search for the true meaning of Christmas. In late 1996, an unknown group called Trans-Siberian Orchestra released their first single, "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24," to more than 300 radio stations across the United States. Very few station managers had any idea that the same song had landed on their desks the year before. Even fewer knew that the new Trans-Siberian Orchestra was, in fact, essentially an extension of Savatage. "Christmas Eve" hit the airwaves, and the phone lines lit up nationwide. Largely on the strength of that song, Christmas Eve and Other Stories has since sold nearly 3 million copies and launched the TSO empire. Since 1996, TSO has released four more albums – The Christmas Attic (1998), Beethoven's Last Night (2000), The Lost Christmas Eve (2004), and Night Castle (2009) – all of which feature Middleton on bass. Together, they have sold nearly 4 million copies. Middleton has also performed with TSO's annual holiday tour since its inception. In 2008 alone, the two Trans-Siberian Orchestra touring companies combined played nearly 150 shows for over 1 million people. Savatage started Trans Siberian Orchestra because of some issues and difficulties. Solo project In early 2008, Middleton began to try his hand at making music on his own. He soon discovered that songwriting "was like opening up another side of my mind that I never knew existed." He took several raw tracks to singer and long time friend John Haikara who added lyrics, vocals and lead guitar. The tracks were then mixed by Jim Morris at Tampa,Fl famed Morrisound Studios. Drums were added by Mike Dillon veteran Tampa Bay rocker. His first two solo singles, "Tennessee" and "Broken Wings," were released in late 2008. Discography Savatage albums Fight for the Rock (1986) Hall of the Mountain King (1987) Gutter Ballet (1989) Streets: A Rock Opera (1991) Edge of Thorns (1993) Handful of Rain (1994) (credited, but does not play) Dead Winter Dead (1995) The Wake of Magellan (1997) Poets and Madmen (2001) Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas Eve and Other Stories (1996) The Christmas Attic (1998) Beethoven's Last Night (2000) The Lost Christmas Eve (2004) Night Castle (2009) Letters From the Labyrinth (2015) References 1963 births American rock bass guitarists American male bass guitarists Living people Savatage members Writers from St. Petersburg, Florida Trans-Siberian Orchestra members Musicians from St. Petersburg, Florida Guitarists from Florida American male guitarists 20th-century American guitarists