Pianist, composer and arranger Giovanni was born the son of the famed Italian trumpeter and conductor Alfredo Marradi; his great-grandfather, also named Giovanni Marradi, was a legendary poet and composer as well. Giovanni began playing piano at age five, and three years later was sent to study composition and technique at the Russian Conservatory; in the years to follow, he emerged as a remarkably prolific composer, often writing as many as ten new songs each week. Forming his own label, NewCastle Records, he also hosted his own weekly television series, Giovanni's World of Music; his frequent appearances on cable's QVC Network offered a major boost to his international visibility as well, and in one 12-minute stretch alone he sold over 100,000 albums. In 1998 Giovanni signed to Atlantic, making his label debut with Destiny early the following year. Classic Nights was released in the summer of 1999, trailed later that same year by The Magic of Christmas. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi