[2] Pelton has recorded with artists such as Sheryl Crow,[3] Shawn Colvin, Natalie Merchant, Ingrid Michaelson, Billy Joel, Van Morrison, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash, Pink, Shakira, Kelly Clarkson, Five For Fighting, Michelle Branch, Regina Spektor, Tears for Fears, Gianluca Grignani, Citizen Cope, Matisyahu, Jonatha Brooke, David Byrne, Edie Brickell, Marc Cohn, Richie Havens, Joan Osborne, Hall and Oates, Odetta, Pavarotti, Phillip Phillips, George Michael, Carly Simon, Dixie Chicks, Chris Botti and Buddy Guy, and has played on several Grammy winning albums for artists including Ray Charles, The Brecker Brothers, Shawn Colvin, Les Paul and the Hank Williams tribute album with Bob Dylan.
[4] Pelton is also the longtime drummer in the house band for the NBC TV network's sketch comedy and music program Saturday Night Live.
[4] During his summer breaks, Pelton sought out experts elsewhere, including Alan Dawson,[7] who is best known as an early teacher of jazz drummer Tony Williams.
One of his students was Pete Wilhoit, who would later become a member of Fiction Plane, the opening act for The Police on their 2007 reunion global tour.
[8] He joined the Saturday Night Live band in 1992,[4] saying "It’s a pretty mellow gig...It’s really only 20 days out of the year.