Melvin Peters began his musical journey at the age of six when he sat down at the piano at home, which initiated a lifelong relationship with music. What started as a childhood fascination with the sounds of the piano gradually transformed into a career encompassing jazz performances, composition, teaching, theatre arts, and church music.
Currently residing in Reservoir Hills and aged 63, Peters is a highly skilled musician, former university lecturer, jazz pianist, composer, and organist in a church. His career has taken him from the stages of Durban to international venues.
Recently, Peters worked as the musical director and keyboardist in Pat Pillay's production 'My Cape Town', helping to shape the sound of a show that merged music and narrative.
Humble Beginnings
Before achieving international recognition and awards, Peters was simply a young boy who grew up on Sparks Road in Overport. He lived in a close-knit community where his family valued education and music.
Peters' father, Professor Leslie Peters, was an education specialist who progressed from teacher to lecturer, deputy rector, and then rector of Springfield Training College before entering the Anglican clergy. His mother, Emily Peters, worked as a primary school teacher.
Peters grew up with his older brother Alistair and younger sister Shayrelle Daniel, who also possessed musical talents. He recounted that his older brother's piano lessons drew him to the instrument.
"My brother's piano teacher, Sylvia Lawrence, used to come to our house to teach him. I liked the sound of the music played on the piano. As a little boy, I was attracted to playing the piano because it seemed like something fun," he recalls. He also mentioned that after discussing his interest with his father, his father agreed to lessons.
While learning the piano, studying and performing various pieces, Peters also enjoyed pop music. He listened to it on the radio and played these tunes on the piano; one of them was the song 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' by The Beatles. He noted that it started as a hobby but turned into an all-consuming passion.
Later, he successfully passed examinations in piano at Trinity College London, Royal Schools of Music, and the University of South Africa (Unisa).
Education
Peters attended St Anthony's School from first to fourth grade, followed by Colleville Primary School, where he completed seventh grade. He then attended Reservoir Hills High School and graduated in 1980. His passion for the piano continued in school.
He shared that there was a music group at school, and the teacher knew about his musical inclinations. During a music lesson, she asked him to perform for his peers, which was a highlight for everyone.
Peters gave his first public concert at the age of 14. He attributes this to his uncle, Professor Herb Govinden, who was a good musician and mentor. This uncle recognized his talent and arranged for him to accompany three drama students from the then Westville University (UDW). These pieces—'The Good Woman of Setzuan', 'Everyman', and 'The Owl and the Pussycat'—were performed at the Asoka Theatre, which was a wonderful venue for performances at the time.
Further Studies
In 1981, Peters began studying for a Bachelor of Music degree at the then University of Natal. His father encouraged him in this direction, believing that after all the piano exams he had taken, he should develop in music, making it the driving force of his career.
Exploring Jazz
A turning point he described as life-changing was 1983, when he began studying jazz piano. His instructor was Darius Brubeck, an American musician and son of the legendary American jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck.
He called it an incredible opportunity to study jazz, which introduced him to a completely new musical world. He loved the improvisation that jazz allowed, as it gave the performer freedom of self-expression.
After obtaining his bachelor's degree in 1985, he continued his studies, earning a master's degree specializing in jazz performance in 1989. While still a student, Peters began performing at concerts and venues throughout Durban. He became a member of the student group Jazzanians and founded Melvin Peters Quartet.
He noted that both groups became popular, which helped launch his musical career.
Career
In 1990, Peters was appointed as a lecturer in Jazz Studies at UDW. He taught for ten years until the music faculty closed in January 2000. He emphasized that he greatly enjoyed teaching students, many of whom went on to achieve success in their professions.
Since then, he has focused on his musical career. He began actively promoting himself in the music industry, which led to wonderful opportunities to travel and perform on both local and international stages with some of the best musicians in the world.
As an organist and choir director at St Paul's Church, Peters also began composing music while studying. He performed his compositions at concerts and wrote several pieces for the church choir.
Furthermore, he served as an examiner for the jazz genre for Unisa and an external examiner for the Jazz Department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
In the final chapter of his career, he returned to the theatre as the musical director for the production 'My Cape Town', which was recently shown in Durban and Johannesburg. Peters and Pillay had previously collaborated on the theatrical production. He explained that his task was to coordinate the music and create a band that included a bassist and percussionist. He chose a slightly different aesthetic approach to push boundaries and create something distinct from the conventional. He was also offered to play keyboards in the group. During performances, he directed the group and led the musical execution. He noted that the shows were successful and received positive reviews regarding the music and its role in the production, emphasizing that they were not just musicians, but storytellers alongside Pat.
Milestones
Throughout his career, he has had many memorable moments, including performances with the Jazzanians group in the USA. This opportunity was made possible by their lecturer Darius, who organized a conference with jazz groups from the USA and around the world, and the Saudi group had the honor of participating in it.
Another highlight was performing alongside American jazz guitarist Herb Ellis. He admired this musician on television without realizing he would one day perform with him at the Natal Theatre in Durban. He described it as a surreal experience.
He also performed with Dave Brubeck in the USA. After meeting at a conference, they stayed at his home. Ten years later, he attended his concert in the USA, and Brubeck remembered him, inviting him onto the stage to perform together.
Peters also studied at Harvard University from September 1998 to June 1999. His father advised him to apply for a scholarship, and he received one for one academic year for a general studies program, where he studied subjects such as jazz, biblical studies, Indian classical music, conducting, and American history.
Awards
Peters has received several awards, including a special award from the South African Music Copyright Organization, the 'Living Legend' award from the eThekwini municipality, and the Order of St George from St Paul's Church.
Advice
His message to aspiring musicians is that the music profession is not glamorous and does not happen overnight. Dedication and readiness for a long journey are necessary. He often uses the analogy: 'stars are not born overnight.' He believes that if you start this long journey, rewards will surely follow.
Leisure
In his free time, he enjoys socializing, attending theatre productions and concerts, watching movies at home, and walking on the beach.