PLAYING THE PIANO, Lanz says, is his greatest form of self-expression, especially at his concert performances where he effortlessly blends his emotionally affecting music ("a gift to the soul" wrote a recent reviewer) with audience involvement and his own charming comic take on life. Born on June 28, 1950, Lanz started his performing career in his early teens back in the mid 1960s playing keyboards with local rock bands and then years later as a solo act, deftly playing blues and jazz songs in small smoky clubs, until he "stumbled" onto a different path in the early 1980s. Lanz's solo recordings include the landmark CRISTOFORI'S DREAM, which was Number One on Billboard's first adult alternative/new age chart for 27 weeks and eventually sold platinum. All in all he has sold well over 4 million records. The year 2000 brought David his first Grammy nomination for the new age-orchestral rock event EAST OF THE MOON, produced by legendary rock producer Hugh Padgham, who has also produced Super-Stars Phil Collins, Sting, and Melissa Etheridge. Hal Leonard, America’s largest music publisher, has released a dozen song books of his music. “The most fulfilling thing by far”, David says, “is meeting young musicians who get excited about making music by hearing and playing my own. I think back to how important my influences were as a kid, and I feel blessed to play that role for others." David and Gary Stroutsos have just launched their own music label, “Sound Traveler". Look for several new releases from them starting in 2007.