Peter Mathieson

I met Peter sometime around 1977, as he was appearing regularly in the Back Room of the Pizza Patio restaurant on Bloor St. west of Avenue Rd. in downtown Toronto.

Peter was a wonderful guitarist and a very witty songwriter as well as a gentle soul, and a very nice guy who was easy to befriend. 

Aside from a teaching me few choice guitar licks, Peter also taught me how to play Backgammon, and we would play a game or two in between his sets on stage.

 I learned to play a few of his songs back then, and I sometimes play them to this this day...

Peter also worked part time at the Millwheel guitar shop (off of Yonge St, above Dundas), and we would sometimes sit and jam when there was a slow day at the store...

Peter moved away around 1980 to St. Louis, and I moved to Israel, so we lost contact with each other... until some time in the mid 2000's when I suddenly received an email from him and we rekindled our friendship, staying in touch by email, regular snail mail letters, and Facebook. 

Peter introduced me to one of his old musical buddies from his Calgary days - Bill Hills, who is a wonderful Blues harmonica player and singer.

I was aware of Peter's lung cancer in his last years, but thought that it was under control or even in remission, but apparently the damage  to his lungs caused severe emphysema, which caused his final demise. 

Rest in peace my gentle friend.

******

• Composer of the hit song “Yonge Street”, (which was turned into a hit by Raffi on his 1975 album Good Luck Boy) 
• Peter had a series of satirical songs he called "Ten Terrible Tidbits", which included "Never Wear Your Woollies in the Rain", "The Necrophilia Rag", and "Baggin Boogers by the Bundle".
• Composer of the “Necrophilia Rag”, a ragtime-style love song about a man who lives with his dead wife in her crypt -

 “you've got such tender eyes,  tender thighs, 

when I'm around you how the time just flies

Oh how I love these tender moments with my bride

'seems like only yesterday, you up and died..."

...

"The love you feel for me is plain and there's no doubt,

I see what's on your mind as it comes crawling out"

• Composer of the Blues send-up “The Collected Works of Blind Boy Pudley”.
• Another satirical song is "The Human Fireball" 

".. stand back and watch me smoke 'em

I'm a human fireball..."

• Sings witty and wry original tunes and covers of old chestnuts that reflect his quirky,  sardonic sense of humor.