Peter T. Blue ’57

For one noted musician in our class, the sound has become silent. Pete died Jan. 21, 2023, in Harpswell, Maine. 

A native of Los Angeles, Pete came to Princeton from Beverly Hills High School. At Princeton, he was a philosophy major and was active in the football band and a student conductor of the concert band. He also participated in Whig-Clio and was a composer, writer, and orchestra member for Triangle Club shows. He took his meals at Prospect Club and roomed senior year with Zenro Osawa, Stu Pertz, and Harry Roegner.

Following graduation Pete studied law at Columbia and Stanford universities, but forsaking law as a career, he became a noted jazz musician, first in Seattle and then in Las Vegas and Reno-Tahoe. Moving to Nashville, he performed as an accompanist for country music stars and was a conductor at Opryland. 

Returning to the East, he played the piano and conducted bands on Broadway, including four years for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, as well as acting as musician-conductor on numerous television shows and at other theaters. Other memorable roles were as co-creator with Gerard Alessandrini of the parody revues, Forbidden Broadway, Forbidden Las Vegas, and Masterpiece Tonight. 

Moving to Maine in 2010, Pete performed with the Jazz Masters and as part of a duo, Sue and Blue, with Sue Sheriff. 

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marcia Blue, and several nephews.