Peter Buffett

Last updated
Peter Buffett
Peter-buffet.jpg
Born
Peter Andrew Buffett

(1958-05-04) May 4, 1958 (age 66)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Education Omaha Central High School
Alma mater Stanford University
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, author, philanthropist
Years active1980s–present
Spouses
Mary Buffett
​
​
(m. 1981;div. 1993)​
Jennifer Buffett
​
(m. 1996)​
Children2
Parent(s) Warren Buffett
Susan Thompson
Relatives Howard Buffett (grandfather)
Leila Stahl Buffett (grandmother)
Susan Alice Buffett (sister)
Howard Graham Buffett (brother)
Howard Warren Buffett (nephew)
Doris Buffett (Aunt)
Website peterbuffett.com

Peter Andrew Buffett (born May 4, 1958) is an American musician, composer, author and philanthropist. With a career that spans more than 30 years, Buffett is a Regional Emmy Award winner, New York Times best-selling author and co-chair of the NoVo Foundation. [1] He is the youngest son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

Contents

Career

Early career

Buffett began his musical career in the early part of the 1980s in San Francisco, California. After dropping out of Stanford University, he used the proceeds of his inheritance from his grandfather to pursue a career in music. [2] He recorded and produced albums for local talent. His big break came when a neighbor introduced him to his son-in-law who needed ad tunes for a newly conceived station, MTV. [2] The music channel became a cultural phenomenon in the 1980s. [2] He also was hired by ad agencies to compose commercials and logos - including CNN, which like MTV was also new to cable television at the time.

Music career

1987–1995

Buffett decided to transition from ad to music and he decided that a way to do that is to get a record deal based on movie scores. [3] As new age music was popular in the mid-1980s, he was able to secure one. [3] Narada Productions, a new-age music recording company, signed Buffett to a recording contract. In 1987, Buffett debuted with Narada, releasing an album entitled The Waiting. His second album, One by One, was inspired by Evan S. Connell's book "Son of the Morning Star". In 1989, Buffett moved to Milwaukee, home of Narada Productions and closer to his childhood home in Omaha, Nebraska. Buffett would release two more albums with Narada: Lost Frontier and Yonnondio.

While with Narada, Buffett had his first major success scoring the "Fire Dance" scene in the film Dances with Wolves . [4] The film score, composed by John Barry, won the Academy Award for Best Original Score. Barry would later invite Buffett to collaborate with him again, this time at the Abbey Road Studios in London. Buffett contributed the Indigenous soundscapes to the film, and went on to compose two songs for the soundtrack of The Scarlet Letter .

After the release of Yonnondio, Buffett signed with Epic Records. In 1994, he released his soundtrack for the CBS miniseries 500 Nations , which was produced by Kevin Costner.

1996–2005

In 1996, Buffett produced Star of Wonder, a Christmas CD featuring Celtic harpist Kim Robertson and arranger Eric Segnitz. Buffett then signed with Hollywood Records, which released his album Spirit Dance in 1997.

In 1998, he entered the pop music realm with the release of Comet9's "Like Mercury" on Milwaukee-based independent label Don't Records, with Buffett producing, writing and playing multi-instrumentalist. Co-writer and guitarist Tom Nelson and vocalist Susan Zielke completed the studio trio, with Citizen King members D. J. Brooks and Malcolm Michiles guesting on drums and turntables, respectively. The live band added bassist Josh Warner to the lineup.

In 1999, Buffett's score for the documentary Wisconsin: An American Portrait won a Chicago / Midwest Emmy Award for Best Soundtrack. [5]

Also in 1999, Buffett's Spirit – A Journey in Dance Drums and Song aired on PBS as a highly successful pledge break special. Combining modern and American Indian dancers with Director and Choreographer Wayne Cilento, Spirit went on to tour through the end of 1999. In 2004, Buffett worked with Jody Ripplinger and Frank Anderson to create Spirit –The Seventh Fire; an updated version of his earlier show. It was premiered on the National Mall during the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian [6] in its 800-seat theater tent.

2006–present

In 2006, Buffett released his first vocal album, Gold Star. Over the course of the next two years, he released two more albums, Staring at the Sun (2007) and Imaginary Kingdom (2008) on his own label BeSide Records.

In 2009, Buffett began to release exclusive singles through his social networking community on Ning. He has released over 25 singles since then, including a compilation album of fifteen of the songs. The collection, released initially as a USB album, was titled Running Blind (2011) and contained an innovative interactive environment.[ citation needed ]

During this time he collaborated twice with Grammy-nominated recording artist Akon and once with Grammy-winning artist Angélique Kidjo on human rights inspired songs. One Akon collaboration, titled “Blood Into Gold,” debuted at a special event at the UN General Assembly in March 2009 that focused on human trafficking.

In 2013, Peter released "Already Flown" which was the inspiration behind his New York Times op-ed piece, The Charitable-Industrial Complex. [7] The piece sparked a lively debate on the role of philanthropy.[ citation needed ]

Peter Buffett and Michael Kott performing a Concert & Conversation at the Vancouver Peace Summit in 2009 Peter Buffett and Michael Kott, Vancouver Peace Summit, 2009.jpg
Peter Buffett and Michael Kott performing a Concert & Conversation at the Vancouver Peace Summit in 2009

Concert and conversation

Peter, along with cellist Michael Kott, is currently touring around the world in support of his Life Is What You Make It: A Concert & Conversation with Peter Buffett [8] performance. Buffett continues to visit numerous university campuses, community foundations and other organizations using his own life story and experiences as illustration. He discusses how important it is for each person to define his or her own path, regardless of their wealth or background, and ultimately conveys that it’s one's values — and what we are able to give back to society — that shape and define us as individuals. [9]

Author

In May 2010, his book, Life Is What You Make It: Find Your Own Path to Fulfillment, [10] was published with Random House/Crown Publishing. The book was praised by Ted Turner, former President Bill Clinton, Bill and Melinda Gates, and Gloria Steinem, among others. It has sold over half a million copies worldwide, peaking at number four on The New York Times Best Sellers List. It has been available in over fifteen languages. Buffett appeared on NPR, [11] as well as The Today Show [12] and CBS Sunday Morning [13] with his father, to discuss the book.

In 2013, Buffett began contributing essays to the Huffington Post Impact blog. [14]

Work with other artists

During the 1980s, Buffett was the sound engineer on three albums by Pauline Anna Strom, which included Plot Zero. [15] [16]

Personal life

Family

Peter Buffett was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and is the youngest child of investor Warren Buffett and Susan Thompson Buffett. He has two siblings: sister Susie and brother Howard. [17] [18] Buffett graduated from Omaha Central High School and attended Stanford University.

He was married to his first wife, Mary Buffett, for 12 years before they divorced in 1993. Mary's twin daughters from a previous relationship, Erica and Nicole, were four years old at the time of their wedding. [19] Subsequently, Peter Buffett legally adopted the girls. He married Jennifer Buffett in June 1996.

Philanthropy

Buffett and his wife co-chair the NoVo Foundation, an organization that aims to empower and reduce violence against girls and women. [20]

In a 2013 New York Times op-ed and radio podcast, The Charitable-Industrial Complex, Peter Buffett used the terms "philanthropic colonialism" and "conscience laundering," and described his insights into "searching for answers with their right hand to problems that others in the room have created with their left" rather than systemic change. [21] [22]

Discography

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Buffett</span> American singer-songwriter (1946–2023)

James William Buffett was an American singer-songwriter. He was known for his tropical rock sound and persona, which often portrayed a lifestyle described as "island escapism" and promoted enjoying life and following passions. Buffett recorded many hit songs, including those known as "The Big 8": "Margaritaville" (1977), which is ranked 234th on the Recording Industry Association of America's list of "Songs of the Century"; "Come Monday" (1974); "Fins" (1979); "Volcano" (1979); "A Pirate Looks at Forty" (1974); "Cheeseburger in Paradise" (1978); "Why Don't We Get Drunk" (1973); and "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" (1977). His other popular songs include "Son of a Son of a Sailor" (1978), "One Particular Harbour" (1983), and "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" with Alan Jackson (2003). Buffett formed the Coral Reefer Band in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Buffett</span> American investor and philanthropist (born 1930)

Warren Edward Buffett is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist who currently serves as the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. As a result of his investment success, Buffett is one of the best-known investors in the world. As of June 2024, he had a net worth of $135 billion, making him the tenth-richest person in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Buffett</span> American activist (1932–2004)

Susan Thompson Buffett was an American activist for the causes of civil rights, abortion rights and birth control, and the first wife of investor Warren Buffett. She was a director of Berkshire Hathaway, owning 2.2 percent of the company worth about $3 billion at the time of her death, making her the 153rd richest person in the world. She was president of the Buffett Foundation, which has contributed millions of dollars to educational groups, medical research, family planning groups and other charities.

Borsheims is a luxury jewelry store that sells fine jewelry, timepieces, engagement rings and home decór in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1870, Norwegian immigrant and silversmith Louis Borsheims founded his independent jewelry business that would later become known as Borsheims. The luxury jewelry retailer began as Brown and Borsheim. In 1907, Louis A. Borsheim sold his interests in Brown and Borsheim, thus began the Omaha staple, Borsheims. The business was sold to Louis Friedman and Simon Gorelick in 1947. In 1950, Louis bought out his brother in law, Simon Gorelick and his son Ike joined the business, who both retained the Borsheims name. In 1980, Ike Friedman bought out his father, Louis. Ike's son Alan and son in law joined the business. In 1985, his other son in law, Donald Yale joined the business. His two daughters, Janis Yale and Susie Cohn also worked in the business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'</span> 1983 single by Michael Jackson

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is a song by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson recorded for his sixth studio album Thriller (1982). It is the opening track of the album and was released as its fourth single on May 9, 1983, by Epic Records. It was written and co-produced by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. The lyrics pertain to strangers spreading rumors to start an argument for no good reason. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" evokes the disco sound of Jackson's previous studio album, Off the Wall, released in 1979. The song is characterized by a complex rhythm arrangement and a distinctive horn arrangement.

<i>Omaha World-Herald</i> Daily newspaper published in Omaha, Nebraska

The Omaha World-Herald is a daily newspaper in the midwestern United States, the primary newspaper of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Williams (musician)</span> American singer, songwriter, and composer

Joseph Stanley Williams is an American singer, songwriter and film score composer, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Toto from 1986 to 1988 and again since 2010. Williams is a son of actress Barbara Ruick and prolific film composer John Williams. Outside of Toto, he has worked as a composer and studio vocalist, including providing the singing voice of adult Simba in the 1994 animated film The Lion King.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Graham Buffett</span> American businessman (born 1954)

Howard Graham Buffett is an American businessman, former politician, philanthropist, photographer, farmer, and conservationist. He is the middle child of billionaire investor Warren Buffett. He is named after Howard Buffett, his grandfather, and Benjamin Graham, Warren Buffett's favorite professor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akon</span> Senegalese-American singer (born 1973)

Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam, known mononymously as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, songwriter, record producer, and businessman. An influential figure in modern world music, he rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of his debut single "Locked Up". Styled in hip hop, it preceded the release of his debut studio album Trouble (2004), which became his commercial breakthrough and spawned the R&B-styled follow-up, "Lonely" the following year.

David Howard Lanz is an American pianist and composer. His album Cristofori's Dream topped the New Age Music Chart in 1988.

<i>Off to See the Lizard</i> 1989 studio album by Jimmy Buffett

Off to See the Lizard is the seventeenth studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Initially to be called Stranger than Fishing, it was released in June 1989 as MCA 6314 and was produced by Elliot Scheiner and Buffett. The album is the first to feature much of the Coral Reefer Band. Following the release of this album, Buffett paused his normal output of one album every year or two and did not release another album until 1994's Fruitcakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colby O'Donis</span> American singer (born 1989)

Colby O'Donis Colón is an American singer. He is best known for his guest appearance on Lady Gaga's 2008 single "Just Dance", which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, spent over 11 months on the chart, and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Due to label conflicts, Senegalese-American singer Akon was unable to perform on the song and subsequently enlisted O'Donis to do so; O'Donis was Lady Gaga's labelmate on Akon's KonLive Distribution label, to which he signed the year prior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David L. Sokol</span> American business executive (born 1956)

David L. Sokol is an American business executive. He is a Chairman of Teton Capital LLC, headquartered in Wilson, Wyoming. He served as chairman, president, and CEO of NetJets, as well as a chairman of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, of which Berkshire Hathaway holds a 100% and 89.8% stake respectively.

Susan Alice Buffett is an American philanthropist who is the daughter of Warren Buffett and Susan Thompson Buffett. Her charitable work has focused largely on the Sherwood Foundation, formerly known as the Susan A. Buffett Foundation, an organization in Omaha that provides grants in public education, human services and social justice in the interest of promoting the welfare of children from lower-income families. She is also on the boards of the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, The Buffett Early Childhood Institute, and Girls, Inc. According to a 2010 interview with her brother Howard Graham Buffett, Buffett's philanthropic focus has consistently remained on children, education and family issues, but she has also committed to other causes, including The ONE Campaign, a non-governmental organization dedicated to various improvements in Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold My Hand (Michael Jackson and Akon song)</span> 2010 single by Michael Jackson and Akon

"Hold My Hand" is a duet performed by American singer-songwriters Michael Jackson and Akon, from Jackson's first posthumous album Michael (2010). The song was originally recorded by Akon and Jackson in December 2007. The song was an international top 10 hit in nations such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

R. City is a hip hop duo formed by Virgin Islander brothers Theron "Uptown AP" Thomas and Timothy "A.I." Thomas in 2003. Primarily known as a songwriting and record production team, the duo amassed numerous credits for prominent music industry artists prior to signing with Kemosabe Records, an imprint of RCA Records in 2014. The following year, their single "Locked Away" peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded the release of their debut studio album, What Dreams Are Made Of (2015).

"Hypnotico" is a song recorded by American entertainer Jennifer Lopez for her seventh studio album Love? (2011). It was originally written by RedOne, Lady Gaga, Aliaune "Akon" Thiam, Claude Kelly and Tami Chynn for Chynn's second studio album Prima Donna in 2007. RedOne and Akon flew Gaga and Kelly to Los Angeles to write songs for Chynn, with "Hypnotico" becoming the first song of several songs they had written together. The release of Prima Donna was cancelled and "Hypnotico" was thought to be a "lost cause" by its writers. That was until 2011, when Lopez became interested in recording the song while working with RedOne, following her move to Island Records.

The discography of Peter Buffett, an American musician, composer, author and philanthropist, consists of seventeen studio albums, two EPs, over thirty singles, and fourteen releases from compilations with other artists.

Ivan Matias is an American singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, hip hop ghostwriter, and entrepreneur. He is primarily known for writing and producing hit songs for artists like En Vogue, Angie Stone, SWV, and Blu Cantrell ("Breathe") among others which have sold over 44 million records worldwide and appear on over 100 greatest hits and compilation albums.

Stanford Lipsey was an American journalist, photographer, and newspaper publisher. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His parents, Molly Brick and Jacob Lipsey, were Jewish Russian immigrants.

References

  1. ↑ "Biography". Peterbuffett.com.
  2. 1 2 3 Zetlin, Minda (May 7, 2020). "How Warren Buffett's son spent the $90,000 of Berkshire stock he got at 19—worth $300 million now: 'I don't regret it'". CNBC. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  3. 1 2 Clash, Jim. "Peter Buffett, Warren's Youngest Son, Says Growing Up Buffett Was Nothing Fancy". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  4. ↑ "Peter Buffett". IMDb.
  5. ↑ "1999 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Winners" (PDF). Chicagoemmyonline.org.
  6. ↑ "Warren Buffett's son taps into 'Hidden Heritage'"; MSNBC, July 9, 2004.
  7. ↑ "The Charitable-Industrial Complex", The New York Times. July 26, 2013
  8. ↑ [ dead link ]
  9. ↑ Peter Buffett rocks Beijing, Fortune magazine, October 10, 2011
  10. ↑ "Life Is What You Make It". Peterbuffett.com.
  11. ↑ "Buffett's Lasting Legacy:Immaterial Wealth". NPR. May 6, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Peter and Warren Buffett Discuss Life Is What You Make It". The Today Show. June 2, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Buffett & Son". CBS Sunday Morning . May 27, 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21 – via YouTube.
  14. ↑ "Change Our Story Huffington Post Impact blog". Huffington Post .
  15. ↑ "Trans-Millenia Consort – Plot Zero (1983, Vinyl)". Discogs.com.
  16. ↑ [ dead link ]
  17. ↑ "Genealogy.com: Genforum & Family History Search". Genealogy.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2004.
  18. ↑ Lowenstein, Roger (1995). Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist. Broadway Books. p. 63.
  19. ↑ Leah McGrath Goodman (December 11, 2008). "Her Grandpa Is the Richest Man in the World". Marieclaire.com.
  20. ↑ Warren Buffett's Son Peter Uses Music and Philanthropy to Fight Human Trafficking; Forbes magazine, April 16, 2013
  21. ↑ Buffett, Peter (2013-07-26). "The Charitable-Industrial Complex". The New York Times . Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  22. ↑ Matt Miller (Director) (2013-11-06). "The Charitable Industrial Complex - Peter Buffett". This...Is Interesting on. KCRW 89.9 FM. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.