Peter van Gelder

{{for|the 18th century English sculptor|Peter Matthias Van Gelder}}

{{short description|American sitarist and musician}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Peter Van Gelder

| image = Peter Van Gelder.jpg

| caption = Van Gelder in 2019

| birth_name = Peter Van Gelder

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1940|3|19}}

| birth_place =

| origin =

| genre = {{Flatlist|

• Psychedelic rock
• folk music
• Indian music}}

| occupation = Musician, educator

| instrument = Sitar, saxophone, bass guitar, flute

| years_active = 2005–present

| label =

| associated_acts = The Great Society

| website = [https://petervangelder.com/ https://petervangelder.com/]

}}

Peter Van Gelder (born March 19, 1940) is a sitarist and musician who played saxophone and bass in The Great Society.{{cite web | title=Peter van Gelder Master of the Sitar | website=Sonoma County Library | date=2015-03-18 | url=https://sonomalibrary.org/events/peter-van-gelder-master-of-the-sitar | access-date=2021-01-24}}

Van Gelder moved to San Francisco after college and learned bass to play in The Great Society; he played saxophone on White Rabbit.{{cite news |title=East Indian Classical Music In Concert |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/418702757/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=The Taos News |date=March 30, 2005 |page=66}} He became interested in Indian music after working at a San Francisco radio station and took a summer class at University of California Berkeley with Ali Akbar Khan where he learned to play sitar. Deciding to continue his studies with Khan in Kolkata, he lived in India for three years and became a disciple of Ali Akbar Khan.{{cite news |title=Entertainment: Saturday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/66029204/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |date=February 21, 1992}} While in India, he met other musicians with whom he formed the band The Saddhu Brand when he returned to California.{{cite news |last1=Gaeddert |first1=Beth |title=Girl-voices combine with peaceful Indian harmonies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/82460417/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Daily Independent Journal |date=June 25, 1970 |location=San Rafael California}}

He is an instructor at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California.{{cite news |title=Billboard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1159874/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Ukiah Daily Journal |date=November 15, 1996 |page=A9}}{{cite web | title=Faculty - Ali Akbar College of Music | website=Ali Akbar College of Music | date=2020-10-19 | url=https://aacm.org/faculty-ali-akbar-college-of-music-indian-music-school/ | access-date=2021-01-24}}