Ultimate Rhythm & Blues Cruise IV, S.S. Atlantic, Jan. 8, 1996 (photo by Scot Lerner)

"Mr. Blues" Pete Carlson

Peter B. Carlson a.k.a. "Mr. Blues" is the senior member of the Movers and provides the bottom for the rhythm section on the electric bass.

An original member of the Movers, Pete has been the band's bass player since 1985, with a couple of years off to become the father of three daughters (ages 7, 5 and 1).

Mr. Blues musical career spans over 35 years. It all began with piano lessons at age 7, then in junior high school, playing saxophone in the marching band before devoting his time to athletics. Mr. Blues went to the University of New Hampshire with an athletic scholarship for basketball and baseball. In addition, while at the university, he played saxophone in the ROTC Marching Band.

In the late 50's, he played tenor sax in his father's swing band, playing cover tunes from the Glenn Miller era. When club owners found out he was only 16, he had to find another musical outlet.

With a fellow classmate, Tom Wright, he formed, in 1962, one of the top rock bands in New Hampshire for many years. The band was called "The Avanties", covered 50's rock tunes and played throughout New England. In this band, he had switched from saxophone to the electric bass which would be his instrument for the next 30 years.

"The Avanties" disbanded in 1965 and Pete formed a rock band called "The Barrens" with Glenn Jordan who went on to become the lead guitar player for many years with "Sha Na Na" and wrote the theme song for Casey Kasem's weekly national radio show of top 40 hits.

In the mid-late 60's, Pete ventured into his first blues band ... "The Charles Sawyer Blues Band", once again joining forces with Tom Wright. The band covered Paul Butterfield, BB King and other blues legends. Charles Sawyer went on to write and publish an acclaimed biography of BB King.

In the late 60's, Pete joined an R & B band out of Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth called the "Soulbeats". This band had the potential to go national covering tunes by Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, et al. Musical differences disbanded the project after 2 years. Oliver Jones ("OJ"), the front man in the band, went on to a recording contract with Columbia Records and moved home to Louisiana.

During the 70's, Mr. Blues played in a succession of standard rock and "GB" bands. As Pete said, "the money was good but I ain't got no musical satisfaction".

In the early 80's, Mr. Blues went into the studio to play bass on a number of projects. One of the most promising was a disco-flavored demo with a group from Maine that featured a very talented piano player and singer named Greg Dame. The project was almost sold to a major record label in New York, but almost only counts in horseshoes.

Shortly thereafter, the blues became the final music of choice. Musical expression was initially limited to garage band outlets. Then, in 1985, the Movers came into existence and Pete was asked to play bass by the founder of the Movers, Steve Prisby, a position he has held for over 10 years. Mr. Blues said "I've seen an awful lot of musicians come and go with the Movers, but the current lineup has the potential to make the move to the next level of musical recognition and sign with a major label."

Pete is extremely proud of his record collection which ranges from 78 rpm records from the Glenn Miller years, through the vinyl years of rock and roll to the current CD format. In all his collection totals over 4,000 records.

Mr. Blues recounts the musical highlights of his career:

• Playing sax in his father's band.
• His first rock band "The Avanties", when playing music was done entirely for the fun of it.
• The Movers winning the International Blues Title in Memphis in 1995.
• A personal letter from Ronnie Earl complimenting on his style of bass playing.

Peter B. Carlson P. O. Box 614 Concord, NH 03302