MUSIC

English symphonic rock band Renaissance rose from the ashes of the seminal UK rock group, the Yardbirds, with vocalist Annie Haslam and principal songwriter and guitarist Michael Dunford joining at the dawn of the 1970's to define their work with folk rock and classical fusions. Including quotations from and allusions to, such composers as Bach, Chopin, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff, the band had their first Top Ten UK hit with "Northern Lights" in 1978 as well as creating progressive rock classics "Mother Russia" and "Ashes Are Burning".

After extensively touring and popularity in the UK, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, France, Belgium, Portugal and Israel, the most influential progressive rock stations in the US picked up on the band's unique musical sound and introduced them to fans in America.