Peter Karp's wit and character are brought to life with whiskey-worn vocals and stunning live performances. As an accomplished guitarist and piano player he's a player's player but it's Karp's knack for penning songs that truly defines this prolific artist and places him in an elite class. Raised between the rural trailer parks of Southern Alabama and the swamps of North Jersey this Yankee/Rebel mutt is a master songsmith with an art for spinning true-to-life emotions, humor, and candor into tunes that hit their intended mark spot on.

Born to a writer/creative director mother and a father who, as a downed WW II bomber pilot, spent 18 months in a Nazi prison camp and later trained helicopter pilots on an Alabama Air Force base, Karp knew two distinctly contrasting worlds. In addition to being blessed with the creative traits from the maternal side and the strategic mind of a seasoned military man, Karp had help keeping his life together during a challenging youth by his Godmother, a strong African-American woman who lived with his family and served as a surrogate mother to Karp. Through this a-typical parental dynamic Peter learned the dynamics of respect and compassion and a strong grasp on the devices that make the world go 'round.

Blues Revue Magazine referred to Peter as "An underground genius…like Jackson Browne and John Prine, with a healthy dose of blues too...Karp's a soulful storyteller. The man can write." USA Today calls him "a great writer and performer whose songs are driven by verbal word play and insights into the human experience."

In his early teens Peter first demonstrated his restless and rebellious nature by running away and hitchhiking to the Jersey shore every summer. There he'd meet other kids, play pinball in the arcades and sleep on the beach while eluding the state and local police. Eventually they'd find him and ship him home. It was Peter's father who first dubbed him "Runaway" Pete.

In his late teens, Peter began his professional music career as a songwriter/keyboardist/guitarist with the critically acclaimed, seminal art-blues-punk band "They Came From Houses," a mainstay in the stable of "The Underground Music Venue" managed by former Rolling Stones/Yardbird manager Georgio Gramalski. scoring a hit on regional radio, Peter walked away from a record contract with Polygram. "Why? I didn't like the music business. End of story."

Peter abruptly left a commercially promising music career and disappeared for the next 10 years to raise a family, travel and meet people. Along the way he continued to work with some of music and film's more interesting people: Oscar-winning underground film director Emile D'Antonio, Oscar winner Timothy Hutton, Tony Randall, as well as with musicians Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Johnson, Van Walls, Don Henley, Michael Brecker, Richie Havens, The Jacksons, Ric Ocasik and Jackson Brown.

Peter also became deeply interested in the rich African-American culture that has flourished for over 200 years in South Carolina's South Sea Islands . Guided by his friends the Pazant family of Beaufort, who are cultural ambassadors of the Gullah heritage and descendants of slaves, he immersed himself in learning about the Gullah and its musical roots, taking a trip into parts of the South Sea Islands where the original Geechee language is still spoken. His song Geechee Geechee Wawa is based on his experiences in South Carolina and the deep spiritualism of the people he met there.

After wandering, working and lots of musing, "Runaway" Pete decided it was time to return to the stage.

After playing solo and testing his new material at small NJ clubs, Peter quickly he scored some national attention when his song, "These Are the Moments," was used by JVC as the theme for a national television campaign. In 2000 he released a live CD "Live at the American Roadhouse." In 2002 he released his second CD "Roadshow," and followed that success with 2004's "The Turning Point," featuring former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor who joined Peter for a 10-show, sold-out North Atlantic tour. In January 2007 Karp signed a recording deal with Blind Pig Records for the release of "Shadows & Cracks' which will be his first nationally and internationally distributed release.

Karp's unique rootsy Americana blues sound is rapidly attracting the notice of fans, musicians and media both here and abroad. With the release of "Shadows & Cracks" that will certainly continue. Said Karp of the signing, "Blind Pig has great ears...Got good vision too. They heard my songs and knew what to do with 'em. They're also pretty smart. Quote Shakespeare and Muddy Waters in the same conversation. I'm at home here."