Wayne Gratz Bio 2012

Born in June 1954 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wayne acquired his love for music at an early age. At the age of five, Wayne and his family moved to Reading, Pennsylvania. Inspired by his kindergarten teacher, Wayne began playing the piano at age six and studied it into his high school years. He then began studying guitar with thoughts of pursuing more opportunities with that instrument. However, with the onset of cool and relevant keyboard bands such as Emerson, Lake and Palmer; Yes; and Genesis, Wayne decided to return to the black-and-whites.

A resident of Reading through high school, Wayne played in various rock bands in the area. Upon graduation, he began touring the U.S and Canada, ending up in Orlando, FL, in 1976.

Over the past 19 years, Wayne has released seven albums of original compositions on the Narada label and four albums of cover music on the Enso label. Wayne also contributed to some of the most memorable compositions on Narada's best-selling collections, The Wilderness Collection, A Childhood Remembered, Piano Solos, and two Christmas Collection albums. He also has composed numerous albums for Hallmark.

Wayne started his own label, Wayne Gratz Music, in 2002, and has since composed and produced six albums to include Sleepy Baby Suite, Christmas Remembered, Soul to Soul, Light Lands and Shoreline, Two Views and his most recent project Four Steps to the Ocean. In addition, his music has been used for the Olympic Games specialty segments; NBC television specials; and background music for numerous other television/radio advertisements, to include a Tiger Woods segment and background music for Thomas Kinkade’s DVD, Painter of Light. Wayne’s music is featured on Music Choice, and can be heard on Whisperings Solo Piano Radio and numerous radio stations around the world.

Wayne currently resides in New Smyrna Beach, FL.

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