Tickets Sales Ongoing for Manheim Steamroller Christmas Show

After celebrating the 25th anniversary of releasing a Christmas album that changed the music industry, Chip Davis, founder of the multi-platinum selling group Mannheim Steamroller, reflects on the beginnings of what has become nothing less than an amazing musical journey. "I remember when I created Mannheim Steamroller Christmas," Davis says of his landmark 1984 album. "…I remember taking it out and showing it off and playing it for people, and the first thing out of their mouths was: 'This is a Christmas record; that'll never work!'"

That across-the-board skepticism only fueled Davis' determination. "For me, it was like, 'OK, tell me something else I can't do…' And today, with 9 million copies sold of that one record, we can look back and say: 'Well, we were right – you can successfully market Christmas music.'"

When it comes to the music he has created and the massive audience he has built behind Mannheim Steamroller, Davis has rarely been wrong. From his unlikely base of operations in Omaha, Nebraska, Davis has sold over 40 million records – 27 million in the Christmas genre– making the group one of the top 50 biggest selling musical artists of all time and THE biggest selling Christmas artist of all time. He's produced hundreds of sold-out Mannheim Steamroller concerts around the world, and his American Gramaphone record label stands as one of the most successful independent music franchises in history.

The presale begins today at noon; the password is "CONVOY." The presale is available online at Ticketmaster.com and at the Crown ticket office (currently operating in the EXPO CENTER) through tonight at 10:00 pm. The public on-sale begins Friday, August 16 at 10 am.

Once the public on-sale begins, tickets may be purchased at the Crown Center Ticket Office M-F 10-6, Ticketmaster.com, by phone, 800-745-3000, and at Ticketmaster outlets.

For more information on the event, call (910) 438-4100 or visit www.mannheimsteamroller.com or www.atthecrown.com.