Oliver Palotai (born 17 March 1974) is a classically trained German musician of Hungarian ancestry, husband of

Simone Simons Simone Johanna Maria Simons (born 17 January 1985) is a Dutch singer. She is best known for being the lead singer of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, which she joined at the age of seventeen, releasing eight studio albums and touring the world ...

from

Epica Epica or EPICA may refer to: * Epica (band), a Dutch symphonic metal band * ''Epica'' (Kamelot album), 2003 * ''Epica'' (Audiomachine album), 2012 * The European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) * The Epica Awards (International Adver ...

, best known as a member of the

power metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contra ...

band

Kamelot Kamelot is an American power metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed by Thomas Youngblood, in 1987. The Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album '' Siége Perilous'', and shared songwriting credit with Youngblood until his departure in A ...

and of

Doro Pesch Dorothee Pesch (born 3 June 1964), known professionally as Doro Pesch or simply Doro, is a German heavy metal singer and the former frontwoman of heavy metal band Warlock. Dubbed the "Metal Queen", Doro's contributions to music and culture mad ...

's touring band.

Career

He made his name playing keyboards and

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...

for Doro and keyboards for

Circle II Circle Circle II Circle is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by former Savatage lead vocalist Zachary Stevens and longtime friend and band manager Dan Campbell in 2001. They play varied genres of metal including tra ...

(as a touring member between 2003 and 2004) before joining Blaze Bayley's BLAZE as a replacement for founding guitarist John Slater in 2004. In 2005 he joined the

band

as a touring keyboard player, and was soon welcomed as a permanent member. Palotai left BLAZE in January 2007. He later formed his own band, Sons of Seasons. releasing albums in 2009 and 2011. He also played keyboards for the Dutch symphonic metal band

on their 2010 North American tour.

Personal life

Palotai has

diplomas A diploma is a document awarded by an educational institution (such as a college or university) testifying the recipient has graduated by successfully completing their courses of studies. Historically, it has also referred to a charter or offici ...

as both a

music teacher Music education is a field of practice in which educators are trained for careers as primary education, elementary or secondary education, secondary music teachers, school or music conservatory ensemble directors. Music education is also a res ...

and a professional musician from Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg-Augsburg. In early 2013, he and his longtime girlfriend,

, announced they were expecting their first child. On October 2, Vincent G. Palotai was born at 11:26pm. The couple married on July 6, 2013.

Bands

* Doro (2001–2009) * Uli Jon Roth (2004–present) * Circle II Circle – keyboards (2006–2007) *

Blaze Bayley Blaze Bayley (born Bayley Alexander Cooke, 29 May 1963) is an English heavy metal singer. He was the lead singer of Wolfsbane from 1984 to 1994 (and currently since 2010, following reunions in 2007 and 2009). He was also the lead singer of Ir ...

(2004–2007) – guitars *

(2010) – live keyboards *

(2005–present) * Sons of Seasons (2007–present)

References

External links

* 1974 births Living people German keyboardists German heavy metal guitarists German male guitarists Heavy metal keyboardists German people of Hungarian descent Kamelot members 21st-century guitarists 21st-century German male musicians {{Keyboardist-stub