The Motown sound inspired Peck to compose with melodic flow, engaging rhythm, and rich harmonies.
Russell Peck was a cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan (1966), where he also received Master and Doctoral degrees in composition (1967 and 1972).
His teachers included Clark Eastham, Leslie Bassett, Ross Lee Finney, Gunther Schuller, and George Rochberg.
In 1979 Peck chose not to continue teaching in order to pursue his increasing interest in the cause of ending world starvation.
Peck's altruistic concerns dominated his time for several years until he re-emerged with the popular orchestra piece, Signs of Life, in 1983.