At the age of 14, Jerry moved to Los Angeles, California, where he attended Susan Miller Dorsey High School.
Upon graduating he then attended Los Angeles City College as an art major, while continuing to take music classes.
He then transferred to the California Institute of Arts but left school just short of getting his degree to enter the music business.
For the rest of the 1970s and well into the 1980s, Peters wrote songs for, produced projects and performed on recordings with some of the very best acts in the music business such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Marvin Gaye, Natalie Cole, The Emotions, The Jacksons, Diana Ross, Deniece Williams, Gladys Knight, Al Green, Lionel Richie and many others.
[citation needed] With Donald Byrd With Brass Fever With Chico Hamilton With Bobbi Humphrey