Yanni

Yanni is a Greek composer, keyboardist, pianist, and music producer. Yanni popularized the combination of electronic music synthesizers with a full symphony orchestra. He has incorporated a variety of exotic instruments to create music that has been called an eclectic fusion of ethnic sounds. Influenced by his encounters with cultures around the world, Yanni has been called a "true global artist."

In 1972, with the encouragement of his parents, Yanni left his homeland to attend the University of Minnesota. Between his studies, he played in local rock and roll bands and began to develop his personal musical style using both piano and electronic keyboards to create new sounds.

Yanni played keyboards for Chameleon, a rock and roll band that became well known in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Spurred by their success, Chameleon began to tour regionally - across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Chicago, Iowa, and the Dakotas. They also produced 2 albums independently during this time.

He used his experience with electronic keyboards to begin creating his own compositions. "Optimystique," his first solo album, was independently released in 1980.

In 1990, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra accompanied Yanni in concert, adding a new dimension to his unique style and a prelude of things to come.

He received Grammy nominations for "Dare to Dream" and "In My Time" in which the collection of serene piano-focused pieces went on to sell more than a million copies.

Yanni toured internationally for the first time, presenting his music live in some world famous venues such as the Toji Templein Kyoto, Japan, Royal Albert Hall in London, and at the Acropolis in his homeland of Greece.

"Yanni, Live at the Acropolis" was filmed on September 23, 1993 at the 2000 year old Herod Atticus Theater in Athens and marked a triumphant return to his homeland. The concert was subsequently broadcast in the United States on PBS, where Yanni has since become one of the top all-time fundraisers, and around the world, where it was seen in 65 countries by half a billion viewers. The album has sold more than 7 million copies, while the video has sold 1 million copies, making it one of the best-selling videos of all time. Yanni has continued to provide a great deal of support for PBS and has also appeared on several PBS Pledge Specials such as "A Decade of Excellence," which included segments from "Yanni Live at the Acropolis," "Yanni Live at Royal Albert Hall" and Tribute videos.

His studio album, "If I Could Tell You," followed in 2000 after a two year sabbatical. It was a deeply personal and introspective work that stripped away some of the grandiose elements found on his previous albums. The change in direction was no less inspiring, but it did reflect changes in his personal life as well as a move to the East coast and a glimpse into Yanni's heart.

In February, 2003, Yanni released "Ethnicity," his 13th album. The album signaled another creative shift in direction and proved a harbinger of things to come. Yanni once again explored the powerful symphonic sounds that marked some of his earlier works but also incorporated more exotic textures. The album featured an array of different instruments, from an Australian didgeridoo, a Celtic violin, and an Armenian duduk to an Indian tabla, as well as a variety of human voices in the form of solo arias, group chants and even lyrics, a rare departure for the instrumentalist. The same year also saw the publication of his Miramax Books autobiography, "Yanni in Words," a New York Times best seller. It's a reflective look at the challenges, lessons, dreams and obstacles in Yanni's life.

His 2009 tour, "Yanni Voices: Live in Concert," was nominated for the prestigious Lunas del Auditorio award and was in support of Yanni's Mexican chart topping release: "Yanni Voces."