'Piano sensation' Jim Brickman takes his 'Beautiful World' to the Savannah Civic Center

Jim Brickman got the news Dec. 2 while he was performing onstage in Indiana.

His album "Faith" has been nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Age category. It's the second Grammy nomination the platinum-selling singer, pianist and composer has received during his career, and he's ecstatic.

"Faith" is a recording of Brickman's favorite hymns and some original songs he's written for piano, and Savannahians will have a chance to hear some of them when he appears in concert at the Savannah Civic Center on Friday.

"It means so much when people tell me how my music has impacted their lives," Brickman said. "I'm thrilled to receive this industry recognition for 'Faith.' "

The concert, titled "Jim Brickman's Beautiful World," will feature some of his latest hits, plus holiday music from classics to contemporary. In conjunction with the tour, Brickman has released a live CD and DVD of the program, and some of the guest artists on that recording will appear with him in Savannah.

They include Orla Fallon of Celtic Woman, electric violinist Tracy Silverman and singer Anne Cochran. "Anne was with me when I was in Savannah before," Brickman said.

"I always want my shows to be theatrical in nature," he said. "It's more of a Broadway show and beautiful to look at."

Starting with the release of "No Words," his debut album, in 1994, Brickman has perfected a style that has labeled him "America's Most Romantic Piano Sensation." Since then, he's had six gold and platinum-selling albums and charted 26 adult radio hits.

Brickman also has won several awards, including the Grammy nominations in 2003 and 2009, two SESAC "Songwriter of the Year" awards, a Canadian Country Music Award and a Dove Award presented by the Gospel Music Association. He has had more Adult Contemporary hits than any other artist during the past decade.

But he is more than a musician. He's written two best-selling books, "Simple Things" and "Love Notes," and hosts a weekly syndicated radio show.

As if that's not enough, Brickman created Brickhouse Direct, an online marketing and Web site-design business. Somehow, he manages to find time to head up an annual fan cruise, too.

Born in Cleveland, Brickman began taking piano lessons at age 5. "I didn't come from a musical background or family," he said. "I was just a regular kid."

His musical influences included The Carpenters and Billy Joel. "I liked the same music a lot of my audience likes," he said.

"I am a songwriter, mostly," he said. "When you are a teenager, you imitate. I learned to write music by imitating them, then took my own path."

Fostering talent

A high school teacher fostered Brickman's talent and encouraged him to study music in college, but Brickman took a more practical route. While he studied composition and performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music, he also studied business at Case Western Reserve University.

After graduation, Brickman combined his love of music with his business acumen. Through his advertising company, The Brickman Arrangement, Brickman wrote commercial jingles for companies such as McDonald's, Pontiac and Isuzu.

Eventually, Brickman began doing concerts and recording hit records.

"My family was supportive, but they didn't understand me," he said. "I just loved the connection to music. It made me feel happy."

Ideas for songs come from all sorts of sources, he said. "If you listen, people will give you good ideas," he said. "Someone will say a phrase, and I'll think of a song.

"Solo piano music is really about the melody first, just something that comes to me," he said. "I don't look for it. But the songs with lyrics are different.

"The other day, someone said 'Thank you' to me. I thought, 'What a good idea for a song.' So I wrote a song about giving thanks."

Behind the scenes, Brickman is introverted and shy and his fans may be surprised to learn he's uncomfortable singing. At the beginning of his performing career, he only played the piano.

"I didn't start singing until about 10 years ago," he said. "The singing is an unfortunate byproduct of my career. It just doesn't come naturally, it doesn't flow."

This is the 14th year he has done a Christmas tour.

"It is my life," he said. "Christmas music comes most naturally to me. I get to play the piano every night, spread cheer and play music with my friends. It's a lot of joy."