#1 Billboard Cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, A Member Of The Piano Guys, Will Release "Grace: A Sacred Cello Collection" March 11, 2014 With Former Record Label

Salt Lake City, UT (Top40 Charts/ Stone Angel Music) This CD is a collection of Nelson's best arrangements and originals from his albums produced by Stone Angel Music, an independent record label that primarily sells brain healthy instrumental music. The new album also features original music he orchestrated for #1 Billboard Pianist Paul Cardall.

Nelson is a pioneer in "cello-percussion"—an alternative performance method that combines traditional, lyrical cello techniques with unconventional pizzicato and percussive technique. He was born and still resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. He began studying cello at age 8, percussion at age 12 and guitar at age 17. He has invented a new method of playing the cello that combines elements learned from each of these instruments.

Nelson's true cello career began when he was 15. He was recruited by Peter Breinholt to arrange string parts and perform with Breinholt's band, Big Parade. Since then he has recorded on over 100 different albums ranging from folk & bluegrass to hip hop. He has also made his way as a solo artist. His first album Sacred Cello (2006) with Stone Angel Music was atop the Billboard Charts. He has since two more solo albums that have also received significant acclaim (Tender Mercies, 2008 and Christmas Cello, 2010).

Nelson is well known for his collaborations with pianist Jon Schmidt as The Piano Guys - most particularly in their mash-up arrangement of Taylor Swift's "Love Story" and Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," a YouTube sensation. Schmidt and Nelson perform regularly together throughout the United States and the world. They have appeared in The Tonight Show, Today Show, and many more.

Steven has studied the cello (still his primary instrument) under Ryan Selberg, Stephen Emerson, and John Eckstein. He obtained a degree in music from the University of Utah School of Music, graduating in 2002.