INDIO was the nom de plume of Toronto singer/songwriter Gord Peterson.

Peterson had a chance meeting with British guitarist David Rhodes (Peter Gabriel, Gowan). Peterson would eventually be introduced to Joni Mitchell's manager/husband Larry Klein who helped Peterson secure a record deal with A & M Records based on the strength of his demos.

A & M released Peterson's debut under the pseudonym INDIO (a name of a town in Mexico just across the California border) entitled 'Big Harvest' in 1989. The record featured Mitchell, session singer Brenda Russell (Dr. Music), drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Peter Garbiel), Van Dyke Parks (Brian Wilson), Alex Acu'a (Weather Report) and Manny Elias (Tears For Fears).

The album's first single "Hard Sun" - featuring backing vocals by Joni Mitchell - was released in June 1989 and cracked the Canadian Top20 charts. The second single, "Save For The Memory" was released just before Christmas the same year to zero radio play.

An INDIO follow-up was in the works in 1990 while Peterson juggled the production of a film soundtrack for release in April 1990, but the studio record was rejected outright by A & M. With pressure to perform and his general distaste in the machinery of the music business, Peterson walked away from his deal and music specifically.

Rumour has it he is currently a teacher at a Canadian University.

Peterson made a brief appearance in the news when he filed a lawsuit in July 2009 against Paramount Pictures, Sony Music, Starbucks and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder for alleged infringement of copyright from the use and alteration of Vedder's remake of "Hard Sun" in the Sean Penn-directed movie 'Into The Wild' as well as its sale on the movie's soundtrack through retailers like Starbucks. Peterson's former label A & M (via parent company Universal whom he also sued) cleared use of the song, but they did it without Peterson's permission. The lawsuit has yet to be settled.

After a campaign to recognize the sudden re-discovery of INDIO by music fans worldwide, Pacemaker (on the recommendation by the CMPE) re-issued the 'Big Harvest' album on CD in 2010.


Singles
1989 Hard Sun/Sand Through My Hands (A & M) AM-1431 1989 Save For The Memory/Ship On A Sea (A & M) AM-795

Albums
1989 Big Harvest (A & M) SP-5257
2010 Big Harvest [CD re-issue] (Pacemaker)

Video


Compilation Tracks