Peter Erskine

Peter Clark Erskine (born June 5, 1954) is an American jazz drummer who was a member of the jazz fusion groups Weather Report and Steps Ahead.

Erskine was born in Somers Point, New Jersey, U.S. He began playing the drums at the age of four.

He graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, then studied percussion at Indiana University.

His professional music career started in 1972 when he joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra.

After four years with Kenton, he joined Maynard Ferguson for two years.

In 1978, he joined Weather Report, joining Jaco Pastorius in the rhythm section.

After four years and five albums with Weather Report and the Jaco Pastorius big band's Word of Mouth, he joined Steps Ahead.

In 1983, he performed on the Antilles Records release Swingrass '83.

He toured the US in 1992 with Chick Corea.

Erskine splits his time as a musician and a professor at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.

In 1992, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.

Erskine is married to Mutsuko Erskine.

The two have two children, actress and writer Maya Erskine, and film editor and producer Taichi Erskine.

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Steps Ahead

With Rez Abbasi

With John Abercrombie

With David Benoit

With Wayne Bergeron

With Warren Bernhardt

With Randy Bernsen

With Chris Botti

With Michael Bublé

With Gary Burton

With Joey Calderazzo

With George Cables

With Alex Cline

With Pino Daniele

With Eddie Daniels

With Yelena Eckemoff

With Eliane Elias

With Maynard Ferguson

With Don Grolnick

With Bob James

With Marc Johnson

With Stan Kenton

He was featured on Kate Bush's 2005 album Aerial, where Erskine teamed with bass player Eberhard Weber.

Diana Krall, Eliane Elias, Queen Latifah and Linda Ronstadt, as well as Scottish and Finnish classical orchestras, have had Erskine perform as a featured musician.

In 2011, he appeared on stage at the Royal Opera House, London in the new opera Anna Nicole.