Peter Knight (5)

Peter Knight (born 27 May 1947) is an English folk musician. He was a member of British folk rock group Steeleye Span from 1970 to 2013.

Early life Born in London, Knight learnt to play the violin and mandolin as a child before going to the Royal Academy of Music from 1960 to 1964, enrolling at thirteen and graduating at sixteen. The recordings of the Irish fiddlers Michael Coleman and Michael Gorman inspired him to take part in Irish pub sessions.

Career

Knight teamed up with guitarist and singer Bob Johnson until 1970 when he joined Steeleye Span. The parting was short-lived, as Johnson himself also joined Steeleye Span in 1972. In 1971, he performed on Roy Bailey's debut album. In the mid-70s he was once secretly a member of The Wombles and appeared on Top of The Pops as Uncle Bulgaria, with Rick Kemp and Bob Johnson also in Womble suits; when speaking about his experience as a Womble, Knight said: "It's a bit embarrassing... but all my Wombles are in America," was how Mike Batt had raised the issue. "He was producing one of Steeleye Span's albums, and he was looking for someone to be the Wombles on Top of the Pops. We (Knight, Kemp and Johnson) all jumped at the opportunity...