Revelation #1: He's called J. Peter, regardless of what anyone tells you. As an exception, you may refer to him as "Chief Yakel" at military functions and other formal gatherings. J. Peter was destined to play in a band of one sort or another. However, heading up an Americana Acoustic FolkGrass
band was not his first choice. That said, he got from "there" to "here" in the short course of about 40 years. Actual "music" began sitting by his mother's side while she played the church organ in Albany, NY. J. Peter's mom began playing the organ professionally when she was just 12 years old. Growing up, the family home always had a piano and organ in the foyer and living room, and music was a constant activity around the place. Mom taught the boy some notes, and his first song, played as a duet with ma was "Blue Spanish Eyes". In 4th grade, J. Peter began saxophone lessons...a cool looking and sounding instrument, to be sure. Practice turned the squeaks into recognizable notes, and in time, the playing improved. Over the course of the next eight years, J. Peter also learned to play the Tenor and Baritone saxes, and performed in elementary and high school jazz and marching bands until graduating as a Band Officer (2nd LT) at Christian Brothers Academy in '82. During the high school daze, and apart from the school bands, J. Peter's primary goal was to play in an ear-piercing, head-banging, metal band. Leather jackets, bandanas and torn jeans were the dress uniform of the day, and praising Gods such as Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, The Scorpions, and Twisted Sister was the the path to glory. Very early jam sessions occurred with buddies Vincent Zandri (The Blisterz) and Adam Caruso. A short time later, J. Peter's first "band" exposure came via weekend sessions with notable Capitaland artist Mike Eck and Todd Hurley, high school buddies who both shared J. Peter's love of music. The lads actually played in the garage, basement or living room. Recordings were made, but their whereabouts today is a mystery…
In '83,
military duty beckoned, and J. Peter enlisted in the US Army. Along with his cassette tape collection, went his '72 Strat
which was used to assault multi-national forces with reckless abandon
across Europe, and later, coast-to-coast North America. While stationed in Augusta, GA, J. Peter played with a loose knit
group, the BDA Crew, which spent its time banging out metal and rock
tunes to anyone willing to listen. Additional informal jams
occurred with rock-n-roll soldiers at his duty stations at SHAPE HQ in Mons and Chievres Air Base, Belgium. Throughout, jam bands came and went, casualties mounted,
but the music lived on. At some points, he went it alone, on the cusp of grandeur, walking
that lonely road toward world domination, one gig at at time. J. Peter served 22 years in the US military, and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3. Factoid: The "Village of Yakel" is located on the Island of Vanuatu (of recent "Survivor" Reality Show fame). J. Peter is a bonafide Chief, but sadly, his title has nothing to do with the Island! 
Today, J. Peter plays acoustic guitar as the founding member of an iconic Americana FolkGrass band known as Flood Road, aka the Flood Road Boys, or FRB. Revelation #2: J. Peter is the only member of FRB who has fired Claymore mines and anti-tank rockets while listening to Black Sabbath's, The Mob Rules. For more information on J. Peter the writer, visit his book page. INFLUENCES: Johnny Cash, Rob Halford, Ronald Reagan, J. Peter, Underdog, The Hulk, Matchbox Cars DISCOGRAPHY: J.. Peter Yakel - “'Til The Cows Come Home” (2006) J. Peter Yakel - “Flood Road” (2007) J. Peter Yakel & Flood Road - “Pickin' On Park Ave” (2008) Copyright@2009 by J. Peter Yakel and Flood Road. | Visit "Chief" J. Peter Yakel's Alternate Reality Page Return to Flood Road's Page! Return to Flood Road's MySpace Page!   |
