Profile - Peter Pupping

Born in 1960 in the Netherlands Peter immigrated to the United States with his family in the early sixties. At nine years old he began his guitar studies. Beginning with classical guitar lessons and a steady diet of music from the sixties Peter's love for a variety of music began early on. Through the teen years Peter played in rock bands and continued to develop his love for the Spanish guitar. By the age of twenty he became a music major in college and got very serious about music.

Peter is a multifaceted musician. He directed the MiraCosta College guitar program from fall of 1987 through spring of 1999. Today he frequently performs as a soloist and with various ensembles and leads the Peter Pupping Quartet on the GuitarSounds label. The quartet appears in concert regularly and performs classical & contemporary acoustic music including; world music (Spanish, Pop Flamenco, Brazilian Bossa Nova, Samba, Irish), light jazz and popular hits.

Besides regularly performing for almost every major corporation in the United States, Peter’s other notable appearances include performing for dignitaries such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Steve Forbes, Randy Duke Cunningham, Rodger Hedgecock, Rev. Robert Schuller, Dick Enberg, Frank Gifford, Joan Embry, Beatles arranger George Martin, Pat Benatar, Tim Conway, Jenny Craig, Ed McMahon, Irene Valenti and others.

Peter has been invited to perform and open for groups like Spyro Gyra, Joe Walsh, Michael Hedges, Ivan Lins and William Aura of Higher Octave Music. Collaborations include performances with notable musicians like Phil Keaggy, Peter Sprague, Art Johnson, Fred Benedetti, Harvey Reid, Marshall Hawkins, Jim Earp, Tripp Sprague, Jamie Valle, Bob Magnusson, Kristin Korb, Ron Freshman, Ron Wagner (Ottmar Liebert’s Luna Negra) Fattburger’s Tommy Aros, Kevin Koch and Evan Marks

With nine recordings released, Peter has been actively recording since 1992. His first album, "Guitarra de Paz" is a collection of Renaissance, Irish, Baroque, Spanish, South American, Classical and Romantic music. This was followed by "Gloria - An Acoustic Guitar Christmas", "Here Comes The Sun Vol. I" and "Morning Has Broken Vol. 2" recorded with Fred Benedetti and the festive instrumental Latin variety collection of "Samba Nights" and "Embarcadero" with The Peter Pupping Quartet. In 2002 Peter released a CD with duo partner Jeff Basile titled The Very Thought of You, a collection of romantic jazz standards. Also, in 2002 Peter produced the debut solo album La Catedral for fellow guitarist and member of the Peter Pupping Quartet William Wilson with guest performances by Peter Pupping and Fred Benedetti. The most recent release MoonDance, Acoustic Guitar Classics, Volume 3 features Peter Pupping, Fred Benedetti and a guest appearance by Peter Sprague.

Bachelor's and Master's of music degrees were earned from San Diego State University where he also studied with Robert Wetzel, Brian Kilmer and Celin Romero of the internationally known Los Romero's Guitar Quartet. Additionally, Peter has participated in master classes with Pepe Romero, Christopher Parkening and Scott Tennant. His traditional classical guitar focus was broadened through jazz studies with saxophonist Charles McPhearson, bassist Gunner Biggs and pianists Art Resnick, Ivar Antonsen, guitarists Charles Wheeler, Andy Riley, Mark Shapiro, Peter Sprague and Bill Coleman.

"..I've been listening ...to your fine recording (Guitarrara de Paz) and I find both the music and the performance simply delightful!"
-Donald Barra
Music Director San Diego Chamber Orchestra

"Peter Pupping plays with beautiful tone, great feeling and wonderful song selection."
-Peter Sprague
Acclaimed Jazz Guitarist