Yanni (born Yiannis Hrysomallis (Greek: G?????? ???s??????; classical transcription Giannis Chrysomallis)); on November 14; 1954 in Kalamata; Greece) is a self-taught pianist; keyboardist; and composer. Yanni left his homeland at the age of 18 to attend the University of Minnesota.After receiving a B.A. in psychology; he would instead seek a life in music though he had no formal training and could not read a note. After playing keyboards in local rock bands such as Chameleon; he moved to California in pursuit of movie soundtrack work.In 1987; he put together a small band which included long-time bandmate Charlie Adams; and John Tesh; and began touring to promote his earliest instrumental albums; Keys to Imagination.