He was known for writing successful pop-rock and country songs, including his 1977 solo hit "Do You Wanna Make Love", and "Right Time of the Night" for Jennifer Warnes.
At Fairfield University, McCann founded folk-rock group the Repairs, for which he served as guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist, and songwriter.
McCann also spent upwards of 25 years lobbying for songwriters' rights in Washington, giving lectures on copyright law in several institutes of higher education across the United States.
His songs have been recorded by Lynn Anderson, Paul Anka, Karen Carpenter, Shaun Cassidy, Crystal Gayle, Mickey Gilley, Lee Greenwood, Whitney Houston, Julio Iglesias, Jermaine Jackson, Michael Johnson, Nicolette Larson, Kathy Mattea, Reba McEntire, Michael McDonald, Anne Murray, Ricky Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, K.T.
Oslin, Donny Osmond, Buck Owens, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, John Travolta, Bobby Vinton, Shelly West, among others.
[5][6] In his freshman year at Fairfield University, McCann, a baritone, met fellow singers George Mathias, bass Emmett Kelly, and tenors Jim Higgins and Sebastian Fiori, all of whom joined the Glee club, with Jim taking the part sung by former member Michael McCann, Peter's older brother.
The Glee club hosted several variety shows at which members alternated from barbershop quartet formation, the Bensonians, to a 12-man group, similar to the Yale Whiffenpoofs.
Led by Peter as a songwriter, keyboardist, electric guitarist, and vocalist, the students founded the folk-rock band the Repairs, which also featured drummer Timothy "Ace" Holleran and Jim's wife Sukie Honeycutt on vocals.
Torn between attending law school and pursuing a career as a songwriter, McCann's father encouraged him to follow his dream.
However, his big break came when he wrote the song "Right Time of the Night", personally chosen by infamous A&R man and former Columbia Records president Clive Davis as Jennifer Warnes’ debut single.
It was the 34th highest song on the 1977 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Chart, above "Blinded by the Light" by Manfred Mann's Earth Band and "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac.
[1] This success prompted his signing to 20th Century Fox Records, who released his self-penned single "Do You Wanna Make Love" in 1977.
The single—produced by Hal Yoergler, Vice President of ABC Dunhill Music Publishing—was an international hit and sold over two million units.
[7] In 1978 CBS, now Sony Music, purchased his contract from the Fox organization and began a fruitful, 20-year relation with him as a songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee.
He learned quickly enough through a process he dubbed “publisher cross-polarization,” writing with as many people as possible for profit, all “hoping St. Nicholas soon would be there” in the form of a hit song.
[5] Being influential in several PRO circles, McCann was among the people pushing for Bob Dylan to receive the Nobel Prize for literature.
In 1995, McCann released a Christmas album of his own compositions on RCA Records, of which one of the songs, "One Voice", received critical acclaim and a letter of commendation from Pope John Paul II.