Mannheim Steamroller

Mannheim Steamroller
Mannheim Steamroller is an "18th century classical rock" group founded by Chip Davis, and co-founded by Jackson Berkey. They were acknowledged for their modern recordings of holiday music especially for Christmas. They were greatly successful in making Mannheim Steamroller, one of the most successful rock group. This outstanding group sold more than 27 million albums in the U.S. alone.

Louis Davis, Jr. belonged to a family of musicians. He was given musical training when he was just 4 years old. His grandmother was his first piano teacher. Louis Davis composed his first piece, a four-part chorale about his dog Stormy at age 6. By the time Davis entered the University of Michigan music school, he had found his true musical loves the bassoon and percussion. He graduated in 1969 as a classically trained bassoonist who also played percussion in the famous University of Michigan Marching Band.

Chip Davis was record producer/composer by profession. Mannheim Steamroller actually began as an alias for Chip Davis. The name "Mannheim Steamroller" comes from an 18th century German musical technique, "Mannheim Roller."

Davis had already become famous for creating the country music character "C. W. McCall" (of "Convoy" fame) for his friend Bill Fries before the popularity of Steamroller. Davis was a versatile musician. He was been successful in producing an unusual album of classical music before C.W.McCall. This unique classical music was performed entirely by Davis and musical collaborator Jackson Berkey. They used electric bass and synthesizers for creating this unique classical music. However, no major label was interested in its distribution. In order to release the album, Davis founded his own music label, American Gramaphone. It is a play on the classical record label Deutsche Grammophon). The result, Fresh Aire, was released in 1975 under the pseudonym Mannheim Steamroller, in the hopes of the album being a best seller. Fresh Aire II was subsequently released in 1977 and Fresh Aire III was released in 1979.

Mannheim Steamroller quickly grew into a full band. Davis, Berkey and Eric Hansen were the leading members of the band. Davis used to play on drums, Berkey enjoyed playing keyboards, and Eric Hansen was on bass and lute. Berkey's wife Almeda joined them onstage as another keyboardist. The London Symphony Orchestra appears on Fresh Aire V, Fresh Aire VI, and Fresh Aire 8.Later, Davis collaborated with guitarist/composer Mason Williams for a remake of the 1968 instrumental "Classical Gas", which used the original arrangement.

Steamroller found its greatest fame in the beginning of the Year ,1984 when Davis released his first holiday album, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas. It was featuring modern contemporary interpretations of Yuletide favorites. This album gained the nationwide popularity. This was followed by A Fresh Aire Christmas (1988) and Christmas in the Aire (1995). Steamroller had now become one of the most requested Christmas music artists of all time. By the end of 1997, they had released a live album of Christmas music, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Live. 2001 saw the release of another Christmas album, Christmas Extraordinaire.

Steamroller had also developed a full-length theatrical motion picture based on their Christmas albums. However, they could not concentrate more on this trend. Later,, they collaborated with Olivia Newton-John for yet another Christmas album, a mostly spoken-word recording called The Christmas Angel: A Family Story. In 2003 they released a CD entitled Halloween. Their latest Christmas album, Christmas Celebration, was released in 2004.

In addition to their Fresh Aire and Christmas collections, Steamroller has released an album of Disney music (1999's Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse), one celebrating his American heritage (2003's American Spirit, which reunited Chip Davis with C.W. McCall and featured a remake of "Convoy"), and an album "Yellowstone" mixing prior Davis compositions and classical pieces by Ottorino Respighi.

In 2005 Mannheim Steamroller and Chip Davis teamed with WestStar TalkRadio Network to produce an unparalleled twelve hour Christmas radio program Mannheim Steamroller's An American Christmas. Hosted primarily by Chip Davis together with the programs' producer/writer, Barry Young, An American Christmas has grown to become a favorite Christmas Eve and Christmas Day radio offering broadcast and heard in most American cities and towns each holiday.

This radio program gained the nationwide popularity. In 2005, this program was broadcast on over 350 radio stations across the United States of America, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Forces Radio and two International Worldband Shortwave stations.

The current lineup of the band is: Chip Davis (drums and percussion), Bobby Jenkins (Oboe), Jackson Berkey (keyboards), Almeda Berkey (keyboards), Roxanne Layton (percussion and woodwinds), Ron Cooley (guitar and bass), Arnie Roth (strings), and Chuck Pennington (orchestra conductor).

Mannheim Streamroller is successfully titled to be among the pioneers of "neo-classical electronic music". It emerged as a band in mid seventies and was among the driving forces of the New Age Phenomenon. Founded by Chip Davis, the band specializes in Christmas music and so far stands at par with the contemporary music of the same genre.

Today Mannheim Streamroller is known as one of the 'Most Requested Christmas Music Artist of All Times'. Its melodies creatively blend the old carol melodies with the contemporary beats making it sound as good as new.

Mannheim Streamroller has worked on a number of albums including Christmas Music, Ambiance Albums, 'Fresh Aire' Series Albums and others of the like. Stressing on creativity, the bands unique take on experimenting with instruments has kept its music fresh and innovative. Initially it wasn't easy for the band to get noticed until it ventured into Christmas Music. It is one special feature of the band that even the younger generations appreciate today. Chip Davis has themed his album releases on abstract subjects like infinity, journey to the moon and others of the like.

Mannheim Streamroller allows your imagination to run wild, all the while enjoying some great music. The band's live concert is just around the corner. So hurry and get your Mannheim Steamroller tickets before it's too late!