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Yanni is a self-taught pianist who began his musical career by giving recitals for family members though he had no formal training and could not read music. He was also a competitive swimmer in Greece and set a national record in the 50-meter freestyle competition at the age of 14. At the age of 18 he attended the University of Minnesota. While a student there, Yanni joined an up-and-coming local group called Chameleon where he met drummer Charlie Adams. Chameleon earned some modest commercial success touring throughout the Midwest, particularly in the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and South Dakota. After receiving a B.A. in psychology, he sought a life in music. He moved to Los Angeles, in pursuit of movie soundtrack work. In 1987 he put together a small band which included John Tesh and Charlie Adams, and began touring to promote his earliest instrumental albums, Keys to Imagination, Out of Silence, and Chameleon Days.
2000s
In 2000, after a two-year sabbatical, Yanni released his first studio album in seven years If I Could Tell You.
Yanni toured in 2003--2004 with the debut of the Ethnicity album extending his "One World, One People" philosophy. This album sparked what would become the 4th largest concert tour of the year ranked by Billboard Magazine.
On May 6, 2004, the University of Minnesota conferred upon Yanni the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.
He kicked off his 2004--2005 "Yanni Live!" tour at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, and his next live album and video, Yanni Live! The Concert Event was released in 2006.
In 2008, in collaboration with producer Ric Wake, Yanni showcased vocal artists singing his songs on the album Yanni Voices. On March 24, 2009, Disney Pearl Imprint released Yanni Voices, the artist's first studio album in six years, and its Buena Vista Concerts division produced the tour that began in April 2009.[10]
Yanni kicked off a South American tour in September 2010 that includes Santiago, Chile, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and continuing to Hato Rey, Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo, Domincan Republic in November 2010. The release of a new album Yanni Mexicanisimo is scheduled for October 19, 2010, which is dedicated as a tribute to Mexico, a combination of Mexican music with Yanni's style.
2000s
In 2000, after a two-year sabbatical, Yanni released his first studio album in seven years If I Could Tell You.
Yanni toured in 2003--2004 with the debut of the Ethnicity album extending his "One World, One People" philosophy. This album sparked what would become the 4th largest concert tour of the year ranked by Billboard Magazine.
On May 6, 2004, the University of Minnesota conferred upon Yanni the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.
He kicked off his 2004--2005 "Yanni Live!" tour at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, and his next live album and video, Yanni Live! The Concert Event was released in 2006.
In 2008, in collaboration with producer Ric Wake, Yanni showcased vocal artists singing his songs on the album Yanni Voices. On March 24, 2009, Disney Pearl Imprint released Yanni Voices, the artist's first studio album in six years, and its Buena Vista Concerts division produced the tour that began in April 2009.[10]
Yanni kicked off a South American tour in September 2010 that includes Santiago, Chile, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and continuing to Hato Rey, Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo, Domincan Republic in November 2010. The release of a new album Yanni Mexicanisimo is scheduled for October 19, 2010, which is dedicated as a tribute to Mexico, a combination of Mexican music with Yanni's style.