Yanni

• Genre: Contemporary Instrumental
• Hometown: Kalamata
• Yanni Website

About

Yanni is a gifted keyboardist who places melodramatic passion into a pioneering Adult Alternative/new age/Contemporary Instrumental hybrid of complex popular and classical styles. He updates the florid style of Roger Williams, the crossover ivory-tinkler of the Eisenhower years, with an impressive combination of acoustic and electric orchestrations. Draped in silky duds and an even silkier mustache, Yanni was already wildly successful when he became the "Great Greek Hope" of aging female baby boomers everywhere after marrying the ever stylish, but older, Linda Evans. It is unfair to blame him for either PBS placing Yanni Live at the Acropolis on heavier rotation than Sesame Street or for the symphonic overstatement of John Tesh -- Yanni's number one disciple.

- Nick Dedina