{{Short description|American pianist}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jon Schmidt | image = Jon Schmidt (cropped).jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|07|10}} | birth_place = Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) --> | death_place = | genre = New Age, classical crossover | occupation = | instrument = Piano | years_active = <!-- YYYY–YYYY (or –present) --> | current_member_of = The Piano Guys | website = {{URL|www.jonschmidt.com}} }} '''Jon Schmidt''' (born 1966)<ref name=des>{{cite web|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/top/1057/3/Jon-Schmidt-23-interesting-Latter-day-Saints-who-have-profiles-on-Mormonorg.html|title=23 interesting Latter-day Saints who have profiles on Mormon.org|first=Trent|last=Toone|work=Deseret News|date=October 31, 2012|accessdate=May 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927050601/https://www.deseretnews.com/top/1057/3/Jon-Schmidt-23-interesting-Latter-day-Saints-who-have-profiles-on-Mormonorg.html|archive-date=September 27, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> is an American pianist and composer. Classically trained, he branched into New Age music in his 20s and has developed a classical crossover style that blends classical, contemporary, and rock and roll. He has released eight solo albums and seven piano books containing original scores.<ref name=debut/> Since 2010 he has been a member of The Piano Guys musical group, performing on their YouTube videos, albums, and in concert.
==Early life and education== Jon Schmidt was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to German immigrants.<ref name=all>{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jon-schmidt-mn0000822206/biography |title=Jon Schmidt|first=Charlotte|last=Dillon|work=AllMusic|year=2017|accessdate=May 7, 2017}}</ref><ref name=herald>{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldpalladium.com/features/the-piano-guys-are-doing-better-than-okay/article_a887dbc3-c1a2-543b-bb89-263946a8e655.html|title= The Piano Guys are doing better than 'Okay'|first=Jeremy D.|last=Bonfiglio|date=September 22, 2016|accessdate=May 4, 2017|work=The Herald-Palladium}}</ref> Both his paternal and maternal grandparents became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Germany, and he is also a member of the church.<ref name=des/><ref name=about/>
Schmidt was exposed to classical music at a young age.<ref name=herald/> His father was an operatic tenor.<ref name=herald/> His older sister, Rose-Anne, a virtuoso pianist, provided his classical training.<ref name=yam/> Schmidt began appearing in piano recitals at the age of 8,<ref name=all/><ref name=jamie/> was composing music by the age of 11,<ref name=sound>{{cite web |url=http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=273657|title=Band History|publisher=SoundClick|year=2017|accessdate=May 5, 2017}}</ref> and started teaching piano at age 16.<ref name=jamie/> However, he did not perform publicly until college.<ref name=hunts/><ref name=weber>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsusignpost.com/2015/10/01/pianist-jon-schmidt-performs-at-lds-institute/|title=Pianist Jon Schmidt performs at LDS Institute|first=Pascal|last=Friedmann|date=October 1, 2015|accessdate=May 4, 2017|publisher=Weber State University|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229224625/http://www.wsusignpost.com/2015/10/01/pianist-jon-schmidt-performs-at-lds-institute/|archivedate=February 29, 2016}}</ref> As a student at Highland High School, he frequently played the piano at school assemblies and concerts.<ref name=brings>{{cite web|url=http://latterdaysentinel.com/2010/03/29/schmidt-brings-musical-gifts-to-inland-northwest/|title=Schmidt brings musical gifts to Inland Northwest|first=McKay|last=Allen|date=March 29, 2010|accessdate=March 8, 2017|work=Latter-Day Sentinel|archive-date=January 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124191603/http://latterdaysentinel.com/2010/03/29/schmidt-brings-musical-gifts-to-inland-northwest/|url-status=dead}}</ref> After graduation, he served on a mission to Norway, where he was known as the "mission piano player".<ref name=brings/>
Schmidt was offered a music scholarship to the University of Utah, but decided to major in English instead.<ref name=weber/> As he progressed in his undergraduate studies, he began thinking about pursuing a graduate degree in business administration.<ref name=weber/> His career plans changed as he began performing in public.
==Musical career== {{Quote box |width=250px |align=right |quoted=true |bgcolor= |salign=right |quote=My whole goal is to have a good time. I can't take my music or myself too seriously. That's the problem sometimes with classical performers is they take themselves too seriously. I consider myself a rock pianist. |source=–Jon Schmidt, 2010<ref name=brings/> }} Schmidt initially played at benefit concerts and recorded his music for sale on cassette tape.<ref name=hunts>{{cite web |url=https://huntsman.usu.edu/news_archive/Jon-Schmidt-of-The-Piano-Guys-Detai-20164|title=Jon Schmidt of The Piano Guys Details His Road to 217 Million YouTube Views|first=Klydi|last=Heywood|publisher=Utah State University|accessdate=May 4, 2017}}</ref><ref name=brings/> He then decided to promote himself by booking himself into large venues such as the Highland High School auditorium, which he filled with an audience of 1,000, and Kingsbury Hall, the largest performance venue in Salt Lake City, which he also sold out.<ref name=sound/><ref name=hunts/>
He released his first album, ''August End'', in 1991.<ref name=jamie/> After that he signed with Aubergine Records and released ''A Walk in the Woods'' (1993), ''A Day in the Sunset'' (1994), and ''Jon Schmidt Christmas'' (1995).<ref name=all/> In 2000 he released ''To the Summit'' under his own label, JSP Productions.<ref name=all/>
By 2010 Schmidt was giving 100 concerts a year in the Wasatch Front metropolitan area of Utah, as well as in Arizona, Southern California, Idaho, and Washington state.<ref name=brings/>
Schmidt has published seven piano books containing original scores.<ref name=des/> He has developed a "Ten Week Note-Reading Method" for adults and children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jonschmidt.com/catalog/ed_notereading.php|title=Ten Week Note-Reading Method|publisher=jonschmidt.com|accessdate=May 6, 2017|archive-date=January 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131130125/http://www.jonschmidt.com/catalog/ed_notereading.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==The Piano Guys== {{main|The Piano Guys}} Schmidt became a member of The Piano Guys in 2010. The group and its music video concept originated as the social media marketing strategy of Paul Anderson, owner of The Piano Guys piano store in St. George, Utah.<ref name=entre/> Anderson knew Schmidt from the latter's visits to the store; Schmidt enjoyed practicing on the pianos in the showroom whenever he came to town.<ref name=entre/> In 2009 Anderson saw a music video that Schmidt had uploaded to YouTube, "Love Story Meets Viva la Vida" – blending the Taylor Swift country pop "Love Story" with Coldplay's Baroque pop "Viva la Vida", which Schmidt performed as a duet with cellist Steven Sharp Nelson. The video collected over one million hits.<ref name=yam>{{cite web |url=http://www.yamahaentertainmentgroup.com/all-access/item/13-jon-schmidt-the-piano-guys-piano-guy|title=Jon Schmidt – The Piano Guys' Piano Guy|publisher=Yamaha Entertainment Group|accessdate=May 7, 2017}}</ref> Anderson suggested that he produce professional videos of the musicians performing and upload them to his store's YouTube channel.<ref name=yam/><ref name=entre>{{cite web |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244389|title=How These Four Dads From Utah Quit Their Day Jobs to Make Millions on YouTube|first=Geoff|last=Weiss|date=March 27, 2015|accessdate=May 4, 2017|work=Entrepreneur}}</ref><ref name=herald/> Nelson brought his neighbor Al van der Beek, a songwriter and music arranger, onto the project,<ref name=herald/> and Tel Stewart assisted with video production.<ref name=usa>{{cite web|last1=della Cava|first1=Marco R.|title=Web hit Piano Guys sign with Sony|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/story/2012-09-04/five-guys-web-sensation-sony/57590944/1|work=USA Today|accessdate=May 7, 2017|date=September 5, 2012}}</ref>
After producing a number of videos that failed to garner much interest, the group posted "Michael Meets Mozart" (2011), and Schmidt invited the nearly 30,000 people on his fan mailing list "to watch it and share it". Views took off beyond the region.<ref name=herald/> The group continued to upload new videos for the next two years, gaining thousands of fans each time.<ref name=debut/> The group signed with Sony Masterworks in 2012<ref name=usa/> and went on to release seven number-one albums. As of February 2024, the group has surpassed 2.3 billion views on their YouTube channel and have 7.09 million subscribers.<ref name=troy>{{cite web|url=https://www.troyrecord.com/lifestyle/review-a-mesmerizing-evening-with-the-piano-guys/article_2ff928b4-5cac-5723-b83a-be50394c77e9.html|title=Review: A mesmerizing evening with The Piano Guys|first=Stan|last=Hudy|date=August 8, 2018|accessdate=March 10, 2019|work=The Record|archive-date=June 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611231055/https://www.troyrecord.com/lifestyle/review-a-mesmerizing-evening-with-the-piano-guys/article_2ff928b4-5cac-5723-b83a-be50394c77e9.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Musical style== Schmidt blends classical, pop, and rock and roll in his compositions.<ref name=about>{{cite web |url=https://www.mormon.org/me/3czw|title=About Me|publisher=mormon.org|year=2017|accessdate=May 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name=sound/> He cites Beethoven, Mannheim Steamroller, Billy Joel, and Dave Grusin as musical influences.<ref name=debut>{{cite web|last1=Verdugo Morgan|first1=Alexa|title=The Piano Guys success spreads worldwide: Debut album, overseas appearances, US tour|url=http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/03/22/morgan-the-piano-guys-success-spreads-worldwide-debut-album-overseas-appearances-us-tour/#.U_5-vfldXuL|work=St George News|accessdate=May 7, 2017|date=March 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name=sound/> He also demonstrates a flair for the theatrical in his live solo performances, such as "playing an entire song while upside down, putting on a funky wig, playing with his toes and beat boxing".<ref name=jamie>{{cite web |url=http://www.globeslcc.com/2010/01/27/jon-schmidt-new-age-composer-and-pianist/|title= Jon Schmidt: New age composer and pianist|first=Jamie|last=Wheeler|date=January 27, 2010|accessdate=May 4, 2017|publisher=Salt Lake Community College}}</ref>
==Personal life== Schmidt and his wife Michelle have five children<ref name=sound/> and reside in St. George, Utah.<ref name=yam/> In October 2016 their 21-year-old daughter Annie disappeared while hiking in Oregon. Her body was found the following month at the base of a cliff in the Columbia River Gorge; her death was ruled accidental.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7573723/piano-guys-jon-schmidt-missing-daughter-found-dead-hiking|title= Piano Guys' Jon Schmidt's Missing Daughter Found Dead|first=Colin|last=Stutz|date=November 14, 2016|accessdate=May 4, 2017|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Solo albums=== *''August End'' (1991) *''Walk in the Woods'' (1993) *''A Day in the Sunset'' (1994) *''Jon Schmidt Christmas'' (1995) *''To the Summit'' (2000) *''Winter Serenade'' (2004) *''Hymns Without Words'' (2006) *''Piano Portraits Lullaby'' (2009) *''Bonus Tracks'' (2009)
===Guest appearances=== *''Piano Portraits'' (2002) – solo performances by Schmidt, Paul Cardall, Michael R. Hicks, and David Tolk<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/piano-portraits-mw0001260052|title=Piano Portraits|first=Dacia A. |last=Blodgett-Williams|publisher=AllMusic|year=2017|accessdate=May 21, 2017}}</ref> *''Pure Touch: Vol. 1'' (2008) – with Matt Bachrach and Craig Linder<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/pure-touch-mw0001300710 |title=Matt Bachrach / Craig Linder / Jon Schmidt: Pure Touch|publisher=AllMusic|year=2017|accessdate=May 21, 2017}}</ref>
===The Piano Guys=== *''Hits Volume 1'' (2011) *''The Piano Guys'' (2012) *''The Piano Guys 2'' (2013) *''A Family Christmas'' (2013) *''Wonders'' (2014) *''Live!'': Carnegie Hall Audio + Red Rocks Concert Video (2015) *''Uncharted'' (2016) *''Christmas Together'' (2017) *''Limitless'' (2018) *''10'' (2020) *''Chill'' (2021) *''Lullaby'' (2021) *''Unstoppable'' (2023) *''Pop on Piano'' (2026)
==Piano books== *{{cite book|title=67 Fun Songs: Arrangements for Easy Piano Songbook |year=2003}} *{{cite book|title=New Age Classical Piano Solos|year=1996|publisher= Aubergine Records}} *{{cite book|title=New Age Classical Piano Solos|volume=II|publisher= Aubergine Records}} *{{cite book|title=New Age Classical Piano Solos|volume=III|edition=Revised}} *{{cite book|title=New Age Classical Piano Solos| volume=IV|edition=Revised}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P9hAN-teOU “Waterfall (Jon Schmidt Original) – The Piano Guys” (video)] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fAZIQ-vpdw “All of Me (Jon Schmidt original tune) – The Piano Guys” (video)]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Schmidt, Jon}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:New-age pianists Category:American Latter Day Saints Category:American people of German descent Category:University of Utah alumni Category:Musicians from Salt Lake City Category:People from Bountiful, Utah Category:20th-century American pianists Category:21st-century American pianists Category:Highland High School (Utah) alumni Category:20th-century American male pianists Category:21st-century American male pianists