| Honorary Doctor of Letters. Athabasca University | 2004 | |
| Alberta Centennial Medal | 2005 | |
| Blues Foundation - Keeping The Blues Alive | 2008 | |
| Calgary Blues Music Association - Lifetime Achievement Award | 2010 | |
| Canadian Blues Museum Hall of Fame Induction | 2011 | |
| NAIT Top 50 Alumni Award | 2012 | |
| Honorary Doctor of Letters, University of Alberta | 2012 | |
| Western Canadian Music Award - Industry Builder Award | 2013 | |
| Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame - Builder | 2014 | |
| Mel Brown Blues Award - Lifetime Achievement | 2018 | |
| Folk Alliance International - Folk DJ Hall of Fame | 2020 | |
| Alberta Order of Excellence | 2020 | |
| Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal | 2022 |
References
edit- ^ "Holger Petersen". The Canadian Encyclopedia, October 8, 2008.
- ^ LeBlanc, Larry (January 14, 1995). "Roots Music, Country Reign At Stony Plain". Billboard Magazine. 107 (2). Nielsen Business Media, Inc: 37. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
- ^ Walters, Marylu (2002). CKUA: Radio Worth Fighting For. Alberta: University of Alberta Press. p. 198. ISBN 0-88864-395-0. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
- ^ "Petersen takes readers on a musical journey". Calgary Herald, November 16, 2011.
- ^ "Back To His Roots; Radio host Holger Petersen publishes another illuminating book of musician interviews". Ottawa Citizen, March 30, 2017.
- ^ Roy-Brenneis, Derek (April 30, 2012). "UAlberta honorary degrees announced". University of Alberta. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012.
- ^ "Seven Albertans joining Alberta Order of Excellence". Government of Albera. July 3, 2020.
- ^ "Holger Petersen | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
External links
edit- Stony Plain Records Archived 2014-12-23 at the Wayback Machine
- CKUA Natch'l Blues
- CBC Radio Saturday Night Blues
- Holger Petersen at IMDb
- Holger Petersen discography at Discogs
- Holger Petersen (Canadian businessman) discography at Discogs Entry for Stony Plain Records
- Entry at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
- Entry at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca for Stony Plain Records
|- |Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame Literature Talking Music I and II |2023 |}