Holger Petersen, (born 23 November 1949) is a Canadian businessman, record producer and radio broadcaster."Holger Petersen". The Canadian Encyclopedia, October 8, 2008. He founded the independent roots music record label Stony Plain Records in 1975 with partner Alvin Jahns. The label was sold to True North/Linus Music in 2018, but Petersen continues to act as executive producer on many recording projects. He was born in Pellworm Island, West Germany.
Petersen has hosted Saturday Night Blues since 1987, heard on CBC Radio (at various times on CBC Radio One, CBC Radio Two, CBC Music, CBC Listen and SiriusXM 169) and Natch'l Blues since 1969, the longest running blues program in Canada, on the CKUA Radio Network. Petersen was a founder of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and served as the artistic director from 1986 to 1988. He has served on boards of numerous industry organizations, including SOCAN, CMRRA, CARAS and CIRPA and helped found the Alberta Recording Industries Association (now Alberta Music).
His first book, Talking Music: Blues Radio and Roots Music, was published in 2011 by Insomniac Press."Petersen takes readers on a musical journey". Calgary Herald, November 16, 2011. His second book, Talking Music 2: Blues and Roots Music Mavericks, was released in January 2017."Back To His Roots; Radio host Holger Petersen publishes another illuminating book of musician interviews". Ottawa Citizen, March 30, 2017.
He has also been a drummer and was a member of Spiny Norman's Whoopee Band and Hot Cottage.
Petersen was inducted as a Member into the Order of Canada in 2003 for contributions to Canadian culture, and has received honorary doctorates from both the University of Alberta and Athabasca University, as well as an honorary bachelor of technology from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), the post-secondary institute from which he graduated in 1970."Holger Petersen: The man behind the music" https://www.nait.ca/nait/about/our-vision/awards-recognition/honorary-degree/2025/holger-petersen He was appointed as a Member to the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2020.
Petersen has contributed to more than 200 music projects since 1970.
Petersen is based in Edmonton, Alberta.
Awards Maple Blues Award - Blues With A Feeling Lifetime Achievement1987Canadian Country Music Association - Record Company Person of the Year1989Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame1992Maple Blues Award - Media Person of the Year1997Prairie Music Association - Outstanding Producer1999Alberta Recording Industries Association - Record Producer of the Year1999Canadian Country Music Association - Record Company Person of the Year2001American Foundation for Independent Music - Record Producer2002Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal2002Member of the Order of Canada2003Honorary Doctor of Letters. Athabasca University 2004Alberta Centennial Medal2005Blues Foundation - Keeping The Blues Alive2008Calgary Blues Music Association - Lifetime Achievement Award2010Canadian Blues Museum Hall of Fame Induction2011NAIT Top 50 Alumni Award2012Honorary Doctor of Letters, University of Alberta 2012Western Canadian Music Award - Industry Builder Award2013Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame - Builder2014Mel Brown Blues Award - Lifetime Achievement 2018Folk Alliance International - Folk DJ Hall of Fame2020Alberta Order of Excellence2020Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal2022Honorary Bachelor of Technology in Management, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)2025
References
External links Stony Plain Records CKUA Natch'l Blues CBC Radio Saturday Night Blues
Entry for Stony Plain Records Entry at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca Entry at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca for Stony Plain Records Holger Petersen earns honorary degree from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)
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