Peter Wolf

Biography

Peter F. Wolf (born August 25, 1952) is an Austrian composer, producer, songwriter, and arranger. In 2002, he was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class (Österreichische Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst). Wolf was married to Christina Ganahl Wolf and Michelle Wolf. After Michelle divorced him, he married Lea Wolf-Millesi and lives in Malibu, California.

Career

Wolf studied classical piano at the Conservatory of Music in Vienna. At the age of 16, he won the European Jazz Festival as a solo pianist. Twice he won the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis, a German award, for his work with André Heller and Erika Pluhar.
Wolf moved to America in his early twenties. He worked with bassist Neal Starkey and guitarist Bill Hatcher in Atlanta, Georgia, and with drummer Steve Sample Jr. and keyboardist, guitarist, and vocalist Ray Reach in Birmingham, Alabama. After his time in the southeastern United States, Wolf moved to Los Angeles, where he played keyboards for Frank Zappa in the late 1970s. In 1978, along with Terry Bozzio, he guested on the eponymous debut album by Mark Isham, Peter Maunu, and Patrick O'Hearn's band Group 87, released in 1980.
Wolf began producing in 1985, co-producing the Commodores' "Nightshift". He also produced the hit singles "We Built This City" and "Sara" for Starship, Wang Chung's "Everybody Have Fun Tonight", and El Debarge's "Who's Johnny", leading to more studio and production work.
After losing his home and home studio in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, Wolf relocated to Austria and founded a new studio, Little America.
Wolf composed music for the films: The NeverEnding Story III, Weekend at Bernie's II, The Hollywood Sign, and Nutcracker and Mouse King, which won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film. His credits include Father's Day, Die Cellistin (The Cellist), Widows, St. Pauli Night, The Fearless Four, and Band on the Run. In 2011, he composed music for the Christmas movie When Santa Fell to Earth.
In July 2015, Wolf and Lea Wolf-Millesi started Whamslam, an online entertainment platform for children that combines creativity, music, and education.