Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at Paramount Theatre Seattle

Louis F. Davis, Jr., now known as Chip Davis, is the man behind Mannheim Steamroller. He was born in the prototypical little town of Hamler, Ohio, and was raised in a household that valued both music and “a sensitivity to nature.” He earned a degree in bassoon and percussion from the University of Michigan in 1969 before beginning work at the Bozell & Jacobs advertising agency in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1974, Davis and colleague advertising executive Bill Fries collaborated to invent the character of “C.W. McCall” for a number of ads that won Clio Awards. Following were other top 40 songs and hit albums, including the RIAA gold-certified #1 classic “Convoy,” which won Davis numerous awards, including SESAC Country Music Songwriter of the Year.

The achievement of C.W. McCall gave Davis space to concentrate on his own compositions. He gave his new group the name Mannheim Steamroller—a play on the “Mannheim crescendo”—, and they released the seminal album FRESH AIRE in 1975, combining elements of classical, rock, and pop into something wholly their own. As a result of the industry’s failure to assign a label to the record, Davis made the decision to market and sell FRESH AIRE on his own; as a result, American Gramaphone Records was established.

Now, Chip Davis has let Mannheim Steamroller into becoming the #1 Best-Selling Christmas artist of all time. “I remember when I came out with my first Christmas album in 1984, followed by our first tour. Back then, many in the music industry said focusing on Christmas just wouldn’t work,” said Davis. “Now, over 35 years later, we are still going strong.” The Mannheim Steamroller has won a Grammy Award for “Best New Age Album.”

Chip Davis and the Mannheim Steamroller have released numerous Christmas hits, including “Carol of the Birds,” “Joy to the World,” “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” “Traditions of Christmas,” and many more! Decades since their formation, they remain the leaders of holiday music.

For this year’s Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Tour, they will be bringing some of their best holiday hits across the nation, including a highly-anticipated stop at the Paramount Theatre Seattle on Saturday, the 25th of November, 2023. This is your chance to kick off the magical spirit of Christmas with the best musical performance of the season!