Clayderman, Richard

Richard Clayderman (born 1953) is a French pianist. His father was a piano teacher and began teaching him classical piano at a young age. Clayderman entered the Paris Conservatory at age 12 and won first prize for piano at 16. In 1977, he became world famous with Ballade pour Adeline, composed by composer Paul de Senneville for his newborn daughter Adeline. His recordings of this composition have sold more than 22 million copies. Since then, he has recorded more than 1,300 compositions, has created a new romantic style through a repertoire which combines his trademark originals with classics, movie and pop standards. He has 267 gold and 70 platinum albums and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's "most successful pianist".