Historical Society Hosts Benefit Concert Thursday

Editor’s Note: The following article was written with information taken from an Edina Historical Society press release.

The Peterson family will headline a fundraising concert benefiting the this Thursday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. Taking place at the Edina Performing Arts Center at , tickets to the ninety-minute show are $20 and may be purchased at the door with cash or check, at the beforehand, or online. 

“Because this is a fundraiser, our top consideration is selling a lot of tickets,” said concert chairman Frank McGoldrick. “But as a history organization, we also like that the Petersons are a local family that has made history.”

Often referred to as "Minnesota’s first family of music," the Peterson family will be led by matriarch Jeanne Arland Peterson, a musical legend in the state. Peterson has been named to both the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame and the Broadcasting Museum Hall of Fame; her career highlights include 22 years as a staff vocalist and pianist for WCCO Radio before taking over for husband Willie as the Minnesota Twins’ organist following his death in 1969. 

Many of the couple’s children and grandchildren have gone on to successful music careers of their own and will be performing Thursday night; among them are daughter Patty and son Paul, both Edina residents.

Patty, a jazz vocalist, has won seven Minnesota Music Awards and is currently a Twin Cities radio personality, hosting shows on KBEM Radio. Paul is a multi-instrumentalist who, after being discovered at age 17 by Prince, appeared in the movie “Purple Rain.” He has since then worked as a studio musician for artists Johnny Lang, Kenny Loggins and Paula Abdul.

Residents interested in knowing more may go to www.edinahistoricalsociety.org, email edinahistory@yahoo.com or call 952-833-9570.

Tickets are available online for a nominal surcharge at www.seatyourself.biz/edinahistoricalsociety