Pianist Karen Marie Garrett was born and raised in Vancouver, WA. She began taking piano lessons at the age of five and later studied with Carolyn O. James of the Sherwood Conservatory of Music. Her first album, Classical Serenity, consisted entirely of classical works. Pensare, her second, combined more classical pieces with works by film composer Frank Sanucci. Garrett sent the album to new age guitarist and producer Will Ackerman, who then produced her third album, Allure of Sanctuary (November 8, 2005), which was her first to feature some of her own original compositions. Ackerman also produced her fourth album, It's About the Rose (January 2007), which consisted entirely of originals. ~ William Ruhlmann