Under the stage name "Piano Squall", Michael Gluck has given concerts in New York, California, Texas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Washington, Connecticut, Virginia, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Kansas, Oregon, and Georgia. In 2005, Michael was invited to perform at the anime convention Otakon for an audience of three thousand people, and later that year, he was featured on MTV's website in recognition for his contribution to the world of videogame music.
Michael donates a portion of all proceeds to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society -- an organization fighting to end the devastating disease that destroyed his grandmother's life. He also provides Benefit Concerts that have raised money for a wide variety of charities, including The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Race for the Cure, Baltimore Reads, The Matthew Foster Foundation, The Maryland Food Bank, and Tsunami Relief. Highlights include the 2005 Villa Julie College Benefit Concert, which raised nearly three hundred pounds of food for the homeless in a single evening.
GAME features Michael's original arrangement and performance of twenty-six theme songs from videogames and anime, including Final Fantasy, Naruto, Super Mario World, InuYasha, Chrono Trigger, Cowboy Bebop, Mega Man, Chrono Cross, Full Metal Alchemist, Tetris, and Evangelion. Highlights include Michael's signature Final Fantasy Battle Medley, which blends nine Final Fantasy battle themes together into a single spectacular piece.
Michael and the videogame publisher Electronic Arts will collaborate to donate an amount equal to 20% of all profits from GAME to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. But this is not the first time that Michael and his employer have joined forces for charity. In 2006, Michael and EA raised $8,600 for the National MS Society and $4,000 for Race for the Cure through selling "Piano Squall" posters at Michael's concerts.
"I am always exploring new ways to combine my love of videogame and anime music with my mission to fight Multiple Sclerosis, and I couldn't be more excited about the launch of GAME," said Michael. "I watched my grandmother waste away in a chair, completely paralyzed by MS for the last ten years of her life. We must cure this horrible disease as quickly as possible."
GAME is currently available for pre-order at Michael's website. The price is $9.99 with Free Shipping anywhere in the United States. Those who pre-order will receive a free Bonus Track that is not included on the CD. GAME ships 6/30/07.
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