Peter Horan (2)

Born in Sydney, NSW 1951. Peter’s interest in music began at the age of three when he was given a toy grand piano. He began piano lessons as a child, later completing his studies through the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. 1956-70: Went to Engadine Primary School, then Heathcote High. Peter’s first performance was at the Engadine Senior Citizens’ Club in 1960. By1968 he was playing many styles of music and was in a variety of bands around the shire. He also entered many eisteddfods and talent quests and also appeared on TV’s New Faces, achieving second place. Not long after leaving school, Peter moved to Bathurst playing at the Sofala Royal Hoteland in local country music bands. His biggest influences were the great piano players Floyd Cramer and Jerry Lee Lewis. He was very keen to go to Tamworth Country Music Festival so teamed up with a singer friend, Rick Wilson, and formed the duo Country Image. The dup became popular on the country music circuit. In 1991 Peter released his 12-track album, Country Piano. One of his own compositions, Goanna, received great accolades and airplay from radio broadcaster John Laws. With the promotion on the John Laws Morning Show, Brash’s Music stores couldn’t keep up with sales, so Dino Music took over distribution. He won Best Instrumental at the NZ Gold Guitar Awards in Gore. The song spent 12 weeks on the Hoedown Top 20, peaking at #4. In 2002 he was inducted into the Hands of Fame, Tamworth. He toured with country and gospel singer Paul McCloud in 2006. In 2017 Peter decided to cease touring and began living a quieter life in Bathurst. He still enjoys performing locally, mainly at the Bathurst RSL on Sundays.