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Mannheim Steamroller Christmas returns to ASU Gammage in December

Best-selling Christmas artist of all time to bring back annual holiday tour


The ensemble of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas performs onstage with an image of snowy mountains behind them and lights imitating snowfall.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas will return to Tempe, Arizona, on Dec. 28, 2021, at ASU Gammage.

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August 04, 2021

Do you remember the first time you heard the Christmas sounds of Mannheim Steamroller? You  again can celebrate that holiday magic in 2021 when they take their annual holiday concert tour to fans throughout the country.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas will return to Tempe, Arizona, on Dec. 28, 2021, at ASU Gammage.

“2020 was the first time in 35 years we did not perform our Christmas tour," said Chip Davis, founder and creator of Mannheim Steamroller. "And we couldn’t be more excited to know that we will reunite with our many fans in 2021, sharing the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas experience."

Davis’ hallmark tour will begin on Nov. 16 and run through Dec. 30. Two traveling ensembles will hold performances in cities across the country.

“I remember when I came out with my first Christmas album in 1984 followed by our first tour," Davis said. "Back then, many in the music industry said focusing on Christmas just wouldn’t work. Now, over 35 years later, we are still going strong. I want to thank our fans for making us part of their holiday tradition. Today we often see multigenerational families join us during the holidays each year and we can’t wait to see them again in 2021.”

Davis founded his own record label, American Gramaphone, which went on to become one of the industry’s largest independent record labels. A Grammy Award winner, Mannheim Steamroller has sold more than 41 million albums, including 30 million in the Christmas genre. Their holiday CDs have become synonymous with Christmas and occupy top positions on Billboard’s seasonal chart every year.

This year’s show will feature all of your favorite original classic Christmas hits from the first Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album, along with multimedia effects in an intimate setting. Davis will direct and co-produce tour performances with MagicSpace Entertainment. The company is headed by Lee D. Marshall, Joe Marsh, John Ballard, Steve Boulay, Dave Stinson and Kristy Maple, and has been producing and presenting national tours, Broadway shows, concerts and museum exhibits worldwide for over 35 years. They have an office in Park City, Utah.

From his longtime home in Omaha, Nebraska, Mannheim Steamroller creator and founder Davis makes innovative music inspired by the sounds of another age. This former teacher and jingle writer founded American Gramaphone, in 1974 when industry executives said Davis’ innovative 18th-century instrumental rock sound would never sell. In addition to a Grammy Award, Davis is largely credited with establishing the New Age music category.

His first Christmas album in 1984 revolutionized the making and marketing of holiday music. The album’s success made Christmas records a “must-do” for all music artists. With more than 30 million Christmas albums sold, Davis is the No. 1-selling Christmas artist of all time, with Elvis coming in at a distant 17 million holiday records sold. Having 19 gold, eight multi-platinum and four platinum-certified records, Davis is among an elite group of music artists with this number of Recording Industry Association of America records. His latest achievement is creating a cutting-edge psychoacoustic technology that is being used in major medical institutions.

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