Yamaha Entertainment Group of America – Timeline

1887

• Yamaha Corporation (then Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd.) begins producing reed organs in Japan

1960

• Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA) established

1993

• Chris Gero becomes Branding Consultant for Yamaha Corporation of America

1994

• Elton John joins the Yamaha artist roster
• Chris Gero produces the first multi-artist, large format concert

1995

• The first all-Yamaha endorsed television show, Prime Time Country, airs on CMT

1996

• Yamaha endorses The Rosie O’Donnell Show on NBC

1997

• Chris Gero becomes Artist Relations Manager, Pro Audio and Combo Division, and full-time Yamaha employee

1998

• Chris Gero becomes Director of Artist Relations and Events, Pro Audio and Combo Division

2000

• Chris Gero becomes Corporate Director of Artist Relations for Yamaha Corporation of America
• Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs is founded as an independent subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation of America
• Yamaha All Access Magazine publishes its first issue
• Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs produces Michael McDonald Tribute Concert featuring The Doobie Brothers, Christopher Cross, James Ingram, Patti LaBelle, Kenny Loggins, Steve Winwood, Jeff Bridges and others

2001

• 'N Sync joins the Yamaha artist roster
• Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs produces Tony Bennett Tribute Concert featuring David Benoit,  Al Jarreau, Rick Braun, Dave Koz, Brenda Russell and Tower of Power

2003

• Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs produces Elton John Tribute Concert featuring John Mayer, Norah Jones, Ray Charles, Jewel and others
• Paul McCartney joins the Yamaha artist roster
• Norah Jones joins the Yamaha artist roster
• Sheryl Crow joins the Yamaha artist roster
• Yamaha has extraordinary representation at Grammy Awards: 
• Winners included Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder & Take 6
• Nominees included Vanessa Carlton, Avril Lavigne, Dixie Chicks, Elton John, James Taylor, Dave Matthews Band, 'N Sync, Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole

2004

• Elton John begins performing The Red Piano show in Las Vegas, featuring a custom-built Yamaha red concert grand piano.
• Alicia Keys joins the Yamaha artist roster
• Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs officially opens its office in downtown Franklin, Tennessee

2005

• Paul McCartney performs on a Yamaha piano during halftime at Super Bowl XXXIX

2007

• Chris Gero becomes Vice President of Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs, Inc., an independent subsidiary division of Yamaha
• TV Impressions for Yamaha measured at over 700 million

2009

• Yamaha All Access 360 website launched

2010

• Yamaha Corporation of America celebrates its 50th anniversary
• Chris Gero becomes Vice President and Founder of Yamaha Entertainment Group
• Yamaha Entertainment Group Film Works division starts

2011

• Yamaha Entertainment Group acquires recording studio in Franklin, Tennessee and records first album for the label by British rock band LEOGUN
• Elton John begins performing The Million Dollar Piano show in Las Vegas
• Luke Bryan joins the Yamaha artist roster

2012

• Yamaha celebrates its 125th Anniversary
• Yamaha Entertainment Group officially launches record label
• Yamaha Entertainment Group releases self-titled LEOGUN EP
• Yamaha Entertainment Group films Sarah McLachlan’s special encore performance for Disklavier TV from her home in Canada

2013

• Yamaha Entertainment Group anticipates release of first full-length album from label for LEOGUN
• Yamaha Entertainment Group provides Lady Gaga with white Yamaha grand piano for the live debut of her new album ARTPOP in Brooklyn, NY
• Yamaha Entertainment Group provides silver Yamaha piano for Alicia Keys’ Super Bowl Half Time performance

2014

• Full length concert film of Elton John’s “The Million Dollar Piano” debuts in 1,200 movie theaters throughout the world followed by the DVD release of the hour-long documentary on the making of the Million Dollar Piano
• Yamaha Entertainment Group begins production on the critically acclaimed short film “The Gift”
• Yamaha Entertainment Group releases bassist Nathan East’s solo debut album, co-produced by Chris Gero
• Yamaha Entertainment Group releases award-winning documentary “Nathan East: For the Record”
• Yamaha’s Muppets-inspired green Disklavier piano joins Josh Groban on tour and is featured on the red carpet at the world premiere of “Muppets Most Wanted” in Hollywood
• Ben Folds joins the Yamaha artist roster
• Colbie Caillat joins the Yamaha artist roster

2015

• Yamaha Entertainment Group releases Grammy-nominated album “The New Cool”, featuring Bob James and Nathan East and produced by Chris Gero
• Yamaha Entertainment Group produces Reface product launch campaign starring Ingrid Michaelson
• “The Gift” premiers on Yamaha Corporation of America’s Facebook page
• Yamaha Entertainment Group produces and sponsors Facing Addiction’s UNITE to Face Addiction Concert on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
• Chris Gero is elected as President of the Sarah McLachlan School of Music’s Board of Directors
• Chris Gero receives the 2015 Noble Globe Award at the 4th Annual Heifer International Beyond Hunger: A Place At The Table gala

2016

• Yamaha Entertainment Group begins production on the purple Yamaha piano for Prince’s Piano & A Microphone tour
• Chris Gero wins Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for “The Gift” in the Music Composer/Arranger” category
• Albuquerque Film & Music Experience festival honors Nathan East and Chris Gero
• Yamaha piano is donated to St Pancras International with a surprise impromptu performance by Elton John
• Yamaha Entertainment Group begins production on Nathan East’s second album, entitled “Reverence”