Yanni

Yiannis Hryssomallis ( born November 14, 1954 in Kalamata, actually Greek Γιάννης Χρυσομάλλης Giannis Chrysomallis ), known by his stage name Yanni is a Greek composer, pianist, keyboardist and music producer.

Yanni composed primarily instrumental works. Since its special form of music, a mix of jazz, classical, rock and world music, not for poplastige music and radio shows seemed suitable, Yanni gained international recognition by organized concerts of historical buildings and videos produced which have been shown on public television. The concert, which gave him the breakthrough, Yanni Live at the Acropolis, zweitbestverkaufte music video of all time was. Other historical places for Yannis concerts were the Taj Mahal (India), the Forbidden City ( China), Burj Khalifa ( United Arab Emirates), the Kremlin (Russia ) and the El Morro castle (Puerto Rico).

Fourteen of his albums reached # 1 on the Billboard charts in the category "New Age", two albums ( Dare to Dream and In My Time ) were nominated for a Grammy. By the end of 2011 Yanni Live concerts had given more than two million people in more than 20 countries around the world, has over 35 gold and platinum albums worldwide and has over 20 million records sold. His compositions have been for television broadcasts of eg Sporting events such as the Tour de France used; He also wrote film music and composed for a television advertisement from British Airways.

Yanni employs musicians from different nationalities and integrates a variety of instruments from around the world. Influenced by his encounters with other cultures is considered his music as an expression of his "one world " philosophy.

Childhood and youth

Yanni showed his musical talent ready at age 6 when he played piano. His parents encouraged him to learn at their own pace and in their own way, and without professional music lessons. To date, Yanni uses the "musical shorthand " developed by him instead of the traditional music notation.

In November 1972 Yanni moved from Greece to America, where he began in January 1973 a psychology degree at the University of Minnesota and earned his living as a dishwasher. Later he explained that he only performed well in tests so because he was compelled by learning the English language, to read each paragraph several times. In 1976, Yanni his bachelor's degree in psychology.

During his studies, Yanni played in a local rock band and improved his skills with piano and keyboard.

Music career

1977 joined Yanni in originating from Minneapolis rock group Chameleon, in which he collaborated with the band's founder and drummer Charlie Adams. After leaving the band, he moved to Los Angeles where he wanted to work on film music.

1980s to the early 1990s: the beginning and recognition of career

In 1980 Yanni released his first album on Optimystique, which was re-released twice: in 1984 by Atlantic Records, and in 1989 by Private Music.

Yanni established a band in 1987, inter alia, with pianist and singer John Tesh and Charlie Adams on drums, and went on tour in 1988 to promote his early albums.

Yanni became better known for his appearances in People Magazine and on the Oprah Winfrey Show along with actress Linda Evans, with whom he had a relationship since 1989. His appearances on public television, the sales records of his albums as well as the well-attended concerts earned him a recognition that survived the separation of Evans.

The album Dare to Dream (1992 ) was Yannis first album, which was nominated for a Grammy. It contained "Aria", a song based on Léo Delibes ' Flower Duet from his opera Lakmé, and made ​​famous by a commercial for British Airways. The second Grammy Nominations received which was released in 1993 album In My Time.

1990: Acropolis, world fame, depression and a new beginning

The concert, which made ​​the breakthrough Yanni, Yanni Live at the Acropolis, and he gave in September 1993 at the Acropolis in the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, together with an orchestra under the direction of the Iranian conductor Shardad Rohani, was established in 1994 as an album and video published. Acropolis was Yannis first live album on which not only the actual band and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is heard.

For the Acropolis Yanni production invested two million dollars. That there emerged the end video was seen in 65 countries by half a billion viewers. It was zweitbestverkaufte Music video by Michael Jackson's Thriller and sold more than seven million copies worldwide.

In March 1997, Yanni received as one of the few Western artists the honor to perform at the Taj Mahal in India and filming. This event was followed in May 1997 performances in the Forbidden City in China, which Yanni was the first Western artist who was allowed to occur in modern times at this historic site. These two events were the live album Live and Video Tribute, which were published in November 1997.

Poor Anassian, violinist and conductor in Yannis Tribute Orchestra, admitted that he had doubts about the plans of the artist, to strive for the performances at the Taj Mahal and the Forbidden City, "To be honest, when he about a few years ago said, the idea was fantastic. personally, I was very skeptical, for understandable reasons. But the truth is, it happened., we did it. " Anassian describes Yanni as "very optimistic" and has observed that "nothing really shocked him." Of course, this impression carries over to his music. "I do not think that's his goal. He's very honest with his own feelings. His music really comes from the heart. He writes left music, the music is created with relative equanimity. Fact that music gives the listener a good feeling, is a by-product. It overlaps only with what people like to hear. "

After the negotiations were needed to 1997 Taj Mahal and the Forbidden City to be allowed to occur, the separation of Linda Evans in early 1998 and after a long world tour in late 1998, Yanni stopped his music career. He later admitted that he had become depressed and returned to Greece to live with his parents before three months later embarked on a world tour. He gave no interviews for two years and later explained: ". . I have traveled I wanted the life of other people's views see escape the American dream "

2000 to 2010: New Perspectives

After a two year hiatus Yanni published in 2000 If I could tell you, his first studio album in seven years. In the first week, the album sold 55,000 times and reached number 20 on the Billboard charts.

The music on the album Ethnicity (2003) represented many of the secular cultures. On 23 October 2003 Yanni played an instrumental version of the U.S. anthem before Game 5 of the World Series in 2003.

The live album and video Yanni Live Live! The Concert Event (2006) was 2006 and 2007 viertbestverkaufte New Age album on the Billboard charts.

For the first time in his career Yanni Yanni Voices taught, a project with Ric Wake, singer as the main actors on the stage. The vocalist Chloe Lowery, Ender Thomas, Leslie Mills and Nathan Pacheco Yanni chose carefully. The resulting album was released on 24 March 2009 by Walt Disney Records and entered the Billboard charts at No. 2 in 2009 and 2010, at No. 5 in the bestselling New Age albums.

2010s: New sound design, return to world tours

The album Truth of Touch was released in February 2011 and was the best-selling New Age album in 2011. The album contained instrumental music combined with electronic and cinematic influences, complemented by elements of pop, New Age and world music. Three of the fifteen pieces on the primarily instrumental album contained vocals from singers who were already involved in Yanni Voices.

Yanni toured in 2011 by America, Canada, Eastern Europe and Asia. In December 2011, followed by appearances in the Morro Castle in Puerto Rico, which were recorded on CD and DVD, and published in 2012.

Launched in early 2013 Yanni again a world tour.

Musician list

Yanni has throughout his career many musicians from around the world are employed; some are more common on tour with him.

To his core band of recent years include:

  • Charlie Adams ( drums)
  • Samvel Yervinyan (violin)
  • Ming Freeman (keyboard)
  • Pedro Eustache (various flutes, saxophones )
  • Victor Espinola (harp, vocals)

Other musicians:

  • Karen Briggs (violin)
  • Walter Rodriguez ( percussion)
  • Ramon Flores ( trumpet)
  • Dan Landrum (Hammer Dulcimer )
  • Sayaka Katsuki (violin)
  • Lisa Lavie (Vocals )

Trivia

  • Both the PBS fundraiser and the WWF received large donations from Yanni.
  • Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times wrote in 2000 about Yanni, this is "a living metaphor for success on their own terms ."
  • At the age of 14 years Yanni set a national record in the 50 - meter freestyle swimming.

Albums

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