Formed by Harvard graduates Thomas Lauderdale and China Forbes, Pink Martini is a 12-piece orchestra based out of Portland, Oregon. After attempting to get involved in politics and discovering the painfully dull musical ensembles that generally play at political events, Lauderdale was inspired to create a group that fused classical, jazz and various styles of music from around the world, including French pop and Latin lounge. This inspiration became a reality in 1994 and Pink Martini went on to win huge acclaim in France with its first single. Since then, the popular group has played with famous orchestras throughout the world, been included on Hollywood blockbuster soundtracks and built a large fan base from Turkey to Australia to the US.
