Top 10 Keyboard Players in Rock
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- It's time for the keyboard players to get a little love! Join www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Keyboard Players in Rock! Subscribe►► / subscription_c. . Facebook►► / watchmojo . Twitter►► / watchmojo Instagram►► / watchmojo Suggestion Tool►►www.WatchMojo.com/suggest Channel Page►► / watchmojo
For this list, we're ranking the most popular and influential rock musicians who utilize the keyboard as their chosen instrument.
Special thanks to our users Jack Morris, Lars Damen, Antonio Lorusso, Lucam18, Mark Revie and King Paul the Critic for submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at www.WatchMojo.com/suggest
Check out the voting page here,
watchmojo.com/suggest/Keyboard...
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1970's Progressive Rock - the era of keyboard gods.
The era started in the 60's with The Animals, The Zombies, Deep Purple, The Doors, The Who, just to name a few...
The list should include Carrie lovegren and grape japria
Greg jeffreya
Keith emerson best ever!
@@dream-nw7sg Also throw Rick Wakeman on the pile. Most of these guys actually knew Bob Moog and worked with him to make synths more player friendly (the early ones looked like an old telephone switchboard, the patches were done with dozens of 1/4” ‘guitar’ cords).
When I met Mark Mothersbaugh at his personal studio, he showed me one of the originals, refurbished by Moog himself.
RIP Jon Lord and Keith Emerson
And Richard Wright
And Ray Manzarek
1) Lord
2) Emerson
3) Allman
4) Wakeman
5) Wright
Roky Erickson rocks Nice add with Gregg Allman!
Keith Emerson still hasn’t sank in
Considering that Emerson, Wakeman, and Banks are all on the list, I can live with it. I won't quibble about their order or placement.
I feel the same way.. Rudess that low on the list was my only complaint, and then I saw everyone after him and said, "yeah, without those guys, there is no Jordan Rudess". great list.
I'm with you. If any of those guys hadn't been on the list, it would have been a tragic list of ignorance. Instead ~ good list.
And Ray, Rays my hero! and ofcourse Emerson my demon cause few can play like that. First time MOJO had it rigth.
I would have had Wakeman as #2...also no even honorable mention for Edgar Winter.he played an ARP 2600 strapped to his shoulder!!
Yeah, Edgar Winter not being at least an honorable mention is my only complaint. Placement is not a problem for me, especially once you start getting in the Top 5. I thinks Emerson deserves top spot overall because of the diversity and creativity he brought but a case could be made for others. I might have given Paul Schaffer an honorable mention also. Dennis De Young was an excellent keyboardist but being with Styx stifled creative output. Kerry Livgren of Kansas deserved honorable mention.
Have seen Rick Wakeman many times. By himself and as part of Yes. The man is phenomenal.
Definitly the magician of the keyboards. THE BEST
You`re so right, i have seen him many times too, last time Royal Festival Hall 14th may 2019, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth..Brilliant.
He’s 70 and he can still play the “Roundabout” solo like he did when he was in his 20’s.
@@slobodansanader6005 not when admits Keith Emerson was way ahead of him
My friend told me that the Keyboarder for yes lived across his house before moving. I didn’t know he was that much as an influence
* talks about Richard Wright *
* plays David Gilmour's solos instead *
BenP tv instead of him taking about Wright. They should have just played the entirety of Any Colour you Like in the middle of the video
Yeah, I couldn’t help but notice that as well. smh
Why not play great gig in the sky??
There barely was a footage of Rick in this show. Cameramen's mistake, but thanks to WM, they put together all close-ups of Mr. Wright.
I think this was the only time I was a little mad to see David Gilmour play
i think Rick Davies, of Supertramp, belongs somewhere on the list.. his piano solos on School, and Child of Vision, are incredible... and, he did plenty of other keyboarding work that helped create the Supertramp sound...
Richard Wright brought Pink Floyd to another dimension. Everyone please go listen to Any Colour you Like from Dark Side of the Moon
I'll do what I fucking want.
And welcome to the machine also
Welcome to the machine, Echoes, Shine on, Us and them, etc.
Don’t forget Great Gig in the Sky
no
Rick Wright will always be number 1 in my heart
Beth Griffin agreed
Yeah!
Me too
Nicolas Perdigao I have, Rick is just my favourite. What I think about Rick Wright doesn’t undermine the talents of Lord and Emerson. ELP and Deep Purple are great bands
Agree
Dennis De Young, Gregg Allman, Jonathan Cain, Thomas Dolby, Greg Rolie, Steve Porcaro, John Lawry, David Bryan, Benmont Tench, Jan Hammer. I think we need a top 20.
Gregg Rolie yeah. Carlos Santana. Abraxas. Santana 1er L.P. en ambos discos Gregg Rolie se luce.
Neal Doughty of REO Speedwagon.
Great list! Rick Wakeman, Jon Lord, and Ray Manzarek were fabulous but Keith Emerson was a bonified keyboard genius.
Bonified???? Bona fide, you idiot.
Bonified is what I did to my wife last night.
Emerson, Wakeman & Banks are the only list you need.
Jobson
Greenfield
Rick Wakeman called Jon Lord " The Lord of the Hammond" That's all you need to know. Jon was a super Classical Pianist also. He was simply remarkable.
NO ONE can approach Rick and Jon
@@aiasheracleidis5616 Keith Emerson was outstanding also. Those three. Lord, Wakeman, Emerson. Lord is closest to my heart. I haven't listened to Wakemans Journey to the Center of the Earth in years. I have time today so I am going to relearn some of Rick's Solo Works. Thanks for the reply.
Keith Emerson also praised him with many quotes. Jon Lord trademarked his sound! How good is that?
@@Julius_Paul Yes Lord was the first Keyboardist to pur a Hammond through Marshall's. When Jon hit one Key you knew it was Jon Lord. Thanks for the reply!
I agree to all 😃
Keith Emerson hands down, the best ...
It will always be Jon, Lord of the Hammond for me. A true gent and a beast behind those keys. RIP Jon
Jon Lord deserves a special list of his own. Not just for Purple.
Watchmojo logic: talk about wright, but show pics of the others
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed that
Watchmojo is one of the dumbest fucking channels I've ever seen.
It really doesn't take a lot of brain power to watch them though, so that's something
I'll fucking unsubscribe if I don't see Keith Emerson
Same
1st place!!!
+Crimson Koba
Seems you are still going to be here!
One of your best lists lately. Good job WatchMojo
+Crimson KobaDitto this. I'm also surprised to not see Tommy Mars (scat singing in unison with playing)and Eddie Jobson, both with various Frank Zappa bands, although Jobson also played with Jefferson Starship and Jethro Tull.
I saw ELP twice and I was floored by the keyboard work of Keith Emerson. The OLD guard like him, Wakeman, Banks and Jon Lord played in the ANALOG era. Today's keyboard players almost ALL sound alike due to the digital synthesizers. They wouldn't know what to do without triggers. Keith had incredible skills. I totally agree with his #1 rank.
As somebody who has to work with digital synthesizers, I am truly disgusted (at digital synthesizers). I'd much rather spend 30 hours messing around with a Moog model 1Ca to get a sound _just_ right than work with pipelined digital synthesizers. It's all cold and nobody can ever get it right to where it feels good to program. Plus, people just program arpeggios instead of actually playing them. It's sad. I want to be able to have complete control (and I don't mean this in a way that makes me have a control-complex) of the pipeline, and I like the idea of using audio lines as modulators for any of the voltage-controlled modules. It's just so cool compared to digital, where you could achieve the same thing but nobody ever does so in a way that's truly satisfying and modular. I might as well just make my own modular synthesizer at this point.
On the other hand, we also have Hammond organs with Leslie speakers. Name a more iconic duo. I'll wait. (I absolutely LOVE those organs with those rotating speakers).
Saw ELP 10 times including their first USA tour in 1971. ELP on stage changed the whole way I envisioned rock music. There was no one like him and no one will ever be like him again. Amazing time. Saw Hendrix in concert the previous year. Each started a revolution with the instrument that they played. I have always heard that Keith was the first to tour using a Moog.
I got nervous that Keith Emerson wasn't showing up. FUCK yeah he was number 1
He's always been no. 1 in my book.
Jon Lord, Rick Wakeman, Ray Manzarek, and others are frigging good. But Emerson was the best.
oh my god i felt the same until i saw him as 1st on the list. love emerson!!
I have been a classical organist all my life, so I tend to look at rock keyboardists as much from a technical point of view as style or composing skill. Having said that, I can tell you that Keith Emerson was so far ahead of every other rock keyboardist, Emerson could very well still be the greatest of all time in the year 2100. Incredibly lyrical solos spanning rock, jazz, classical and blues styles; a total mastery of piano, synth and Hammond; a genius at transcribing classical works to his own versions, etc. His music is even studied in university music degree programs. Emerson was basically the Franz Liszt of rock.
for me, the perfect balance between technique and taste is TONY BANKS. He did so many memorable riffs and solos, especially the 70`s Genesis era...
I was very nervous that Keith Emerson might not get it, but he had to. Also you could've included way cooler parts from ELP to feature, but I'm glad that he won.
or the parts where he stabs and rides his hammonds
lucky man solo, piano improvisations, Karn evil 9, Tarkus, cal jam flying piano, all could have been shown. But he's definitely #1.
Rondo, that's the song to show
Or when he played complex classical pieces BACKWARDS from the other side of the keyboard! Unbelievable.
JPJ making top10 as both a bassist and keyboard player is all right with me. A truly gifted musician he was and continues to be.
cpad007 he his a bad keyboardist
@@pierrenhy3835 his riffs tho
@@pierrenhy3835 listening "Kashmir"
David Paich & Steve Porcaro from Toto were the first famous keyboard duo. They have a chemistry too: Paich plays piano while Porcaro adds layers of unique synth sounds to complement Paich’s sound. They’re also some of the most recorded musicians in history too. Why did you leave out both of them?
#4 - Ray Manzarek
#3 - Jon Lord
#2 - Keith Emerson
The #1 spot in any situation should always go to the guy who wears the most capes.
Hahaha subtle way of saying Wakeman?
or wizard hat?
And John Evans
Actually Emerson's right hand #1 , Emerson's left hand #2
If you strut around in a full length goddam gold lamê cape, you better be #1!
Rick Wright should have been higher, its obvious that you must be ranking based on individual songs. Almost every artist got 2 songs on the list but you just showed footage of comfortably numb, which doesn't show case his talent. You want to hear Richard Wright? Listen the whole "wish you were here" album, "dark side of the moon", "animals", "echoes" (song), "piper at the gates of dawn", but not fucking comfortably numb!
Wait syd baret didn't do animals?
Meh liefs eh lei
Carter Montgomery No, he left after a "saucer full of secrets" which was their 2nd album and released in 1970(?)(im open to corrections), but "animals" was their 7th or 8th and was released in 1977, long after syd lost his mental stability
+Barry McAllister it was released in 1968 I think
Rick Wright could make a synthesizer sing like a living thing. I am in awe of Keith Emerson's virtuosity, but there's no question that Wright could wring emotions out of keyboard like nobody else, and "Wish You Were Here" was a great example of that.
I agree Pink Floyd brother!!!
I knew Keith. I really did. One thing I alway heard him say was... "I just want to play". He was able to jam his entire life. I love and miss you buddy.
For me it's Emerson and Wakeman in a toss up for #1...tough call!
how about Emerson, Wakeman, Rudess for first place?
Agreed!
@@Madaxxeman I'd go along with that, but Banks ...His stuff is so damned good, I'd add him into that elite.
Consider take a peblle and the toccata. Thats though stuff, really though stuff, really really though stuff to play. Id rather study some Chopin Etudes.
Emerson Wakeman Rudess Jobson Moraz Banks , no particular order
Rick Wakeman really does deserve the number one spot. In addition to working with Yes, his early recordings like The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Journey to the Centre of the Earth and The Myths & Legends of King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table are legendary, as with Criminal Record and White Rock. To date, he has recorded and released over 100 albums.
Rick thought Emerson was actually better than her was .
No love for Ken Hensley of Uriah Heep? Dayum!
Steve Walsh of Kansas is defo top 5 for me!
Alongside Kerry Livgren
Hensley was amazing, so was Alan Lanier from BOC. One guy who isn't on this list, but absolutely should be is Toney Carey.
It's so unbelievable that they would leave out truly one of the greatest "ALL TIME" keyboardist, along with Billie Paine of Little Feat.....bogus list for sure!!
How about, Max Middleton with J . Beck and John Evans with Tull ,Just a thought🌞
@@timblake5036 I am not familiar with Middleton, but Beck and Evans were sure up there too. As a fan of anything prog (rock or metal), Jethro Tull is one of my faves.
Keith Emerson is my absolute favorite of all time. He's my idol. RIP.
Personally for #1 keyboardist, 4 words sum it up for me: BANKS.
TONY FUCKING BANKS! :-)
And it has ZERO to do with chops or speed. Banks is the ultimate songwriter, composer, arranger, instrumentalist and beyond. His choice of sounds, notes, atmospherics, his arrangement skills, CHORDS, ability to create the BEST melodies ever is UNMATCHED by anyone imo. There are countless examples. 2 off the top of head are Supper's Ready and In The Cage Medley from Three Sides Live.
He always was the HEART of Genesis
Preach, my man, PREACH! Love Tony Banks!
Agreed with every word
Matthew Bellamy people, man's got sick skills.
+Robertzuh Thank you!
Tony Banks is only at number 5? I'm sorry, but have you guys listened to the old stuff from Genesis? The Knife? The Colony Of Slippermen? Firth Of Fifth? Carpet Crawlers? He deserves to be at least in the top three (in my opinion)
Not to mention the instrumental parts on Return of the Giant Hogweed, Fountain of Salmacis, and the ever epic "Supper's Ready."
Agee.
TONY BANKS IS A LEGEND!
I agree with you. 1-Keith Emerson, 2-Rick Wakeman, 3-Tony Banks
Agree Solis on 1, 2, and 3 your rankings.
Finally Keith Emerson recognized as #1 . He should be in the hall of fame.
The rock and roll Hall of Fame doesn't deserve Keith
I'm glad you placed Keith Emerson at the top.
Came here just to see if Emerson was the first.
RIP
me too - love the guy - RIP
Couldn't leave out Geddy Lee. Good job on featuring the Subdivisions video as that's what got me into Rush. Thank you for that!!
Thank God and God Bless you Keith Emerson! You were and are the best keyboardist of all time, as well as being a master showman when you performed, I’m so glad I was able to see you with ELP in 1978 RIP....
I'd also include Thijs van Leer from Focus.
Hocus Pocus.
Agree,! Thijs van Leer great keyboardist, flautist and could have bet on vocalizations, he had a great vocal range and good voice timbre ...
Weird, I was just thinking about him whilst reading the comments...
Absolutely. Incredibly talented keyboardist, flautist & vocalist.
Keith Emerson, as all pianists, was an admirer of Beethoven and Bach. He was however hugely influenced by Ginastera and Copeland. He played their work on his albums and one can hear their influence in his own compositions.
A serious oversight in this list: Don Airey
I got to see him live in Deep Purple's Long Goodbye Tour. He was a showoff, no doubt about it. I think WatchMojo only allows one player per band, and they decided to go with Jon Lord instead. But I agree, the guy is talented.
@@ConvictedFelon2024 same!
In the early days of rock, the piano your heard on just about every vinyl recording by every major group for years was legendary Leon Russell. Banished to obscurity by a new age of rock, he was all but forgotten, until Elton John began a search to find Leon and perform together with him to restore the old piano man's dignity and self-esteem. What a great gesture, what a moving and emotional performance it was to be celebrated and remebered for your past greatness and inspiration by a new age of musicians who grew up listening to you play. RIP Mr. Russell and God Bless You.
The fact that Ray Manzarek played the organ/piano and the bass makes him the real #1
Luis Ruiz I saw him live playing for 21st Century Doors. They performed Love her Madly and Ray played, Organ, Piano and Harpsichord. awesome. At the end of the song Ray told us "I am not doing this again". I feel privileged.
Emerson rightly so at number 1 … he was the maestro of every style out there and influenced millions worldwide he was not just a great player he was an icon
No.1 Keith Emerson No.2 Jordan Rudess No.3 Rick Wakeman. That only about rock players. I dont mention a lot of great jazz-blues Hammond organists, who are in their own league
Green onionstutorial
My first three favourites are: No.1 Keith Emerson No.2 Marian Varga No.3 Rick Wakeman.
Rudess better than Wakeman...where??? He only makes noises! hahaha
Are you kidding Rudess can't touch the top 7 guys. Sorry
Matthew Russell I can't say because I don't know Rudess.
Serious omission on this list:
Don Airey (Deep Purple, Gary Moore, Whitesnake, Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Colosseum II, etc.)
Do you guys have something against Toto? David Paich & Steve Porcaro should be #3, after Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman.
Legends
One of my favorites is Steven Walsh from Kansas. That guy knows how to solo!
No lie. I was going to make that statement but you beat me to it. While he was in Streets too! Not even an honorable mention! WTF?
Walsh playing "The Spider" is very similar to "Eruption" off of Tarkus from ELP. Walsh definitely should have made this list. Some others such as Patrick Moraz, Eddie Jobson should have also been included.
In Kansas, Kerry Livgren also played keyboards well.
Mannn I forgot about him. His soloing in Miracles Out of Nowhere are eargasmic and out of this world
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Before watching- Keith Emerson better be first place
Yes thank god
Emerson could play things that no one else could ever play
Very good list indeed ! In my list Rick Wakeman is THE number ONE. Also, it includes Tony Kaye (YES) and Geoff Downes (YES, Buggles, Asia), and of course, master VANGELIS : many great albums, some with Jon Anderson, and soundtracks including Blade Runner.
Jon Lord, much diverse and amazing Hammond player, in my opinion the best one; together with Ritchie Blackmore and Ian Paice he created the heavy metal - free jazz style and the typical deep purple sound of that time
Jon's hammond sounds like a guitar and I love it
@@DannyBoi2112 he put his hammond organ in a Marshall amp to get this rawer sound first on the In Rock LP
@@DannyBoi2112 flight by night is such a good one. First four Rush LPs are incredible
@@laurenzgraffilpenstein8117 hell yeah
I’m happy to see Keith Emerson at number one
Couldn't be anywhere else.
almost 70~80's progressive rock bands had damn good keyboardists. I love the era for beautiful keyboard approaches.
special mention brian eno, show a picture of bryan ferry playing the keyboard good job watchmojo
THATS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SAYYY
@@adrenalinepsalm6386 Me Too!
if I didn't find this comment I was going to write it myself...
re watch he definately said Brian Ferry
Emerson, hands down. Rip Keith!
Improved list:
#10: Martin Gore (Depeche Mode)
#9: Jonathan Cain (Journey)
#8: Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater)
#7: Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey)
#6: Jon Lord (Deep Purple)
#5: Richard Wright (Pink Floyd)
#4: David Paich & Steve Porcaro (Toto)
#3: Ray Manzarek (The Doors)
#2: Rick Wakeman (Yes)
#1: Keith Emerson (Emerson Lake & Palmer)
In what world Jon Lord can be below Richard Wright?
@@dac2007 Wright is pretty good. Give him a chance.
@@davidnissim9203 he is but Jon Lord was justo another level with keyboards
Martin Gore??? You mean Alan Wilder who can actually play brilliantly
No Tony Banks = list fail.
R.I.P John Lord :'''v
Simple Keith Emerson is #1 and ELP belongs in the HOF
agree *
You're serious? Geddy Lee ON this list, but Winwood only an honorable mention?
yes.
Ikr? Geddy Lee SUCKS
John the Multiinstrumentalist hes the best rock bassist of all time. Also plays keyboard, and sings. You suck!
Headless Guy my exact thoughts, can’t argue with the list music is what you like, but Winwood not in the list I don’t think so! Where’s Chuck Leavell. Lee in font of Tony Banks what a joke!
John the Multiinstrumentalist get outta here don't talk crap on my favorite keyboardist
4:32 IT'S YY ZED!!!!
+patrick crosley Well considering it is an instrumental song and they don't say "YYZ" in the song then really it is up to how the speaker normally pronounces that letter, don't you think?
WatchMojo.com WatchMojo must not watch Archer...
No rush is Canadian not American so it's zed
Bud go back to eating McDonalds and stop trying to listen to rush because what you just said made everybody that read it dumber
+WatchMojo.com all 3 members say it zed. It's okay, I like zee too
Jon Lord and Ken Hensley are eternal legends-
Tony Banks is the most admired keyboard player by the best pianoplayers. He inspired many of them to play the most beautiful Genesis songs on piano. Not only for themselves, but also for there listeners. The meaning of those professionals tells me more then this list.
What about Keyboard Players in Metal? Like Janne Wirman, Tuomas Holopainen, Oliver Palotai, Jens Johansson and Alex Staropoli
+champFichtnerBourne Even though I have heard of them still no.
Good picks, but seriously... how did they forget Michael Pinder of the Moody Blues and his work with the melotron???
Watch Mojo is pretty vanilla and lame.
Richard Wright deserves more credit than being in this list. He’s a true legend whom died too soon but still as one of the greatest keyboardists of rock in history.
So glad you got it right. I know I’m influenced by having seen some of these performers in concert, including Pink Floyd. But I think when it comes to keyboards Keith Emerson demonstrated more creativity, originality, and musical talent than any other. To this day I am still moved by his work, and amazed by his abilities.
It is very difficult to pick ten of the greatest from a list of hundreds of greats. But I have to agree that Keith Emerson was one of, if not "the" greatest rock keyboardist of all time. (so far).
RIP Keith Emerson and Ray Manzarek
Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman definitely top two
You can always rotate them in any order and include Jon Lord. In fact, the top 4 in this video is the Mt Rushmore of Rock Keyboardists, so the order is irrelevant.
Keith Emerson and Tony Banks
Wow, now I listen again to John Lord, he was phenomenal. I never gave much thought to keyboard players & their parts in a bands success.
For Richard Wright, they don't even add the songs that he wrote, such as Us and Them.
Rick Wakeman is always will be my N°1
Also, honorable mentions need to be given to Manfred Mann, David Paich and Steve Porcaro (Toto) , Mark Hart (Crowded House), Alan Clark (Dire Straits), Mark Kelly (Marillion), Rob Hyman (The Hooters), Alan Price (The Animals) , and maybe even Alan Parsons and Sting, though it's not their primary instrument. Also, Gilian Gilbert needed to be mentioned alongside Sumner, as she did most of the keyboard playing in the New Order 80s era (Unless you only count Joy Division because New Order isn't "Rock" enough, which I would disagree with) .
Finally, Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies from Supertramp are obviously missing, unless you consider them more as pianists than Keyboardists.
Rick Wakeman and Jon Lord were set to do an album project together but sadly Jon passed away due to cancer before that could happen.
I am missing Don Airey how played together with Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Gary Moore, Brian May, Jethro Tull, Whitesnake, Divlje Jagode, Michael Schenker Group, Rainbow and Strawbs and others
Matt Bellamy and Freddie Mercury are two of my favorites. I think their keyboard skills are incredibly underrated especially. They could easily fit in a rock piano list too so I can understand why they're not on this specific list.
Ah Matt Bellamy good call
I honestly forgot how good Matt Bellamy is with keyboards
Everybody's got an opinion. Enjoyed the list but felt two distinct lists need to be created: 1) Progressive rock, and 2) Classic rock.
Which one would Wright fall under since Pink Floyd is both classic and somewhat progressive rock
@@andrewpappas9311 I would say they're closer to Prog. What typical classic rock band would do an album like Animals?
Matthew Donko Yeah, _Animals_ is a masterpiece
@@thatmatt41 I thought classic rock was based more on the era? like 60s to early 80s are considered classic rock
Rick Wright would be in both categories
@@raspberrycrowns9494 It's hard to know whether Prog should be a subgenre of Classic Rock or something entirely different. What makes me think it should be categorized differently is because Prog stylistically is quite different from a lot of classic rock records, and has different influences.
Where is David Paich from Toto? Hello?!?!?
For real. I know ratings can be subjective but this is an obvious oversight.
David Paich should be included in top 10 keyboardist of all time!
it should be because he's a hall of famer at the same time.
Geddy Lee is a better keyboard player than Jordan Rudess?? wow
Jordan Rudess may be better than Geddy Lee, but they do say in the intro that they ranked the most popular and influential keyboard players. So I guess it is logical to put Lee above Rudess on this list.
MusicalBox not really. Geddy Lee might be a more popular and influential person, in general, yes. But that's in 50% due to his bass playing, 40% to his vocals and maybe 10% due to his keyboard playing. Putting him above Rudess as a keyboard player would be like putting Paul McCartney over John Petrucci in a similar ranking made for guitarists.
+Maciej Kowalski I my book, Lee was Rush's keyboard player, bass player and the lead signer on an equal level. I understand your point, but take the keyboard solo in Tom Sawyer and any Jordan Rudess solo he did in a Dream Theater song. Then ask a thousand rock music lovers that are, say, over 30 years old, which one they recognize, love, and have memories associated with it, I bet about 90% will choose Tom Sawyer.
anybody better then rudess???????????
If they put Geddy Lee as a keyboard player than they should put Freddie Mercury on the 1st spot on this list. He was great and he played the piano.
You got #1 right Keith Emerson...however the best current Keyboardist hands down (and not my favorite) is Jordan Ruddess .. the guy is better with his feet than most with their hands .
When I was a Senior in High School in 1970, I heard Lucky Man by Emerson, Lake and Palmer. I listened to a lot of great music in the 60’s - 70’s but when I heard Emerson play the synthesizer for the first time, I literally had the hair on the back of my my neck stand up. There have been many excellent keyboard artists like Rick Wakeman, Ray Manzarek, Jon Lord, Billy Preston and others but, in my opinion, nobody is better than Keith Emerson.
Jon Lord☺
☺
+Gabriel Rizzo The late, great Jon Lord.
+Arch Stanley Jon is my Number One composer of all time. The greatest.
+Gareth Webb He was a legend of a musician, and a legend of a man my friend.
+Wahab Jambu Fuck Yeahh The most awesome player ever, There's noone in the world who can play the way he did
Thijs van Leer of Focus deserves at least an Honorable mention
I totally agree! I did mention Thijs in two comments here too!! Thijs is a legend!
And Rick Van der linden!
Totally agree
At last a list with the top 5 absolutely perfect! What else needs to said!!
Perfect. Keith was the best. I'd say 1. Emerson 2. Wakeman 3. Banks 4. Rudess...
Most of the top Keyboard players mentioned here admit to Jon Lord from Deep Purple as being one of their main keyboard influences!
+Robert Tysall While I would put him on the top spot, it's hard to argue that this list is really wrong.
True.
Dennis Deyoung - Styx
Tony banks , by far the best creative composer and keyboard sound . A man , an artist of great taste.
Finally someone saying it 👏
His writing and playing of the song Abacab alone says it all!!
@@joanndombrow4245
“Abacab” sounds to me like a ‘80s video game wrestling theme. Whenever that song comes up on the radio, it’s what pops into my head, 8-bit video game wrestling.
My number one is Rick Wakeman but I'm suprised Isao Tomita isn't in there. Just listen to him play Debussy's snowflakes are dancing. It's stunning. A true pioneer of the synthesiser.
Yes, definitely to Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman, but how do you leave Tom Scholz, the guy from Boston off this list? Have you heard "Smokin'"?
Or for that matter, “Foreplay, Longtime”
@TheRacerrick As much as I love Geddy, all of his lines involve single note or simple chords.
TheRacerrick Fair point but I would be curious to see to what one of the best bass players in the world would have done if he really concentrated on the keys more. Massively talented guy
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hi, you missed Freddie Mercury ;)
+Nadir Gumerzindo he wasn't known for keyboards. He was a piano guy
I think you should've included some newer names too. Like Tuomas from Nightwish. His epic rock symphonies rock your socks!!!
+toncraye That would be (symphonic) metal, not really rock.
As for myself, I wonder why RObbie Valentine didn't get a shoutout.
At 10 mins 32 s:Clip of "Roxy Music " performing "Do the Strand" . Clip shows "Brian Ferry" playing keyboards. Narrator and clip mentions & shows "Brian Eno"...who was in RM but not in this clip. If Im correct. PS Walked past Rick Wakeman in Durham City (UK) a few years ago.
Best keyboardist on this list hands down is Jordan Rudess. He is a beast.
for sure!!!!!
No Mike Pinder? Of the Moody Blues?
He wasn't as flashy as some on this list but their keyboard work was always amazing, and as the keyboardist for The Moody Blues from their founding to '78 (though he returned twice, including to record the synth for Steppin' in the Slide Zone, a masterful synth track) he was largely responsible for some of the most memorable synth soundscapes of 70s prog rock.
He never did solos much, but he could paint an amazing, lush background with sweeping pads and atmospheric synth effects on tracks like the Nights in White Satin or Tuesday Afternoon or create a driving, compelling rhythm like on I'm Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band or Gemini Dream.
The lack of keyboard-shredding knob-torquing Kieth Emmerson-style solos may have hurt his perception as an iconic rock keyboardist but his chops are up there with the best and his contributions to the prog rock sound are significant and seminal.
Very influential guy. Played and partially wrote Strawberry Fields for Beatles. Worked at a Melatron Synthesizer factory and could literally fix machine at any time. Responsible for breakthrough in synyhesizer music.
@@05chmps Mike Pinder had nothing to do with the writing or playing of Strawberry Fields. Yes he was an acquaintance of John Lennon's and he may have brought the mellotron to his notice, but he in no way contributed to Strawberry Fields. The Moody Blues used the instrument in an orchestral way, much like a synth pad, The Beatles used it on Strawberry Fields to recreate the sound of a flute, a solo instrument. Cheers.
He can't compare to Rick Wright, for instance, who is of the same type, the atmosphere oriented
no david paich.. come on
where the hell is Steve Porcaro ?
I agree with many that Geddy as a keyboard "player" doesn´t belong on this list, but his exquisite implementation of synths in their arrangements through time, especially in the Signals-Hold Your Fire era, is spellbinding. Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows are synth prog-pop/rock masterpieces.
How could Billy Powell NOT EVEN get an honorable mention???🤔
ABSOLUTELY ABSURD!!!😵😨
Good list,finally watchmojo has done something good.
My top list:
1) Keith Emerson
2) Rick Wakeman
3) Tony Banks
4) Rick Wright
5) Eddie Jobson
6) Jon Lord
7) Jan Hammer
8) Jurguen Fritz
9) Patrick Moraz
10) Jordan Rudess
Honorific Mention: Edgar Froese, Flavio Premoli, Eric Nolander, Clive Nolan, Andrew Fletcher, Jim Gilmour
Yeah! Jürgen Fritz of Triumvirat should be in TOP10
You got the top 3 right. But I hate to put them in any order. They are all 3 Equal in my opinion.
Patrick Moraz should have at least got a mention as well
Gábor Kerényi school of instant pain and Spartacus are my favorites. Sad that the majority of people never heard those 2 amazing songs.
Vangelis Papathanasious
Chuck Leavell. Keyboard player of Rolling Stones. His performance on Eric Clapton’s “Unplugged” was amazing. Great feeling of band and beautiful arrangement with improvisation.
Jessica!
I know Stevie Wonder technically isn't a rock musician, but he is one of the greatest keyboard players in music, in general.