Transcript Yannis Chryssomalis “Yanni”

Yannis Chryssomalis
“Yanni”
By: Cody Bowman
Yannis Chryssomalis
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“…Sometimes we get
caught up in our
troubles and our
problems and we let
life sort of slip away,
and life is precious, all
of life. And one must
try to take in as much
of it as possible.”
-Yanni (1992)
About Yanni
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Born on November 14, 1954
Parents were Sotiri and Felitsa
One of three children
Family was musically inclined
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Mother Sings
Father and Brother play guitar and piano
Yanni’s music gifts were apparent at an
early age.
Continued
Didn’t enjoy practicing the piano
 Began to play piano at the age of six
 Refused lessons
 Heard music in his head, wanted to
play what he heard
 Better off teaching himself
 Own pace, his own way
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More Than Just Music
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Broke National
Greek swimming
record.
50 meter freestyle
event
Decided to go with
musicial career
College
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University of Minnesota
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College education encouraged by
parents
Major in Psychology
 Never walked away from music even
how busy he was
 Played in a local rock band
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Played piano and Keyboard
After College
Received degree in 1977
 Joined a Minneapolis-based rock
group called “Chameleon”
 Toured and made albums
 In 1980, began to take his own music
to the charts
 Recorded and released his own
material
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Continued
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Used experiences with Piano and
Keyboard to create first album
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“Optimystique”
In 1984, Yanni signed with Atlantic
Record
 Second album
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“Keys to Imagination”
Hollywood
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Busy time for Yanni
Released two albums and worked on a third
before moving to Hollywood
Hollywood
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Recorded 4 film scores
Released 3 more albums.
In 1990, The Dallas Symphony Orchestra
accompanied Yanni in concert
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Adding new, unique style of things to come
Albums
Dare to Dream earned first Grammy
Nomination
 Fall of 1992, Performed Yanni “Live at
the Acropolis”
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Recorded and Videotaped
• Sold over 7 million copies worldwide
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Became a fixture on public television
Goals
Provided support to PBS
 Appeared in several PBS pledge
specials
 Goal to become first westerner to
perform at both the Taj Mahal in India
and the Forbidden City in China.
 Album released in the fall of 1997
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Future for Yanni
“I will always do instrumental music,
but now I’m just trying to expand my
horizons and open the doors to some
incredible talent that can give voice
and lyrics to my work.”-Yanni
 Talking about Yanni-Wake
Entertainment
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“The Rain Must Fall”
Parents encouraged to play music at
his own pace
 Music came naturally to him
 Pouring rain, turning in to a massive
thunderstorm
 Ends with a ray of light coming
through the clouds
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“Nostalgia”
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“You have to understand our thoughts are
our precious resources, everything begins
there. At some point, thought turns into a
dream and that’s where the magic begins. A
mans dream or a woman’s dream is so
powerful, it could change the world. We
have seen it happen in history, time and
again. Where the possible, magical,
became the reality.”-Yanni (1992)
Song is about his home, where he grew up.
Bibliography and
References
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2011 Rovi Corporation,
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p2850
2011 Yanni-Wake
Entertainment:http://www.yanni.com/bio/
Yanni “Heart of Midnight” CD album, original
soundtrack recording
Yanni “Live at the Acropolis” CD album, with
the Royal Phiharmonic Concert Orchestra
stewartgjohnstone.com
cleveland.com
thelliersblog.blogspot.com