Yanni
USABiography of Yanni
Yanni Hrisomallis, known globally as a musical phenomenon, was born in 1954 in the city of Kalamata, Greece. Growing up in a picturesque village, he became renowned worldwide for his musical talent. Yanni is one of those rare musical artists who defy stereotypes and break down racial and national barriers with his music. Influenced by his parents, Yanni devoted a significant amount of time to music, which dominated his life above all else. However, at the age of 14, he set a new national record in freestyle swimming, completely forgetting about music. He dreamt of becoming an Olympic champion. At the age of 18, Yanni moved to the United States to attend the University of Minnesota. There, he got acquainted with the rock band "Chameleon" and rediscovered his passion for music. While earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy, he continued to perform with the band. As a self-taught pianist, Yanni developed his own system of music notation and rhythm, allowing him to excel in performing and composing his own music. Blending rock and jazz and experimenting, Yanni sought to find his own unique style. In a short amount of time, immersed in his own imagination and the sound of synthesizers, he transformed into a studio musician, composer, and producer.
In 1980, his first album, "Optimystique," was released, which was reissued in 1984. Following the album "Keys To Imagination," Yanni caught the attention of Private Music, a record label that reissued his album in 1986, making him one of the most prominent figures in the world of instrumental music. In 1987, the composer released the album "Out of Silence." From 1988 to 1991, he composed music for the crime drama "Frank Nitti: The Enforcer" directed by Michael Switzer. He was then invited to compose for the film "Heart of Midnight" by Matthew Chapman. Yanni also composed music for the films "Steal the Sky," "I Love You Perfect," "Children of the Bride," "When You Remember Me," "She'll Take Romance," and "A Taste of Freedom." Year after year, his albums of original compositions were released, including "Chameleon Days," "Niki Nana," "Reflections of Passion," "In Celebration of Life," and "Dare to Dream."
In 1993, Yanni released a compilation of his compositions titled "In My Time." He then performed at the Acropolis of Athens in his homeland, accompanied by the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He transformed many of his compositions into symphonic pieces. The video concert "Yanni: Live at the Acropolis" released in 1994 sold five million copies. The total sales of all his albums reached 12 million copies. In 1996, he appeared on the television series "The O'Reilly Factor." In 1997, Yanni played himself in the video "Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's." In 2000, he released the album "If I Could Tell You." In 2003, his next album, "Ethnicity," was released, and he embarked on an ambitious tour in March of that year. A month before the tour, his autobiography, co-published by Miramax Books, was released, detailing his life from his childhood in Greece and his college years in Minnesota to his international success in the music industry. The book delves into his personal life, including a nine-year relationship with actress Linda Evans.
On September 16, 2006, the premiere of the musical video "Yanni Live! The Concert Event" took place. In 2008, the release of his new album "Voices" was planned. According to Yanni, music is an incredibly direct language that does not require explanation or logical analysis. Music always communicates directly with your soul. It is this philosophy that guided him in his childhood and propelled him towards global success.
