Brian Burtless Pianist from Phoenix, AZ

Hello. My name is Brian Burtless. Since you are reading this, you have probably already figured out that I play the piano. To give myself a title would be quite a chore... so, here's the short list: DJ, producer, piano man,, one-man band, keyboard player, and singer/songwriter. If I had to say what I enjoy doing the most, it would be singing. It's my first love, because I started singing not long after learning to speak. My family never needed an alarm clock, because I would wake up them up every morning singing original songs at six a.m. My father's piano playing, was a big inspiration to me when it came to music, but we didn't have a lot of money. My parents could only afford to get my older sister piano lessons, and my father wouldn't teach us--don't ask me why. I was lucky enough to get one lesson from my Uncle on how to play some basic blues, and then I would to wait about three years to get lessons from the organist at my father's church. She had agreed to teach me for free, and to my folks astonishment I quit after only three lessons. I decided to teach myself, because I wanted to learn music that I enjoyed. My parents never had to tell me to practice; in fact, on many occasions they had to pull me away from the piano to come to the dinner table. Over the years I have played in many bands as a keyboard player. I have played countless venues, and always loved the comradery of being in a band, but they rarely let me sing, and getting the band to learn more than 50 or 60 songs to put on our set list was a battle. In 2008 I made the best decision of my life to become a solo act. Now I can sing, and adding new songs is at my discretion. In the last five years, my song list has become extensive, and diverse, and is always growing. I love being able to take requests--in fact it's easier for me when you choose. Playing the keyboard gives me the ability to add guitars, bass, drums, strings, horns, and piano to my sound, so if you have a picture of a guy sitting there just playing a piano and singing--you're right! Just remember that I am also able to reproduce the sound of a full band. I have been hired to play not only a wedding ceremony, but also the cocktail hour, and reception. Oh yes, I also play a lot of private parties! With all that said, if you have a piano in your home just waiting to be played, I will definitely oblige you--as long as it's tuned. I will always favor playing an acoustic piano over all the bells and whistles of a keyboard. I have performed at private parties, weddings, anniversaries, stadiums, outdoor concerts, and countless piano bars during my career as an entertainer. Believe it or not, I have even given a private concert for two people for their wedding anniversary. So, whether you prefer piano music, or a full band sound, I will create an awesome musical experience for your event. Most people prefer a show where guests can get involved by singing along or having some sort of song participation--trust me, if you have never seen a piano show where a friend, or group get's roasted on a birthday or celebration, get ready to have a lot of laughter in the room. Getting people involved is my specialty! It's all up to you--it's your event. There are several music samples on my press kit for you to get a very good reference of what I will sound like live. There are many songs to choose from on my list, but you are not limited to that. I will always take song requests, or learn special music for you at your request. You can also hear what some of my past clients have to say about me in the client feedback section. I love to travel, so please don't hesitate to consider me for events that are not local. NOTE: When requesting a bid from me, please include as many details of the event and what services you need. The more details you give me, the better estimate I can give you. If you prefer, you can also just say in your notes: call me, and I will get right back to you. Thank you Brian Burtless