Pick a rock-n-roll keyboarder

Inspired by the geetar poll, but I'm not silly enough to throw around words like "greatest". Pick one, or give me your Others. Obviously, I'm defining "rock-n-roll" pretty friggin' loosely.

Apologies in advance for including Billy Joel.

Steve Winwood

PS: Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Leon Russell, Jeff "Motorman" Connolly (farfisa heaven)... A lot more great keyboardists than I tend to think of. I used to hate the sound of piano in rock, but it has really grown on me.

not that the others you mentioned aren't great, he was the first one that came to mind. ;-)

always loved hsi sound, but might've added Craig Doerge to that LA studio musician country rock eagles like sound.

Ray Manzarek should be in the poll too IMO.

Keith Emerson

He was one of the ones I meant to put on the poll, but he slipped my mind in the brief time it took to put it together.

Now somebody say Gary Brooker so I can slap my head again.

.....both piano legends from Louisiana!! :)

on edit...if I could vote twice...there'd be a vote fot THE KILLER up there too!!!!! :evilgrin:

nm

:yourock:

No one else comes close.

But if you like Fats then you have to say James Booker is the greatest piano player in rock history. When Booker was a teen he would lay down Fats' keyboard tracks while Fats was out of town on tour. Fats would roll into New Orleans and record the vocals, and voila, a Fats Domino keyboard classic would be born.

Booker was an eccentric cat. Like many of his peers, he battled addiction his whole career. He also fought schizophrenia for most of his adult life. Booker was known to harangue his audiences if they did not appreciate his music appropriately and to go on and on about the CIA during his shows.

Nevertheless, when he sat down at the piano it was like Ray Charles and Chopin sat down together and started playing the same piano. Booker would go from a piano concerto to a jazz standard to swamp boogie in the same song. His combination of classic sensibility and raw pure funk have never been matched by any piano player ever.

Booker has a very famous pupil. Being a child prodigy himself, Booker took an instant liking to the young son of the local DA in New Orleans, Harry Connick, Sr. When the DA offered Booker time out of prison early if he would tutor the DA's son, Booker jumped at the chance. If you ask Harry Connick, Jr. who the greatest piano player in history is, he will answer resoundingly with James Booker. Harry says he has tried for years to play some Booker tunes and he simply can not do it. Booker's tunes are too complex even for Harry to play after years of practice.

Booker died a lonely man in New Orleans. In a city known for sending its great musicians to their final resting place with great fanfare, Booker had only five people attend his funeral.

Even today there are very very few people who know the genius of James Booker. If you like rock n' roll piano, do yourself a favor and find some of Booker's recordings. You will not be disappointed.

Thanks! I will check him out.

Billy Preston!

Even though I love Jerry Lee Lewis' singing (and fuck you attitude), I find his piano playing too busy and ornate. I have to agree with Ian Stewart-"he sounds like bleeding Liberace!"

posted just to get the reaction you're currently feeling at seeing this!

against an intelligent, caring woman who did a lot of good in the world.

I think all DUers appreciate Linda Mac's good works. But, c'mon, Mother Teresa probably wasn't known for her keyboard skills either.

You'll have to wait on Finnfan to get around to posting that one. :)

they had to spend hours in the studio to get him on-key. Now, will you shut up about Linda?

n/t

I always liked her solid, bluesy style.

The killer.

In addition to being a great keyboard player, he's also one of the top guitarists. Guess it pays to be a classically trained cellist.

For the Doors and X!

Little Richard was the first, he was the most pioneering of any of those keyboard players. He was an innovater, co-wrote many of his songs and kicked ass.

If you ain't gonna mention Billy, then this poll is meaningless.

Billy simply wipes the floor with just about everyone else.

Serious keyboard and synth, late 60's early 70's before all the keyboard bells and whistles.

Another..Ian Paice from Deep Purple..rockin' that keyboard!!!


**edite - should have read the thread before posting..oh well

But Ian Paice is/was Purple's Drummer. Jon Lord is/was the keyboardist.

He invented using the synth for rock.

He dragged a half-ton Moog modular around the planet even though Moog himself said he was crazy to do it.

Other than Professor Longhair, Leon is my favorite keyboardist.

Leon tends to get forgotten these days, but he has dozens of great songs and a loose funky playing style that matches his growly Georgia voice and curious lyrics. I've been trying to catch him on tour for years.

:loveya:

Delta Lady is one of my all time faves!

What, you've never heard of him? Shame on you!

(He is aka....Commander Cody)

on edit: typoes. My typist has since met with an unfortunate accident.

Garth Hudson/Richard Manual of the Band

and the second for you art rockers out there
Rick Wakeman

His Hammond organ, along with his French horn and other miscellaneous instruments, gave The Band that unique, textured sound.

And Richard Manuel, I believe, was responsible for the keyboards on "Rag, Mama, Rag," and some of the tracks (released posthumously) on Jericho like "Too Soon Gone" and/or "Country Boy."

Why don't you EVER hear performances by real musicians like these guys on the radio anymore? Makes me sad to think music has shrivelled up and died.

all his amazing farfiza work with Traffic and then as a solo artist. Arc of a Diver is beautiful work.

:thumbsup:

SW! x(

Glad you like him too! :D

:-( Maybe next time.

Great singer songwriter.

Cheers
Drifter

Second runner-up: Roger Smith.

Cat

He is awesome, though.

I thought about sticking Floyd Domino on here, but he's more country than rock. :-)

and proved his rock n roll chops there. The man could do anything. We lost him too soon. :-(

Glenn Morrow. He was the keyboardist for Chris De Burgh's stage band. He was also in the Canadian band Chester back in the '70's. He died of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma a while back.

He was a "tall, genial Canadian" as described in Chris De Burgh's biography. He was also a terrific keyboardist.

Nods to Ray Manzarek and Dr. Teeth. (heh-heh)

:)