Yanni (real name: Γιάννης Χρυσομάλλης / Yiannis Hrysomallis) is a self-taught pianist, keyboardist, and composer who was born in November 14, 1954 in Kalamata, Greece. Starting his career in 1977, joining up the Minneapolis-based rock group Chameleon, his musical efforts have spanned over three decades and brought him international popularity. Although many fans and critics call his music "New Age", Yanni himself has distanced himself from that label.