Classically trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London, J. Peter Robinson began his recording career in London as the pianist for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice on the original album recording of Jesus Christ Superstar.
He achieved his first major break in film composition when the late John Schlesinger called on him to create the score to his eerily haunting The Believers. Soon, he found himself composing the score to Philip Noyce's action-thriller Blind Fury, which in turn lead to Cocktail, his first project with New Zealand director Roger Donaldson.
These films were followed by the hugely successful comedies Wayne’s World and Encino Man. Robinson's score to the action-comedy Mr. Nice Guy was the third of a three-picture deal with New Line Cinema and Jackie Chan, which began with the surprise hit Rumble in the Bronx.
His longtime relationship with New Line grew through several collaborations with horrormeister Wes Craven. His scores for Craven have included New Nightmare, Vampire in Brooklyn, Nightmare Café and Don’t Look Down. Robinson also provided the score to John Herzfeld's film Fifteen Minutes and has worked with the director several times on a number of television projects.
One of Robinson’s most productive relationships has been with Roger Donaldson. After completing the afore-mentioned Cocktail, Robinson went on to score four more projects for the director: Cadillac Man, The World’s Fastest Indian, The Bank Job, and, most recently, Seeking Justice (The Hungry Rabbit Jumps) andThe World’s Fastest Indian premiered at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival and is one of New Zealand’s ten most successful releases ever.
J.Peter has created the scores for a number of movies-for-television, such as the CBS miniseries Covert One: The Hades Factor. The mini’s director, Mick Jackson, later hired him to score his series The Handler. He also worked on the long-running series Charmed, which ended its network run in 2006 after 8 seasons, as well as the popular reality drama The Deadliest Catch.
Peter became so busy composing for film and television that he reluctantly ceased touring as a rock and roll musician, a career that spanned more than twenty years and included an eight-year stint as Phil Collins' keyboard player. He previously collaborated as a writer, arranger, and/or co-producer or co-songwriter with Collins, as well as Eric Clapton, David Bowie, Al Stewart, Quatermass, Stanley Clarke’s “School Days”, Brand X, Al Jarreau, Frank Zappa, Berlin, and Shawn Phillips.
Although a confirmed Brit, Robinson is a longtime resident of Los Angeles.
Filmography
Television
