Sebastian Santa Maria
Encyclopedia
Sebastian Santa Maria was born in 1959 in Santiago, Chile
, but settled in Lausanne, Switzerland at age 17.
He played the piano
in several clubs in Lausanne until beginning a fertile career as a composer, composing a number of songs including some made for Catherine Lara
, Bernard Lavilliers
and Isabelle Adjani
.
Beside these composer activity, he also played numerous piano duet jazz concerts with François Lindemann, and a few years later he founded with Lindemann a unique group of seven Steinways called Piano Seven
.
He also participated on the reincarnation of British band The Zombies
, playing on their 1991 album, New World
.
As a solo artist, he released a few singles and one full length album (Latino
, 1994). A second album, Corpus
, was released posthumously in 1997.
Santa Maria died of adrenoleukodystrophy
in 1996 in Lausanne.
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, but settled in Lausanne, Switzerland at age 17.
He played the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
in several clubs in Lausanne until beginning a fertile career as a composer, composing a number of songs including some made for Catherine Lara
Catherine Lara
Catherine Lara is a French violinist, composer and singer.-Music career:As a child, Lara studied violin and received the first prize of chamber music at the Conservatoire de Paris in 1966....
, Bernard Lavilliers
Bernard Lavilliers
Bernard Lavilliers is a French singer.He was born Bernard Oulion in Saint-Étienne, Loire.The band Fatals Picards wrote a song Bernard Lavilliers, satirizing Lavilliers' image as a former adventurer.-Discography:...
and Isabelle Adjani
Isabelle Adjani
Isabelle Yasmine Adjani is a French film actress and singer. Adjani has appeared in 30 films since 1970. She holds the record for most César Awards for Best Actress with five, for Possession , One Deadly Summer , Camille Claudel , Queen Margot and Skirt Day...
.
Beside these composer activity, he also played numerous piano duet jazz concerts with François Lindemann, and a few years later he founded with Lindemann a unique group of seven Steinways called Piano Seven
Piano Seven
Originally conceived by pianists François Lindemann and Sebastian Santa Maria in 1987 as a one-off experiment for seven pianists playing together, Piano Seven enjoyed such success that the concert had a second run and the Swiss-based ensemble was soon born...
.
He also participated on the reincarnation of British band The Zombies
The Zombies
The Zombies are an English rock band, formed in 1961 in St Albans and led by Rod Argent, on piano and keyboards, and vocalist Colin Blunstone. The group scored a UK and US hit in 1964 with "She's Not There"...
, playing on their 1991 album, New World
New World (The Zombies album)
New World is the title of The Zombies's 1990 album. According to the liner notes, it was recorded primarily to protect the name of the band in response to numerous groups of imposters that were then touring the US...
.
As a solo artist, he released a few singles and one full length album (Latino
Latino (album)
-Track listing:# Latino # Minitel # Tristeza # I'm still a man # Quand c'est l'autre qui s'en va...
, 1994). A second album, Corpus
Corpus (album)
Corpus was the second album by Sebastian Santa Maria, released posthumously in 1997.-Track listing:# "It's about" – 4:27# "Rock & sands" – 3:51# "Susan & Pearl" – 4:11# "Mister Altmann" – 3:30# "Lift your hands " – 0:41...
, was released posthumously in 1997.
Santa Maria died of adrenoleukodystrophy
Adrenoleukodystrophy
Adrenoleukodystrophy is a rare, inherited disorder that leads to progressive brain damage, failure of the adrenal glands and eventually death. ALD is a disease in a group of genetic disorders called leukodystrophies, whose chief feature is damage to myelin...
in 1996 in Lausanne.