Mannheim Steamroller

What’s been said about Mannheim Steamroller that hasn’t already been said about your average Third World war zone? All kidding aside, this New Age juggernaut—which has somehow sold a staggering 28 million records in the U.S. alone—is one of the biggest modern practitioners of Christmas music, with a slew of albums dating back to 1984 in its catalog (several of which were condensed into 2009’s two-disc Christmas: 25th Anniversary Collection). In 2008, group founder Chip Davis went through some medical problems that resulted in him leaving the touring act. Not one to miss out on hot holiday money, though, Davis added new members and split the group into two segments—one touring the Midwest, one going up and down the Eastern seaboard—both of which surely ho-ho-ho their way all the way to the bank.

Updated 12/06/2011