Born July 4, 1942, Peter Rowan joined the band of bluegrass founder Bill Monroe in 1964. He played with Monroe for just two years but Monroe's influence has stayed with him throughout his career. Besides bluegrass his music also has included elements of Tex-Mex, reggae, and world music styles. Rowan was a member of folk-rock band Earth Opera and Seatrain, a rock fusion group, in the late 60s. In the mid-70s he began recording solo albums, and has assembled many different bands to back him up. These included the Free Mexican Air Force, Pamana Red Riders, and Crucial Reggae.