Erich Keller was a renowned classical music artist who was born on May 12, 1945, in Vienna, Austria. He was the youngest of three children born to a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Erich showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. At the age of six, Erich began taking violin lessons from his father. He quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument and began performing in public at the age of eight. By the time he was a teenager, Erich had already won several local and regional competitions. In 1963, Erich was accepted into the Vienna Conservatory, where he studied under the renowned violinist, Franz Samohyl. He graduated with honors in 1967 and began his professional career as a soloist and chamber musician. Erich quickly gained a reputation as one of the most talented violinists of his generation. He was known for his technical precision, musical sensitivity, and passionate performances. He performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. One of the highlights of Erich's career was his performance of Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the Vienna Philharmonic in 1972. The performance was hailed as a triumph, and Erich received a standing ovation from the audience. He went on to perform the concerto with many other orchestras throughout his career. Erich was also a dedicated chamber musician and performed with some of the world's leading ensembles, including the Amadeus Quartet and the Guarneri Quartet. He was known for his ability to blend seamlessly with other musicians and for his collaborative spirit. In addition to his performing career, Erich was also a respected teacher. He taught at the Vienna Conservatory and the Salzburg Mozarteum, where he mentored many young musicians who went on to have successful careers of their own. Throughout his career, Erich received many awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. He was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art in 1985 and was made an honorary member of the Vienna Philharmonic in 1995. Erich continued to perform and teach until his death in 2005 at the age of 60. He left behind a legacy as one of the greatest violinists of his generation and a beloved teacher and mentor to many young musicians.

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