PETE HOP

The youngest of seven children, Hop was exposed to a wide variety of music. From his parents’ taste for swing, to his siblings’ rock favorites, Hop drew early inspiration from Glen Miller, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra and Duke Ellington to The Beatles, The Stones and The Who, among many, many more. As a teenager, Hop studied with Ed Monteleone (ex Peter Frampton Alumni), who introduced him to the music of Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and others. He graduated with honors from G.I.T (Guitar Institute of Technology), where he developed his exceptional finger picking style and deep appreciation of roots music.

In addition to being an accomplished singer and front man, Hop is a sought-after sideman, playing regularly with boogie-woogie piano man, Mitch Woods (with his East Coast Rocket 88’s). With Woods, he has also played major U.S. blues festivals, including The Rhythm and Roots Festival, Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Festival and the Chenango Blues Festival, as well as traveling to Athens, Greece for a residency at the Half Note Jazz Club. Over the years, Hop has shared the stage with a variety of top blues players, including two of his idols, Hubert Sumlin and Pinetop Perkins.

Pete Hop was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame on September 25, 2011 as “Great Blues Artist from New York”. He will take part in the International Blues Challenge in February 2012, representing Connecticut.

http://www.peteyhop.com