André Rieu (born October 1, 1949, in Maastricht, Netherlands) is a Dutch violinist and conductor.  He is famous for creating an international revival in waltz music and for his many top selling recordings with his "Johann Strauss Orchestra."  The orchestra began in 1987 with twelve members but now performs with over forty and up to fifty musicians.  At the same time that the orchestra first toured Europe, there emerged a renewed interest in waltz music.  This revival was mostly in the Netherlands and was ignited by their recording of the "Second Waltz" from Shostakovich's Jazz Suites.  As a result, he became known as "The King Of Waltz."  Andre Rieu and the "Johann Strauss Orchestra" have performed throughout Europe, in North America, and Japan. They have won a number of awards including two World Music Awards and have recordings that have gone gold and platinum in many countries around the world, including 8-times platinum in the Netherlands. He records from his own recording studio a wide range of classical music as well as popular and folk music plus music from famous motion picture sound tracks and theater musicals.  His lively and colorful orchestral presentations have been able to attract audiences that may not initially be drawn to classical music.  He worked together with his brother, Jean Philippe, for several years, but Jean Philippe has now started his own production company.  His son, Pierre, still works with him.  Some of his orchestra's performances have been broadcast in the United Kingdom and the United States on the PBS television network such as the 2003 airing of Andre Rieu Live in Dublin, filmed in Dublin, Ireland, and 2005's André Rieu Live in Tuscany filmed in the Piazza Della Republica in the village of Cortona in Tuscany, Italy.  See Andre Rieu LIVE!  Purchase your Andre Rieu tickets today!