Peter Berkow

Peter Berkow is a television producer who has created more than 200 programs for PBS and public television. He is also a CD and album producer, a recording artist, and widely published writer and educator. ' He has produced artists such as: Tommy Emmanuel, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Dave Brubeck, Frankie Moreno, The Nell Robinson/Jim Nunally Band, Sam Bush, Robben Ford, Rodney Crowell, Fank Vignola, Antsy McClain, Joe Craven, Marcia Ball, Richard Thompson, Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings, Strunz and Farah, Delhi 2 Dublin, Blame Sally, and Tom Rigney, Berkow's projects as a producer started in 1969, when recorded on a four track Ampex tape recorder in Urbana, Illinois. They included the original demo tapes that were used to sign multi-platinum recording artist Dan Fogelberg to his first deals with Columbia records - as well as his own first recordings as a singer and songwriter. Berkow studied as an assistant to producer Rick Jarrard (Jefferson Airplane, Harry Nillson, Jose Feliciano, David Cassidy) between 1973 and 1974. Berkow released his first album, "Thesis" in 1975. Thesis was followed by "Faculty Recital," "Live at Cabos" and "Bootleg Demo." He also recorded a duet album with Gordy Ohilger (AKA the Banjo-Ologist) - billed as "The Rhythm Rowdys." All four subsequent albums were released on vinyl between 1976 and 1982. In 1982, Berkow's daughter Wysteria was born, and he switched careers. Between 1982 and 1994, Berkow worked as a journalist. In 1995, Berkow was hired as a full time teacher of writing and journalism by Shasta College. Berkow's breakthrough PBS project was a 15 program series called "News Writing." The series included interviews with icons of the 20th century news business, including: Bob Woodward, Charles Kuralt, Helen Thomas, Dave Barry, Larry King, Steve Kroft, Andy Roony, Siskel and Ebert and many others. He also wrote a book to accompany the series and to teach journalism. The book was printed and distributed by Wadsworth Publishing. In 2001, Berkow released a 26-program PBS series called "Writing for an Audience." This series included interviews with nearly 100 famous writers and people from all walks of life who use writing in their work, including: Frank McCourt, Tom Robbins, Wiliam Gibson, Sue Grafton, Michael Moore, Rush Limbaugh, Al Franken, Bill Walsh, Joe Satriani, and many others. He also wrote a book to accompany the series and to teach English Composition. The book was printed and distributed by McGraw-Hill Publishing. In 2001, Berkow as also named the nation's leading distance education college faculty professor by the Instructional Technology Council. In 2002, Berkow returned to producing albums (now in CD format) as well as DVDs and music concerts for public television. In 2005, he produced the 20 program series "Astronomy Observations and Theories" that won two LA Area Emmy awards. He produced the 13 program series "Sierra Center Stage" in 2007. Season One of his 10 program concert series "Music Gone Public" was released in 2010.