Chris Gero

[4] As Chief Artist Relations Executive of Yamaha, he oversees branding and marketing partnerships with over 3,600 North American acts including those mentioned above, as well as Robin Thicke, Sara Bareilles, John Legend, Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum's Dave Haywood, Michael W. Smith and Michael McDonald, Colbie Caillat, Zac Brown, Graham Nash, Dave Koz, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, David Foster, Jason Mraz, Richard Marx, Mindi Abair, Jon McLaughlin and Ingrid Michaelson, among others.

The record label's artist roster includes Nathan East, Bob James, Jason Webb, Frederic Chiu, LEOGUN and Pull Start Rockets.

Gero is known for his large scale productions, which typically feature lavish elements such as a house band, full orchestral accompaniments, 100-piece gospel choirs, and elaborate set and lighting designs.

In 2003, Gero produced the NAMM Foundation Concert Honoring Sir Elton John, presented by Yamaha, which raised $330,000 to benefit music education and research.

Hosted by Emmy Award winning actor Eric McCormack, some of the world's most popular artists participated in the concert, each performing an Elton John classic.

The concert rundown featured Nikka Costa ("Levon"), Rufus Wainwright ("Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"), Eric McCormack ("Captain Fantastic"), Bruce Hornsby ("Burn Down The Mission"), Jewel ("Your Song"), Brian McKnight ("Rocket Man"), Norah Jones ("Tiny Dancer"), Brian Wilson ("Someone Saved My Life Tonight"), Randy Newman ("Benny And The Jets"), Diana Krall ("Border Song"), Take 6 ("Philadelphia Freedom"), Vanessa Carlton ("Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"), Ray Charles ("Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word"), Michael McDonald ("Take Me To the Pilot"), Carmen Twillie and the Circle of Life Choir (tribute to "The Lion King") and John Mayer (a duet with Elton John on "Sacrifice").

"[21] On January 14, 2010, Gero produced Yamaha's 50th Anniversary Dealer Concert - held in conjunction with the Winter NAMM event - at Disney California Adventure Park's Hyperion Theater.

"[25][26] Other artists who performed that night include Amy Grant, Chaka Khan, Dave Grusin, David Foster, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jackson Browne, James Newton Howard, LEOGUN, Lucy Schwartz, Michael McDonald, Sarah McLachlan, Sinbad and Toto.

[27] To date, Gero has produced shows featuring Steven Tyler with his Nashville-based band Loving Mary, Joe Walsh, The Fray, John Rezenik of the Goo Goo Dolls, Jason Isbell, Alex Newell,[28] Colbie Caillat, James Blunt, Jamie Cullum, Bob James, Jonathan Butler, Nathan East, The Piano Guys, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, Sinbad, Patti Austin, Ben Folds, Josh Groban, Summer Horns, Michael McDonald, Wynonna Judd, Elton John, Sarah McLachlan, Lucy Schwartz, Landon Pigg, LEOGUN, Chaka Khan, Earth, Wind & Fire, Amy Grant, Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, Toto, David Foster, James Ingram, Todd Alsup, Vanessa Carlton, Jon McLaughin, Greg Sczebel, Michael Bolton, Sheryl Crow, Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, Natalie Cole, Vince Gill, Jason Mraz, John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting, Pull Star Rockets, Damon Wayans, Mickey Mouse, The Manhattan Transfer, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, John Legend, Jon Anderson, Craig Ferguson, Gabe Dixon, Chantal Kreviazuk, Ben Kweller, Kenny Loggins, Travis Tritt, Heather Bradley, Richard Marx, Dr. John, Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Sims, Teddy Geiger, Wayne Brady, Judith Owen, Brad Paisley, Gavin DeGraw, Brian Wilson, K.D.

Lang, Randy Jackson, Beth Hart, Phil Vassar, Al Green, Robert Randolph, the USC Trojan Marching Band, Ray Charles, Nikka Costa, Bruce Hornsby, Jewel, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, John Mayer, Brian McKnight, Randy Newman, Take 6, Rufus Wainwright, Carmen Twillie, Eric McCormack, Tony Bennett, David Benoit, Al Jarreau, Rick Braun, Dave Koz, Brenda Russell, Tower of Power, Carlos D'L Puerto, Patti LeBelle, Christopher Cross, The Doobie Brothers, Billy Dean, James Newton Howard, Edwin McCain, David Pack, Alan Parsons, Boz Scaggs, SHeDaisy, The Wilkinsons, Steve Winwood, Jeff Bridges, the Yellowjackets, Martin Taylor, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, CeCe Winans, Keith Sweat, Jude Cole, Kirk Franklin, Gary Chapman, Avery Sunshine, Grace Kelly, Lindsey Stirling, Johnny Mathis, Loren Allred, Stephen Schwartz, Melissa Etheridge, Butch Walker, Larry Mullen Jr. of U2, Marc Broussard, Shoshana Bean, Ray Parker Jr., Sheléa, Randy Brecker, Ruben Studdard, Caroline Campbell, Sam Moore, James Francies, Mindi Abair, Jeff Coffin, Fourplay, Byron "Mr. TalkBox" Chambers and James "J.T."

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, Director of National Drug Control Policy at the White House Michael Botticelli, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Allison Janney, Chuck Lorre, Darryl Strawberry, Patrick Kennedy, Chris Herren, Pat O'Brien, William Cope Moyers, Christopher Kennedy Lawford, Tara Conner, Dr. David Satcher, Senator Ed Markey, Senator Rob Portman, Dr. Lena Wen, Carol McDaid, Senator Angus King, Tom Coderre, John Silverman, Governor Bill Weld, Chef Natalie Young, Councilwoman Rosie Mendez, Elisa Hallerman, members of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), among others.

In addition, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Ozzy Osbourne, Michael McDonald, Kristin Davis, Glenn Beck, Chaka Khan, Andrew Zimmern, Colin Quinn, Laurie Dhue, Dr. John, Jodie Sweetin, Kristen Johnston, Craig Ferguson, Richie Sambora and Scott Stapp all filmed personal messages that were shown at the event.

Gero co-produced the solo debut album for bassist Nathan East, which was released on March 25, 2014[34][35] Nathan East features collaborations with Eric Clapton ("Can't Find My Way Home"), Stevie Wonder ("Overjoyed"), Michael McDonald ("Moondance"), Sara Bareilles ("I Can Let Go Now"), Ray Parker Jr. ("Daft Funk"), Bob James and Chuck Loeb of Fourplay, David Paich of Toto, Michael Thompson, Tom Scott, Jeff Babko and more.

Gero produced the 2015 release The New Cool alongside GRAMMY honored jazz luminaries, keyboardist Bob James and bassist Nathan East, on Yamaha Entertainment Group.

[37] The album is centered around piano and bass duets by James and East with a few handpicked classics, such as a new rendition of Willie Nelson's hit, "Crazy" which includes vocals from Vince Gill.

The show consisted of McDonald performing duets with a variety of well known artists, including Patti LaBelle, Christopher Cross, James Ingram, Kenny Loggins, The Doobie Brothers and Jeff Bridges himself.

Eric Clapton, Quincy Jones, Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Vince Gill, David Foster and Don Was are among those featured.