A pianist of legendary fame and stature, Vladimir Horowitz was born in Kiev, Ukraine. His mother, herself a professional pianist, provided his first instruction at the piano and was the first to recognize his extraordinary talents; he studied further at the Kiev Conservatory. His first public appearance was a recital in Kiev on May 30, 1920, and in 1922 he gave a series of 15 concerts in Kharkov for which he was paid in food and clothing.
It's no secret that Philadelphia has, over the years, become synonymous with the sweet sound of meticulously crafted Soul and R&B. However, if you dig a little deeper, you'll uncover a thriving Hard Rock scene, best exemplified in the late '80s by the banshee wail of bands like Cinderella, Britny Fox and Tangier. Add to that list the name of Heavens Edge and suddenly you've got a pack of lean 'n' mean rockers that rivaled both Los Angeles and New York for sheer quality and bravado. Assembled from the cream of local Philly bands, Heavens Edge rapidly snagged a substantial deal with industry powerhouse Columbia Records, who at the time were a label eager to increase their market share of profitable melodic Rock acts.