The Farr Side: Spend a night with the world famous piano man

Valentine’s Day is just a few short days away and, for a lot of you, that means it’s crunch time. No matter how many times we tell ourselves we won’t wait until the last minute to surprise our loves, it still happens.

Well, you’re in luck! You see, one of America’s most romantic and beautiful pianists is going to be just a few minutes' drive away. Are you intrigued? Well, it’s true! Jim Brickman will be performing Feb. 15 at the famed Blue Gate Performing Arts Center in Shipshewana, Ind. Tickets are still available for the show that’s being billed as “Jim Brickman HITS Live!”

I know what you’re thinking: "But, it's the day after Valentine’s Day? Yes!

So what you do is get the tickets and surprise your honey with over-priced flowers, expensive candy and Jim Brickman tickets and extend the romantic adventure an extra day! I know, right?

What makes Brickman such a popular favorite among many is his own distinctive style. His piano music has captivated listeners for nearly three decades while his live performances revolutionized the appeal and popularity of the instrumental music format.

This successful recipe has made him one of the genre's biggest stars.

Brickman is one of the top-selling solo pianists of our time with a catalog consisting of 22 No. 1 albums and 32 Top 20 radio singles.

I came to know Brickman’s music through my bestie, Kristie. She introduced me to his debut album, “No Words.” I was mesmerized by the music and surprised at just how much I enjoyed it. I quickly became a fan and began following his career.

It was Brickman’s next album, “By Heart,” that I knew this guy would become a superstar pianist. His ability to capture of moment, a feeling with his piano keys was just incredible. “Angel Eyes” is simply a stunning song, as is the track, “If You Believe.” Both became huge adult contemporary radio hits.

To broaden the spectrum, he would throw in a couple of songs with vocals featuring guest artists. The first one was “By Heart” featuring Laura Creamer. The song quickly topped the charts.

He’s paired with a number of stars through the years including Lady A, Collin Raye, Anne Cochran, Olivia Newton-John, Carly Simon, Michael W. Smith, Kenny Rogers, Kenny Loggins, Michael Bolton, Johnny Mathis and, perhaps his most successful partnership with Martina McBride. Brickman and McBride topped multiple charts with their gorgeous song “Valentine.” It was a worldwide smash.

Brickman has sold over 10 million albums, earned a slew of industry awards including Grammy nominations, Gospel Dove Awards, songwriter of the year awards and is a proud member of Pandora’s “2 Billion Streams Club.”

Much of that success stems from songs like “Simple Things,” “Love of My Life,” “The Gift,” “Hero’s Dream,” “Destiny,” and “Rocket to the Moon.”

What impresses me the most about Brickman is, regardless of all the accolades and fame, he’s still a humble man true to his heart and passion for his art.

“I write music to be shared — to soothe, to inspire, to celebrate, to love. To me, music is the pure and simple soundtrack to life’s most memorable moments,” Brickman says on his website.

Several years ago, Kristie surprised me with tickets to see him live and it was definitely a night full of memorable moments. Now I can return the favor and treat her to a night out all these years later.

— David T. Farr is a Journal correspondent. Email him at farrboy@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: The Farr Side: Spend a night with the world famous piano man