Mannheim Steamroller
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Mannheim Steamroller actually began as an alias for record producer/composer Chip Davis. Before the fame of Steamroller, Davis had been best known for creating the country music character “C.W. McCall” (of “Convoy” fame) for his friend Bill Fries. And even before Davis “made” McCall a star, he produced an unusual album of classical music performed entirely by Davis and musical collaborator Jackson Berkey, using electric bass and synthesizers. Since no major label would handle its distribution, Davis founded his own music label, American Gramaphone (a play on the classical record label Deutsche Grammophon), to release the album. 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, with Davis on drums, Berkey on keyboards, and Eric Hansen 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.
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Christmas
Mannheim Steamroller
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A Fresh Aire Christmas
Mannheim Steamroller
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Fresh Aire
Mannheim Steamroller
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Christmas In The Aire
Mannheim Steamroller
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Amber - Mannheim Steamroller
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God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 2006
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'Joy To The World'
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Christmas Lullaby
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Recent Activity
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Otteryd, Nherr103, musiqmike1970 and 4 other people added Mannheim Steamroller to their libraries. yesterday evening
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Nortaneous tagged Mannheim Steamroller with instrumental and electronic. Sunday morning
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jdsmith1991, nathanthoms, eric12401 and 14 other people added Mannheim Steamroller to their libraries. Saturday evening
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rfdiazpr tagged Mannheim Steamroller with ambient, classical, christmas and 2 other tags. last month
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rfdiazpr, Estelle07, BobStallman and 3 other people added Mannheim Steamroller to their libraries. last month
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Braveheart53 tagged Mannheim Steamroller with ambient and new age. last month
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Braveheart53, robertid, sojournerwolf and 1 other person added Mannheim Steamroller to their libraries. last month
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garbear1968 tagged Mannheim Steamroller with instrumental, new age and mannheim. last month
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timsalwill, Charles_Heres, ceaheart and 4 other people added Mannheim Steamroller to their libraries. last month
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fru-n-quiz wrote about Mannheim Steamroller – Above the Northern Lights in xmas pop. last month
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