One of the biggest-selling music groups in history, Mannheim Steamroller, will appear in a special series of concerts in three cities this October.  Founder and composer Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller will take the stage in Joliet, IL, Ames, IA and Rochester, MN, with a concert called Music of the Spheres.  Designed to celebrate America’s passion for space exploration, these performances mark the first concerts of what will be only three such concerts this year.

In 2006, NASA invited Chip Davis and the Mannheim Steamroller team to capture the launch and landing of space shuttles Discovery and Atlantis using the band’s distinctive brand of surround sound. The results were nothing short of earth shattering; the “Music of the Spheres” audience will relive the event from their seats, hearing the most accurate audio recording of a shuttle launch and landing ever made.  In other highlights, Davis will premiere his “Mannheim-ized” version of the Star Trek theme, unveil new compositions and revisit some familiar “space-based” favorites.  The original members of the Mannheim Steamroller, still together after more than 25 years, will be accompanied by a professional orchestra comprised of local musicians.

These concerts lay the groundwork for the launch of a 2008 concert tour and album, also called Music of the Spheres  which will benefit The Space Foundation.  Says Chip Davis, “I have been fascinated with space exploration since my childhood, when I spent many an evening gazing at the stars with wonder and amazement. I feel it is important that we continue to foster that same sense of awe among our young people today. With their extensive educational and outreach programs, one could simply not ask for a better partner than The Space Foundation.”

Perhaps best known for their distinctive Christmas music, Mannheim Steamroller is set to release their fifth holiday-themed album October 9.  By special arrangement with the theaters, audience members attending any of these three performances will have the opportunity to buy advance copies of Christmas Song at the theatre the night of the show.  There will be a limit of 8 albums per customer.

Speaking of What’s in the Aire…how about the Space Shuttle Endeavour.  The shuttle launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, August 8.  What a great time to announce a new CD/concert tour from Mannheim Steamroller…Music of the Spheres.  The tour will begin this fall in three cities and then continue in select cities across the country in 2008 and 2009.

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be sitting in the cockpit of the Space Shuttle prior to launch?

What does it feel like, sitting on a tank containing 535,000 gallons of fuel accompanied by two solid rocket boosters also full of propellants and weighing nearly 1.5 million pounds each?

Have you ever gone zero to 17,500 miles in 8.5 minutes? 

When Mannheim Steamroller debuts its Music of the Spheres tour this fall, composer Chip Davis will bring the space shuttle experience to the audience. 

In other highlights, Davis will premiere his Steamroller version of the Star Trek theme, unveil new compositions and perform some familiar “space-based” favorites.  The original members of the Mannheim Steamroller, still together after more than 25 years, will be accompanied by a professional orchestra comprised of local musicians.

Click here for all of the details on the new tour from Mannheim Steamroller.

Christmas Song, the all-new Christmas CD from Mannheim Steamroller is complete!  It sounds terrific and will be in stores on Tuesday, October 9. 

Thanks to all of you that sent your votes for what you wanted to hear on this new CD.  The top vote-getting song was …The Christmas Song.  Chip Davis did a very special arrangement of the song and invited an old friend to appear as a guest vocalist on the track.  The guest vocalist is…we’re not telling just yet.  Like the presents under a Christmas tree, you’ll have to wait. 

Remember, Santa Claus is Coming to Town October 9.