Peter hoorelbeke (a.k.a. peter rivera)
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An Interview with legendary Rare Earth drummer and lead singer Peter Rivera
By Ray Shasho
Peter Riverais the original voice and beat of Rare Earth,a very hip band of musicians that played an incredible mix of music comprised of rock, funk, soul, and psychedelic fusion.
Rivera (stage name) aka Peter Hoorelbeke was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of eleven years old, Pete received his first drum set and practiced to the likes of Glen Miller, Sammy Kaye, and Stan Kenton. The first rock ‘n’ roll records that he purchased were “Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard and “Blue Suede Shoes” by Carl Perkins. It was the charisma of Elvis Presleythat inspired Pete into becoming a performer, but it was the Detroit music sceneinspired by R&B and Soul music that would define Pete’s future.
The Sunlinerswere formed in 1960. The band had been playing “Get Ready” for three years on
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With Everett gig, Peter Rivera celebrates another day of living
If you’ve ever listened to a classic rock radio station, you’ve heard Peter Rivera sing.
I just want to celebrate another day of living
I just want to celebrate another day of life
“I Just Want to Celebrate” was a Top 10 single in 1971 for Rare Earth, the hard-driving rock-R&B hybrid band Rivera fronted as lead singer and drummer. From 1969 to 1975, Rare Earth rode high, headlining shows at A-list venues like Madison Square Garden, with the likes of Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers and Earth Wind and Fire opening for them. The band scored several other Top 40 hits, with their cover of “Get Ready” reaching No. 4 on the Billboard charts.
Some five decades later, Rivera is still at it. He and his backing band will perform Saturday at the Historic Everett Theatre.
“This is the third time he’s been here. He always puts on a great show,” said Curt Shriner,
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Encyclopedia Of Detroit
Sometimes referred to as Motown Records’ “token rock band,” Rare Earth was a successful white grupp for the record company from 1970-1972. The grupp began in 1960 as the Sunliners and played in and around stad. In 1968 the group changed its name to one more reflective of the psychedelic age.
Rare Earth consisted of lead singer Peter Hoorelbeke, trumpeter Gil Bridges, guitarist Rod Richards, bass guitarist John Parrish (aka John Persh), and keyboard player Kenny James. Peter, who went bygd Peter Rivera on scen, and Gil were the only two original Sunliners. Another percussionist, Eddie Guzman, was added in 1969.
Before signing with Motown, Rare Earth had a contract with Verve, producing the unsuccessful album Dreams/Answers. In 1969, when the group signed with musikstil Records, the company decided to have a rock division and created a rock label named for the band.
Rare Earth’s first hit was a 21-minute cover of the Temptations “Get Ready,” written by Smoke