The Peter Graves Orchestra
Instrumentation: piano, guitar, bass, drums, trumpet, trombone, sax
- Big Band Swing/Standards, Classic Oldies, Contemporary Top 40 , Jazz, Motown, Latin
Peter Graves is considered by many as one of the best and most nationally known bandleaders in South Florida. Having started his professional career playing on the Jackie Gleason television series, then moving on to lead his own orchestras beginning in 1969 performing with Frankie Avalon at the Newport Beach Resort and continuing as a mainstay in the South Florida entertainment circles for over 30 years. The year 1971 brought Graves and the band to Joe Namath's Bachelor's III in Fort Lauderdale for a five year engagement that featured performances with Mel Torme, the Temptations, Lou Rawls, the Four Tops and countless other nationally known artists. In 1976, the Peter Graves Orchestra opened the inaugural season at the 4,000 seat Sunrise Musical Theatre with such notable performers as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Shirley Bassey, Henry Mancini, Dionne Warwick, and George Benson. The orchestra continues to be called on to perform with top artists in the area.
Mr. Graves and members of the orchestra toured and recorded with the Bee Gees since 1976 and have received 6 platinum albums and numerous platinum and gold singles for their work with the Brothers Gibb over the years. Other artists the orchestra has toured with include Julio Iglesias, Engelbert Humperdinck, Lou Rawls and Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. In addition, Mr. Graves has received a platinum album for his arranging and performing on the Barbra Streisand album "Guilty". Other award winning albums include "Monkey Grip Glue" by Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, "Firefall" by Firefall, "Heartbreaker" by Dionne Warwick, "Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb, "Right Place, Wrong Time" by Dr. John, "Islands In The Stream" by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton and many others.
Graves and his orchestra have performed for the NFL at six SuperBowls with headline acts such as Frank Sinatra, Kool & The Gang and the Four Tops, The Temptations, Frankie Valli, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson. During the first nationwide tour of "Phantom Of The Opera", the Peter Graves Orchestra was chosen as the pit orchestra at the Broward Center For The Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. In addition to the shows, concerts and tours that the orchestra does, their largest number of performances is for corporate and social functions ranging from small intimate dinner parties to multiple day conventions for national and international corporations. The Peter Graves Orchestra also performs at a number of weddings at various hotels and country clubs with clients writing: "…you were exceptional, you knew exactly what to play, and how and when to play it. What a presence you have, and what an elegant atmosphere you created!" From wedding receptions to the largest of social and charity functions, each and every client always receiving the same attention to detail and quality music that the "name acts" command and Fortune 500 corporations demand. As reported by the entertainment editor of the Miami Herald, "there hasn't been a single entertainer come to town who hasn't singled out the Graves group as one of the finest they have worked with, anywhere...".
LOCAL/SOCIAL EVENTS: Chris Evert Gala , Red Cross Ball, Mar-A-Lago, Wayne & Marti Huizenga, Dan Marino Foundation, Baptist Hospital, NFAA, Love & Hope Ball (w/ Barry Gibb), Pro Player Stadium-3 Tenors, Make-A-Wish Foundation. CORPORATE EVENTS: Doral / Ryder Open, Cadbury - Schweppes, Southeast Toyota, RC Cola, Blockbuster Entertainment, Warner Lambert, Florida Marlins, SuperYachts, Baseball Owners Assn, NCL. ARTISTS: Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, Natalie Cole, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Dionne Warwick, Joel Grey, Moody Blues, Donna Summer, Bernadette Peters, Ray Charles.