In his song "Brothers of Beauty", written in 1995, Peter Van Kan describes how he views and experiences music: It is a connection between our material world and a finer world of harmony and beauty. True artists are messengers.
For Peter, making music (and writing and teaching) is not about fame, money or recognition. It is about sharing what moves and inspires him.
This finer world wasn't very much audible yet in his first steps on the musical path. As the drummer of Southern Rock band Sugaree, Peter gained some fame in his native Rotterdam with the amount of decibels he managed to produce without amplification.
Step two was following his innate urge towards freedom, pick up his guitar and leave for France. The free life of a streetmusician ended, for the time being, a year later with a car accident. After a rehabilitation period and back in Holland, performances were given in youthclubs, pianobars, etc.
In the mid-eighties Peter felt again the urge to leave everything and everybody behind. With only a car, a book and a guitar, he made long trips through especially Italy. They resulted in inner-, musical- and financial growth. In 1987 the first studio recordings were made in Bologna.
The following years were intense and fruitful. With the Italian money thrown in his guitar case, Peter bought a little house in the Dutch woods. The number of original compositions grew steadily and one after another recording was made, both in studios and live, with Peter now playing eight instruments. Concerts at home and abroad followed; radio- and tv appearances; articles in newspapers and magazines about his book "Incidentally".
Also Peter's work with handicapped people drew attention. Over the years he shared, through workshops in many countries, his yoga knowledge with thousands of people with a disability.
After 1995 things grow quiet. That is, as far as music is concerned. Peter concentrates on founding a yogacentre and training people that will take over his work. He writes articles about health and spirituality for various magazines, and starts up several small businesses importing and distributing natural health products.
In 2002 the musical thread is picked up again. Peter has gotten in touch with American violinist Talia Toni Marcus, formerly recording and touring with Van Morrison, The Band and Pavarotti, to name a few. They appear to be on the same wavelength and record in Seattle half of what later becomes the album '2 to 1'. The other half is later recorded live in Holland.
Presently, with a number of strong CD's to his name and a voice that touches people's hearts, Peter Van Kan is well on his way to realising his ambition: to be a channel for love and harmony, a true 'Brother of Beauty'.
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