Keith Noel Emerson was born in 1944 in Yorkshire, England. He was known as founder and keyboardist for the trio Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. Keith described his youth as such, "I was a serious child. I would carry around Beethoven sonatas. I avoided getting beat up by bullies by showing I could play Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard songs, as well". Emerson was known to reach inside his piano or organ to strum the strings with his hands.
He battled depression most of his adult life, and took his own life with a gunshot to the head in 2016.
He was 71 at the time of his death.
2. #2 "Roundabout"
Answer: Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman was born in 1949 in London, England. He is best known as a member of the band Yes. He and his bandmates were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. He also has done session work for renowned acts such as David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Ozzy Osbourne.
In his youth he won various awards as both a pianist and clarinet player. This helped secure him entry to The Royal College of Music. There he became a masterful player of the grand piano, electronic piano, pipe and Hammond organs, and various forms of synthesizers.
As of 2021 he continues to record albums, and perform concerts.
3. #3 "Child in Time"
Answer: Jon Lord
John Douglas Lord was born in 1941 in Leicester, England. He was both an orchestral and rock composer. He pioneered the fusion of rock with classical and baroque music. Lord is most notably known as a member of Deep Purple, and had a stint with the band Whitesnake.
He studied classical piano from the age of five. At college he had plans of becoming an actor, but continued to play as a session musician to earn a living. When acting failed to become a career he became more dedicated to music. Jon died in 2012 of pancreatic cancer at 71 years old.
He was posthumously inducted into "The Rock Hall" with Deep Purple in 2016.
4. #4 "Echoes"
Answer: Richard Wright
Richard William Wright was born in 1943 in Hatch End, England. He was co-founder and keyboardist for Pink Floyd. He performed on nearly every album and tour with the band. He met Roger Waters and Nick Mason at the University of Westminster, and the concept of "Floyd" originated.
In the early years of the band Wright acted as the primary "roadie" for the band. His fellow band members compared his "quiet one" persona to that of George Harrison of The Beatles. Richard died in 2008 of lung cancer. He was 65 years old.
5. #5 "Light My Fire"
Answer: Ray Manzarek
Raymond Daniel Manzarek Jr was born in 1939 in Chicago, Illinois. He was co-founder and keyboard player for The Doors. He is, perhaps, the most well known of the rock keyboardists. While working towards a masters degree in cinematography at UCLA he met Jim Morrison. Morrison was an undergraduate student in the film department.
After their band was formed they lacked a bass guitarist for live shows. Ray came up with the idea of filling that position himself by using a Fender Rhodes keyboard bass. Thus, the distinct sound of The Doors was shaped. Ray died of liver cancer in 2013 at the age of 72.
6. #6 "Turn to Stone"
Answer: Richard Tandy
Richard Tandy was born in 1948 in Birmingham, England. He is most famously known as keyboardist in the band Electric Light Orchestra (E.L.O). He was originally bass player in the band, but became the full time keyboard player shortly after their inception.
Many in the music industry believe no band relied as heavily on the keyboard as did E.L.O. Leader of the band, Jeff Lynne, believed it to be their signature sound. In 2017 Tandy and the rest of E.L.O were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
7. #7 "Home by the Sea"
Answer: Tony Banks
Anthony George Banks was born in 1950 in East Hoathly, England. He was co-founder and keyboardist for the band Genesis. In his teen years he learned to recite classical pieces by the likes of Rachmaninoff and Ravel. This passion helped him decide to pursue music as a career. During high school he befriended Peter Gabriel, and both played in the school band.
They later met Mike Rutherford, and Genesis was formed. Banks has also been involved in writing several movie scores and solo projects. He and fellow Genesis members were inducted into "The Rock Hall" in 2010.
8. #8 "Gimme Some Lovin"
Answer: Steve Winwood
Stephen Lawrence Winwood was born in 1948 in Birmingham, England. He is typically known as a solo artist from the 1980s. However, for those with a deeper knowledge of music history he was a keyboard player in three well known bands. The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, and Blind Faith were those groups.
In fact, he was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic in 2004. Aside from his keyboard skills, Rolling Stone magazine named him on their top 100 singers of all-time list (#33).
As of 2021 he is still touring musically.
9. #9 "Come Sail Away"
Answer: Dennis DeYoung
Dennis DeYoung was born in 1947 in Chicago, Illinois. He is known as keyboardist and primary songwriter for the band Styx. He also had brief success as a solo artist. Dennis started a "garage band" at age 15 with his neighborhood friends, Chuck and John Panozzo. By adding new members through the years they eventually became the band Styx in 1972. Dennis was a self taught pianist.
His keyboarding became the signature sound for the band. His style was grandiose in nature, and that sound became known as "theatrical rock" in music circles.
As of 2021 he had just released a collaborative album with Julian Lennon, Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), and Jim Peterik (.38 Special).
10. #10 "Tom Sawyer"
Answer: Geddy Lee
Gary Lee Weinrib was born in 1953 in Toronto, Ontario. He is known as the lead singer, bassist, and keyboard player for the band Rush. His parents were both Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Canada after World War 2. He goes by the name Geddy. When his mother said his name in her thick Polish accent it sounded like "Geddy" instead of Gary. Lee is more highly regarded as a bass guitarist than as a keyboardist.
However, innovation became the cornerstone of his keyboard playing. His use of sequencers and digital samplers became the new trend for aspiring keyboardists.
The trio known as Rush were inducted into "The Rock Hall" in 2013.
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