For Me (as a classical trained Pianist and Keyboardist whose Mother was a Concert Pianist) the best are
Rick Wakeman
Keith Emerson
and
Rick Wright
But who do You think are the best?
I've been jamming on Emerson's
"Honky Tonk Train Blues"
earlier today, I love tearin that stuff up, it rules! i love playing that song. I was hoping someone would put
Jon Lord Barbara
He's My fave, I left Him off on purpose to see how many would notice
Thanks Top Five Favorite Keyboardists (no order):
1. Kevin Moore (Dream Theater)
2. Jon Lord (Deep Purple)
3. Rick Wakeman (Yes)
4. Richard Wright (Pink Floyd)
5. Ray Manzarek (The Doors)
Top Five Favorite Pianists (no order):
1. Jerry Lee Lewis
2. Elton John
3. Billy Joel
4. Paul McCartney
5. Ian Stewart
And some non-rock people:
1. Stevie Wonder
2. Professor Longhair
3. Ray Charles Jerry Lee Lewis
Rick Wright
Leon Russell
my opinion U have Jerry Lee Lewis
and Billy Joel/old Elton John
but the dude from Journey when the first started out..omg cant think of his name...was a good maybe not great pianist and good singer combo and John Cain is ok:) sorry thats all I have:) Eddie did pretty good on 1984 and his father was a classical musician Jon Lord
Keith Emerson
Ray Manzarek
Greg Allman
Derek Sherinian i like Christian "Flake" Lorenz.... I was gonna say Rick Wakeman, but since you did ...
I will go with Lowell George. Aaron Rothe of Drop Dead, Gorgeous Jason Lytle - Grandaddy
Alan Parsons - Alan Parsons Project
Piano Player
Billy Powell - Lynard Skynard I *love* good Rock piano!
In no particular order :~
Roy Bittan
Christine McVie
Elton John
I'm sure there are others, but these are the ones I really know about.
Edit :~
I forgot :
Tori Amos
Billy Preston Some of my favourites:
Nicky Hopkins
Tony Banks
Richard Manuel
Rod Argent
Billy Preston
Garth Hudson
Tori Amos
Joe Jackson
Ben Folds Depends on what you're looking for - Technique or Creativity.
Technique - Emerson and Wakeman or in a class by themselves - but if you slow-down Wakeman's live material on a reel-to-reel, you will hear a great deal of "uneveness." -- Tony Banks of Genesis is not as fast as Wakeman, but he has extraordinary timing and balance between his notes.
Hugh Banton of VDGG is the most creative, GOTHIC-like organist - he reminds me of the Tommy Iomi, breaking the rules of guitar chords with his "devil's triad" at the beginning of Black Sabbath (the song).
In all honest, the pianist from Lynrd Skynrd, was quite excellent, though I'm not a fan of the music.
Oh yes - and indeed, Rick Wright was certainly ahead of his time :-)
Ugh!! I saw others' answers and I totally forgot about Jon Lord and Jerry Lee Lewis -- Jeez, Darth -- you ask the most impossible questions!! LOL :-) Elton John
Billy Joel
Billy Preston
Gregg Allman I'd have to go with Keith Emerson of the three you chosen. He's not even human.
Wow, nobody's mentioned Chuck Leavell? Ouch!
A short list of Keyboardists I like in no particular order:
Mike Finnigan
Jon Lord
Elton John
Jan Hammer
Allan Zavod
Kerry Livgren (that's right...keyboards)
Felix Cavaliere
I'd like to add that some of these players that are out on the country circuit, you know... the no name guys doin their thing as part of the backup band behind the marquee names and layin down the tracks in Nashville studios are frickin incredible. Just one example, Eddie Kilgallon of Montgomery Gentry.
*As you well may know, the influx of unknown players migrating to Nashville from every part of the world is astounding. Many who are looking for work are living out of their car or on the street. Rick Wright (my all time favorite)
Keith Emerson
Rick Wakeman
Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater)
Billy Joel
Richard Barbieri (Porcupine Tree)
Jon Lord Here's a few that haven't been mentioned:
Eddie Jobson - UK, Frank Zappa
Chick Churchill - Ten Years After
Matthew Fisher - Procol Harum
Bob Hall - Savoy Brown, The Groundhogs, Alexis Korner, ect
Peter Robinson - Quatermass, Roxy Music, Suntreader
Vincent Crane - Arthur Brown, Atomic Rooster
Bill Payne - Little Feet
Hans Jurgen Fritz - Triumvirat
George Duke - Frank Zappa
Dave Stewart - Egg, National Health, Hatfield and the North
Patrick Moraz - Mainhorse, Yes
Dave Stone - Symphonic Slam, Rainbow
Tim Hinkley - Jody Grind, Deep Purple, Whitsnake
David Sinclair - Caravan
Robin Lumley - Brand X
Isao Tomita - Electric Samurai/solo artist
Tom Barlage - Solution
Vangelis Papathanassiou - solo artist/Aphrodites Child
Allan Zavod - Frank Zappa, Jean Luc Ponty
Dave Greenslade - Colosseum, Greenslade
Jean Michel Jarre - solo artist
Mike Ratlidge - Soft Machine
John Evans - Jethro Tull
Rick van der Linden - Ekseption
'mrbernstein' and 'time fabrics' mention of Billy Powell (Lynyrd Skynyrd) is bang on. The man is brilliant!
Also 'onederful2nite' noted Billy Joel. He was a very talented musician. Check him out in the 2 piece proto-metal band called 'Attila' (not to be confused with the Spanish prog band 'Atila'). The album was released in 1970, and features some fine B-3 playing reminiscent of John Lord, complete with Vincent Crane bashing. Great foot pedal work too!
http://www.audiophileusa.com/item.cfm?re...
I actually found this youtube video montage of Billy Joel performing 'Amplifier Fire' with Attila. Check it out. Darth, I think you may be surprised...pretty funny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTRRSOK4x...
conchobor2 - Lowell George was a guitarist (RIP). You might be thinking of Bill Payne, he was Little Feet's keyboard player, and a darned good one too! Rick Wakeman
Felix Cavaliere
Keith Emerson
Jan Hammer
Jon Lord
Alan Price How about John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, very surprised he hasn't been mentioned Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails..is that considered rock?
There is no comparison to Elton John.
Kisses my long lost friend... ;) Mr. William Joel Ben Folds. I think that Damon Albarn, Keith Emerson, Rick Wright, and Paul McCartney are the best keyboard players. Out of them all, I'd have to pick Emerson. 1. Ryuichi Sakamoto
2. Keith Emerson
3. Klaus Schulze You said "In Rock",the answer is Elton John. | 