Frontline Series: A Conversation with Rocky Peter
Rocky Peter is a self-taught singer-songwriter who was raised in West Africa, Nigeria. He taught himself how to play multiple instruments, including the guitar, bass, drums, piano and more. His musical style is highly influenced by reggae, soul, pop and folk music. Abandoned as a child and dealing with abject poverty, Rocky recalls having to eat food from trash cans and drinking stagnant water from potholes when he was only 5 years old. When he was 8 years old, Rocky was enslaved and forced to endure hard manual labor on casava and watermelon farms, where he was constantly underfed, physically abused and mistreated. Eventually, Rocky Peter escaped from slavery and moved to the United States, graduating from the University of California, Riverside with a degree in Biological Sciences. After college, without any family or support system in place, Rocky found it difficult to find employment and soon became homeless. Despite this hardship, Rocky made time to go out to schools and volunteer to teach music to students. Against nearly insurmountable odds, Rocky asserts that it was writing and composing music made him forget about his difficulties. Through sheer will and a seemingly never-ending supply of tenacity, Rocky worked hard to land himself on American Idol, the Nobel Peace Prize stage and the 2016 Rio Olympics stage. He now regularly travels all over the country to sing, working as a Peace Ambassador with Peace Through Commerce and the Nobel Peace Prize award forums. Rocky operates a scholarship, Rocky Peter’s Legends of Tomorrow scholarship fund, which awards students who significantly improve their GPA’s or maintain a 4.0 throughout the year. Rocky understands that one of the major keys to financial freedom and enlightenment is education and aspires to empower our future generation with the tools necessary to succeed.
- What inspired you to become an artist?
Rocky: When I was a child, I was enslaved and forced into hard manual labor on casava and watermelon farms. From an early age, music has been a coping mechanism for the harsh realities that I had to endure.
2. What was the inspiration behind your latest song, Fast Lane?
Rocky: I wrote the song Fast Lane to inspire us all. The song puts things in perspective and it is very uplifting. Sometimes we face adversities and uncertainties, it is just a part of being human. Although we may lose the pace, we will never lose the race to a better place.
3. How have you been involved with the recent national movement for racial justice?
Rocky: I protest on the frontlines. I sing for changes to policing and the mindset of the general public. This is our time for change. We have the power to rewrite the rules and create a better society for our children and grandchildren.
4. What role do you think your music plays in the movement for black lives?
Rocky: Music is a form of entertainment used to speak the truth about our current world and political environment. I use my music to also inspire people to carry on and fight the good fight.
5. Do you feel like the City of Riverside is doing enough to uplift the voices of artists and creatives during this time?
Rocky: I am thankful. The City of Riverside has granted me the stage and the opportunities to share my art with people through various platforms.
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If you are interested in supporting the artist, feel free to check out their website here: http://www.rockypeter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockyPeterAjoku
Instagram: @iamrockypeter
