Compared to the general public, Pete is unique in two ways (three if you count the duck calls he performs with some bands). Pete is a native of the Bay Area—the only one in the band—born and raised in Redwood City and, before he retired, had a job that he loved and enjoyed—not the only one in the band—teaching music in the Byron Union School District on the edge of the Central Valley.

His road to that job started with drums in the sixth grade, clarinet in the eighth and sax in the tenth. Then it was off to San Jose State, where, in addition to receiving his degree, he spent four years in the solo chair in the university's orchestra. He also spent time with the Santa Clara Philharmonic and worked two years as an instructor with the U.S. Naval School of Music

The list of bands that Pete plays with beside the Jelly Roll Jazz Band is a long one. Included are the Devil Mountain J.B., Cell Block Seven, Beyond Salvation J.B., Cork's Crew in Oregon, Delta Flyers, Ted Shafer's Dixie Syncopaters, Los Medanos College Concert Band (and the college's Educator's Band), Brentwood Community Band and the S.F. Feetwarmers.