Giovanni has filled concert halls, venues and showrooms all over the world, and sold over three million cds during his appearances on QVC and The Home Shopping Network.
Success did not come easy for the Italian son of famed musician and conductor, Alfredo Marradi. Giovanni was only five years old when he began studying music. His family had moved from their native Italy to Beirut, Lebanon, where his father had been offered a prominent conductor's job. At the age of eight, he began to study composition under the tutelage of Michael Cheskinov, at the Russian Conservatory in Beirut. "Cheskinov was a classical pianist", says Giovanni. "I remember he had only three students and normally wouldn't accept anyone younger than 30. Because of my father's reputation, he made an exception and took me on. He was a taskmaster and had me practicing eight hours a day. As the years went by, I became his only student and it stayed that way until the time of his death. I owe him so much".
Giovanni left Beirut, wandered from city to city, across Europe, picking up work wherever he could but longing to move to the United States. At times, he felt like a gypsy, moving from place to place, earning next to nothing. When he sat down at the piano, whether in a grand hotel lounge or a small, dimly lit bar, he felt that he was accomplishing his mission...to bring his music to the people. He knew he had chosen the right path, when they responded with smiles and applause.
In 1984, Giovanni finally achieved his life long dream to become an American citizen. "It was like winning an Oscar for the best score", says Giovanni. "I'm so proud to live in this country. People here, they are born to win".
Hearing about an opportunity "where the stars play", Giovanni moved to Las Vegas and began his career performing "live" at Caesar's Palace for more than ten years. While In Las Vegas, Giovanni developed a close friendship with Frank Sinatra. "Frank used to come and listen to me play all the time", says Giovanni, with a smile. "He used to call me "my Italian boy". He would pinch my cheek and say, "Come on eat, you're skinny". Can you imagine, Sinatra calling me skinny? One time he asked what I wanted out of life. I told him my hopes and dreams about people hearing my music and he just looked straight at me and said, "You'll do it. I can see it in your eyes."
Giovanni has recorded more than 120 cd's and sold millions of cd's around the world in his illustrious career and he continues to compose, record and perform.
Giovanni has filled concert halls, venues and showrooms all over the world, and has sold over three million CD's during his appearances on QVC and The Home Shopping Network. Giovanni has recently been promoting his new Roll Out Keyboard on television stations around the world. The keyboard is a portable roll up piano that is compact enough to take just about anywhere. Along with the keyboard, Giovanni also invented an easy to learn system called the "Gini Method" that consists of an overlay for the piano keys to teach beginners the fundamentals of the piano, included with his Roll Out Keyboard.
He has recorded over 140 cds and two DVDs and continues to compose, record and perform to audiences around the world.
Giovanni invites you to visit his official Myspace profile at:
http://www.myspace.com/giovannimusic
Source: http://www.giovanni.com/bio.html
