Posted byMiranda Knox on Oct 26, 11 03:48 PM in News
A 75 year-old former street sweeper who plays the drums outside a tube station is no ordinary busker.
Unbeknown to his South Kensington street audience, Peter Chanter was once a professional drummer who played at the London Palladium, toured American air bases in the 60's, and once received a telegram from Elvis Presley.
Peter, of Millshott Close, Fulham, said: "I started busking out of sheer devilment really, the reaction we got was very unexpected, well until we were moved on by two community support officers."
Former Army Veteran Peter has lived in Fulham his whole life and followed in his father's footsteps after getting his first toy, a pair of drumsticks that he practiced with from a young age.
He has one son, two daughters and five grandchildren and musical talent has continued to run in the family.
He said: "The grandchildren think I'm mad, and my daughter tells me to act my age sometimes.
"If it's good I don't condemn the new music they listen too though- it's best to be open minded."
One of Peter's greatest musical achievements was winning an all Rock and Roll championship competition organised by the BBC in the late 50s with his then-band, The Earthquakers, receiving a Jailhouse Rock trophy and a congratulatory telegram from the King himself, Elvis Presley.
Since his wife died in May, Peter has continued with his music and Charing Cross Hospital Bar's Thursday night Jazz club has become a regular slot, where he plays every week using his old drum kit that the club now owns.
He said: "When I first started playing here four years ago I would use a shopping trolley to transport my drums to and from my house up the road, but now I just leave them here- I must have looked mad.
"I do like to look smart so I wear a suit usually when I play, although I don't do that when playing on the street."
Charing Cross Hospital barmaid and student nurse Erica Medly, 21, of Laybrook Road, Fulham, said: "Peter's such an interesting character, and he has so many stories to tell about his musical career."
Peter's career in the1960s took him to America, where he toured the air bases, and in the 70s he played for London's theatre production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
He said: "I always enjoy the theatre, and have played in a lot of venues including London Palladium and a lot of places in the East End too.
"I just hope people will enjoy listening to it - that's the whole objective of music really, and that's why I decided to play outside."
Peter is no stranger to Kensington's streets, and he was previously a road sweeper in the borough for ten years.
Jokingly he said: "it improved my drum brushwork immensely."
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