Peter began his professional musical career in the early 1980s in San Francisco, recording and producing albums for local talent and composing for commercials. In 1987, he released his first album, The Waiting with Narada Productions. Over the next several years, Peter released three more records with Narada. During this period, he also scored the Fire Dance scene in the film Dances With Wolves.

Young Peter Buffett at keyboard

After Peter’s contribution to Dances With Wolves, he scored the CBS 8 hour mini-series, 500 Nations. This work led to albums on Epic and Hollywood Records. In 2004, his theatrical show, Spirit- The Seventh Fire premiered on the National Mall as part of the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian.

Tent showing indigenous faces

View of tent with Washington Monument in background

In 2010, Peter’s book Life Is What You Make It was published and he took his Concert and Conversation show on the road. With cellist Michael Kott, Peter found himself in small town Nebraska and the Forbidden City in Beijing. The book was translated into 15 languages.

Peter Buffett playing the piano in concert

After his Op-Ed, The Charitable Industrial Complex in the New York Times, Peter began writing essays as well as songs. His exposure to a wider world through the work of the NoVo Foundation and his time on the road began to effect Peter’s music as well.

Land of the Free by Peter Buffett Album art