Bio
Julio Petersen III is a vocalist, songwriter, and music producer specializing in children’s music and family entertainment. Born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, he began his musical training in elementary school and later served as a lead vocalist in a reggae/calypso band. He also performed in original musical theatre productions alongside Tony Award–winning artist Lillias White, further establishing his professional vocal performance background.
After high school, Julio enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was recognized for musical excellence by winning Military Idol in 2008. He toured internationally with the U.S. Army Soldier Show in 2009 and 2012, performing for audiences worldwide. During his deployment to Iraq, he served as lead vocalist and music director for a Military Gospel Choir, producing and leading music for large-scale services and events.
In 2014, Julio founded JPete Theatre Company in Houston, producing five original musical theatre productions and serving as music director, vocalist, and collaborator. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance and Theatre from Texas Southern University in 2017 and served as a Theatre Teacher in Houston Independent School District where he also won Teacher of the year.
In 2020, Julio launched Mr. Pete’s Playhouse, a children’s music brand focused on original compositions for early childhood audiences. Under this project, he has written, recorded, and released two EPs and over 30 original singles, distributed across major streaming platforms. The brand has amassed over 12,000 YouTube subscribers, features more than 100 original music videos, and reaches hundreds of monthly listeners on Spotify and Apple Music.
Julio continues to contribute to the children’s music field through songwriting, vocal performance, music production, and live performances at festivals, schools, libraries, and family-centered events, with a focus on creating high-quality, engaging music for young audiences
