Michael Pinnella
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Michael Pinnella | |
|---|---|
 Michael Pinella playing live in Novara, Italy in June 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Pinnella |
| Born | August 29, 1969 Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Progressive metal Neo-classical metal Power metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Keyboards, piano |
| Years active | 1994–present |
Michael Pinnella (born August 29, 1969) is a keyboard player, most notably for the band Symphony X. He has also released a solo album, a mixture of classical and progressive-styled music titled Enter By the Twelfth Gate on the InsideOut Music label in 2004. Michael is one of two Symphony X members to appear on all nine of the band's albums (the other being Michael Romeo).
Biography
Pinnella was born in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey and was encouraged since childhood to follow music. When he was four years old, he started taking piano lessons. He was heavily influenced by classic composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Bach.
When he was about 11 years old, he started to practice more seriously. Later in his youth, he was impressed by Yngwie Malmsteen and asked his parents to buy him a keyboard. When he got into college, he studied piano performance, theory and composition, and other musical courses. Other influences came from progressive/metal bands from the 1970s (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath) and from the 1980s (DIO, Ozzy Osbourne).
When Pinnella finished college, he started teaching piano in a music store. One of the fellow teachers at the store was friends with Michael Romeo from Symphony X. In 1994, he was hired by the band as a keyboardist.
He is currently working in East Brunswick, NJ when not touring or recording. He is a Christian and also plays piano in his church.[1]
Pinnella's nephew, Chris Pinnella, is a vocalist who worked with Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Equipment
Pinnella uses the following equipment:
Roland V-synth XT
- Yamaha Motif ES7
Discography
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Enter By the Twelfth Gate | Studio |
| 2014 | Ascension | Studio |
See also
References
External links
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
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