Who is Manheim Steamroller

The creator of Manheim Steamroller is Chip Davis. He was born Louis Davis, but nicknamed Chip at a young age.

Chip Davis was born in Sylvania, Ohio. His father was a high school music teacher and his mother an orchestra performer. He learned piano from his grandmother when he was young but by college had mastered the bassoon and percussion and was a great classical music performer.

Chip followed in his father's footsteps in adulthood for only a short time as a music teacher before he secured a job writing jingles for a thriving advertising agency in Omaha, Nebraska. It was there that Chip collaborated with ad executive Bill Fries and created a character that would launch his musical dream. They created C.W. McCall, a fictional truck driver for a series of commercials for The Old Home Bread Company.

Those commercials became so popular that C.W. McCall was a desired commodity by Nashville. A deal was struck to record under the name C.W. McCall, the most popular single being Convoy in 1975. This single capitalized on the already-popular CB radio craze at the time. The single sold 10 million records in just 2 months and launched a film opportunity with the movie Convoy starring Kris Kristofferson.

Jingle writing and the advertising business really weren't for Chip Davis but it was a start. With the money he made from C.W. McCall and Convoy, he was now able to begin recording his own music and developing the unique style that is Manheim Steamroller.

Chip Davis thought the group's unique style would be a big hit in the music industry, however it wasn't greeted so readily by music labels and companies. However, he was persistent in his pursuit of his musical dream, recording 8 albums with a Fresh Aire title and each a unique underlying theme.

After realizing that the established record industry didn't see the full potential of Manheim Steamroller, Chip Davis launched his own record label and American Gramaphone was born.

In 1984, when Chip Davis decided to create a Christmas album, the future of Manheim Steamroller was beginning to take shape. It resulted in Top 40 Christmas musical hits, a series of Holiday albums and CD's, show tours and over 25 years of Manheim Steamroller being among the top-selling and most played Christmas music today.

Manheim Steamroller's style is distinctly it's own. It's Christmas music is a synthesized blend of classic holiday hits done with a different flair. It's easy to see why their music became popular during the Holiday season as a jazzier, more upbeat alternative to some all-time Christmas classics.

In other words, it's Renaissance Christmas music with a unique kick.

The group is made up of:

Chip David - Group Creator (Percussion)

Bobby Jenkins (Oboe)

Jackson Berkey - Group Co-creator (Keyboards)

Almeda Berkey (Keyboards)

Roxanne Layton (Percussion & Woodwinds)

Ron Cooley (Guitar & Bass)

Arnie Roth (Strings)

Chuck Pennington (Orchestra Conductor)

Photo Credit: Sound Trak Inc.

Manheim Steamroller's Christmas music success began it's path in 1984 and it's most current release celebrates 25 years of musical fame. Their music is some of the most requested holiday tunes requested in radio history rivaling even Elvis Presley.

The Manheim Steamroller Christmas Collections include:

1984: Manheim Steamroller Christmas, their first holiday music release featuring classic Yuletide carols

1988: A Fresh Aire Christmas

1995: Christmas In The Aire

1997: Manheim Steamroller Christmas Live

2001: Christmas Extraordinaire

2004: Christmas Celebration, a compilation of previously released music with one new song

2007: Christmas Song with guest vocals by Johnny Mathis, Olivia Newton John

2008: Christmasville

2009: Manheim Steamroller 25th Anniversary Christmas (a box set)