Peter Appleyard, born August 26, 1928, in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England, was a British–Canadian percussionist, composer and vibraphonist. He began his career in youth organizations and played drums in British dance bands and RAF bands in the mid-1940s. In 1949, he moved to Bermuda, performing as a bandleader, and later settled in Toronto, Canada, where he appeared at the Park Plaza Hotel and on CBC Radio. In 1957, he formed his own jazz ensemble, which toured North America. In the early 1970s, he joined Benny Goodman’s sextet, performing internationally, including at Carnegie Hall. Notable albums include The Lincolnshire (1973) and Sophisticated Vibes (1976). Appleyard was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1992. He died on July 17, 2013, at his farm in Rockwood, Ontario.
