Keyboard Artists in Rock
I wanted to put together a kind of “master list” of all the players who have, in some notable way, contributed to the history of keyboard in rock. It’s obviously a big project, and I have a ways to go, but this is a solid base. I’ll be adding more players, videos, and trivia facts on a regular basis. The listings are just meant to be a quick facts about each artist, and not a comprehensive overview
I’m also trying to include players who don’t have as high a profile as the top names, but are still great players in their own right. Sometimes they’re primarily session / touring guys, and sometimes they’re players that were in bands that did not have widespread commercial success. Investigating these artists can sometimes open the door to some interesting discoveries.
In the video clips I’ve included, I’ve tried to showcase the artists playing live in concert or otherwise in their natural element. For some artists, the solo passages are brief, but usually enough to show some of their style and technique
Artist name | Born (died) | place of birth | bands played in / for | see more |
---|---|---|---|---|
Don Airey | 06/21/48 | Sunderland, England | Deep Purple, Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Electric Light Orchestra, Gary Moore, Glenn Tipton, Judas Priest, Wishbone Ash, Whitesnake, Ten, Jethro Tull, Hollywood Monsters,Divlje jagode | see more |
Gregg Allman | 12/08/47 | Nashville, TN | The Allman Brothers Band Gregg Allman Band The Allman Joys The Hour Glass Allman and Woman | see more |
Tori Amos | 6/22/63 | Newton, NC | Solo artist | see more |
Rod Argent | 06/14/45 | St Albans, Hertfordshire, England | The Zombies, Argent, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band | see more |
Tony Ashton | 03/01/46 (05/28/01) | Blackburn, Lancashire, England | The Remo Four, Ashton, Gardner and Dyke. Deep Purple, Paice, Ashton, Lord | Coming Soon |
Peter Bardens | 06/14/44 (01/22/02) |
Westminster, Central London, England | Them, Shotgun Express, Camel, Keats, Mirage | see more |
Roy Bittan | 07/02/49 | Queens, NY | Bruce Springsteen, E Street Band, Dire Straits | see more |
David Bryan | 02/07/62 | Perth Amboy, NJ | Bon Jovi | see more |
John “Rabbit” Bundrick | 11/21/48 | Houston, TX | Free,The Who,Johnny Nash,Bob Marley,Mallard | see more |
Jonathan Cain | 02/26/50 | Chicago, Il. | The Babys, Journey, Jimmy Barnes,Michael Bolton,Bad English | see more |
Tony Carey | 10/16/53 | Watsonville, CA | Blessings, Rainbow, Planet P Project, Evil Masquerade, Zed Yago, Over the Rainbow, E.B.C. ROXX, Peter Maffay | see more |
Paul Carrack | 04/21/51 | Sheffield, Yorkshire, England | Eagles, Warm Dust, Ace, Roxy Music, Squeeze, Nick Lowe, Mike + The Mechanics, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Eric Clapton | see more |
Felix Cavaliere | 11/29/43 | Pelham, NY | The Rascals, Treasure, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Steve Cropper, Felix Caviliere’s Rascals | see more |
Ray Charles | 09/23/30 (6/10/04) | Albany, GA | Solo performer | see more |
Chick Churchill | 01/02/1946 | Derbyshire,England | The Jaybirds, Ten Years After | see more |
Alan Clark | 03/05/52 | Great Lumley, County Durham England | Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Geordie | see more | Tom Coster | 08/21/41 | Detroit, Michigan | Carlos Santana, Billy Cobham, Third Eye Blind, Vital Information | see more |
Vincent Crane | 05/21/43 (2/14/89) | Reading, Berkshire, England | Atomic Rooster, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Dexys Midnight Runners | see more |
Burton Cummings | 12/31/47 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | The Guess Who, Bachman Cummings, The Deverons, Tim Thorney, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band | see more |
Rick Davies | 07/22/44 | Swindon, Wiltshire, England | Supertramp | see more |
Jimmy Destri | 04/13/54 | Brooklyn, NY. | Blondie | see more |
Dennis DeYoung | 02/18/47 | Chicago, Il. | Styx | see more |
Thomas Dolby | 10/14/58 | London, England | Solo performer | see more |
Fats Domino | 02/26/28 (10/24/17) | New Orleans, LA. | Solo performer | see more |
Geoff Downes | 08/25/52 | Stockport,Cheshire,England | The Buggles, Yes, Asia, Glenn Hughes, New Dance Orchestra, John Wetton, Icon, DBA (Downes Braide Association), GTR | see more |
Adam Duritz | 08/01/64 | Baltimore, Maryland | Mod-L Society, The Himalayans, Sordid Humor, Counting Crows | coming soon |
Spike Edney | 12/11/51 | Portsmouth, England | Queen, Edwin Starr, Duran Duran, The Boomtown Rats, Dexys Midnight Runners, Bucks Fizz, Haircut One Hundred, The Rolling Stones | see more |
Keith Emerson | 11/02/44 (3/11/16) | Todmorden, West Yorkshire, England | The Nice, Emerson Lake and Palmer | see more |
Brian Eno | 05/15/48 | Woodbridge, Suffolk, England | Roxy Music Robert Fripp Harold Budd David Bowie Talking Heads Jon Hassell Cluster Devo David Byrne U2 Ultravox Robert Wyatt 801 Coldplay Genesis Damon Albarn Karl Hyde Fred Frith | see more |
John Evan | 03/28/48 | Blackpool, Lancashire, England | Jethro Tull | see more |
Danny Federici | 01/23/50 | Flemington, NJ | E Street Band, Mary Cutrufello | see more |
David Foster | 11/01/49 | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | Skylark, Chicago, Attitudes, Airplay, Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks, Whitney Houston, Michael Buble | see more |
Mike Garson | 07/29/45 | NY,NY | David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Billy Corgan, Free Flight, and The Smashing Pumpkins. | see more |
Ian Gibbons | 07/18/52 | South End, Essex, England | Kinks, Kast-off Kinks | see more |
Greg Giuffria | 07/28/51 | Gulfport, MS. | Angel, Giuffria, House of Lords, White Sister | see more |
Jimmy Greenspoon | 02/07/48 (3/11/15) |
Beverly Hills, CA | Three Dog Night, Linda Ronstadt, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, America, The Beach Boys, Beck, Bogert & Appice, Nils Lofgren, Lowell George, Kim Fowley, Donovan, Buddy Miles, Stephen Stills, Jeff Beck, Chris Hillman, Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn, James Burton, Hal Blaine, Leon Russell, The Wrecking Crew, Osibisa, Shaun Cassidy, Cheech & Chong, Redbone | see more |
Al Greenwood | 10/20/51 | NY, NY | Foreigner, Spys | see more |
Jan Hammer | 04/17/48 | Prague,Czechoslovakia | Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jan Hammer Group, Jeff Beck, Al Di Meola, Mick Jagger, Carlos Santana, Stanley Clarke, Neal Schon, Steve Lukather, Elvin Jones, Tommy Bolin | see more |
Glen D. Hardin | 04/18/39 | Wellington, TX | Elvis Presley, TCB band, (session work w/ multiple artists) | see more |
Greg Hawkes | 10/22/52 | Fulton, MD. | The Cars | see more |
Ken Hensley | 08/24/45 | London, England | Uriah Heep, Blackfoot, The Gods, Toe Fat, W.A.S.P | see more |
Jools Holland | 01/24/58 | Blackheath, London, England | Squeeze, Sting, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, George Harrison, David Gilmour, Magazin, Bono. Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra | see more |
Nicky Hopkins | 02/24/44 -(9/6/94) | Perrivale, Middlesex, England | Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages, Cyril Davies All Stars, the Kinks, the Rolling Stones, the Jeff Beck Group, Sweet Thursday, the Beatles, Steve Miller Band, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Who | see more |
Bruce Hornsby | 11/13/54 | Williamsburg, VA | Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Dave Matthews Band, Sting, Hornsby & the Noise Makers, Jack DeJohnette, Skaggs & Hornsby, Bruce Hornsby Trio, Hornsby and the Range, Eric Clapton, Grateful Dead, The Other Ones, Bobby Hi-Test and the Octane Kids, Bob Dylan, Don Henley, Hall & Oates | see more |
Garth Hudson | 08/02/37 | Windsor, Ontario, Canada | The Band, The Call, Ronnie Hawkins, The Best!, Burrito Deluxe, Sister Maud Hudson, Paul London and the Capers, The Shutouts, The Bandini Brothers | see more |
Karl Jenkins | 02/17/44 | Penclawdd, Gower, Wales | Adiemus, Soft Machine | Coming soon |
Eddie Jobson | 04/28/55 | Billingham, England | UK, Jethro Tull, Roxy Music, Frank Zappa, UKZ, Yes | see more |
Billy Joel | 05/09/49 | Bronx, NY | The Hassles, Attila | see more |
Jens Johansson | 11/02/63 | Stockholm, Sweden | Stratovarius, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dio, Johansson, HammerFall, Kamelot, Star One, Aina | see more |
Elton John | 03/25/47 | Pinner, Middlesex, England | Solo performer | see more |
Johnnie Johnson | 07/08/24 | St. Louis, Mo. | Chuck Berry | see more |
Howard Jones | 02/23/55 | Southhampton, Hampshire, England | Solo Performer | see more |
John Paul Jones | 01/03/46 | Sidcup, Kent, England | Led Zeppelin, Them Crooked Vultures, Donovan, Diamanda Galas, Butthole Surfers, Seasick Steve, King Crimson, R.E.M., Dave Rawlings Machine | see more |
Booker T. Jones | 11/12/44 | Memphis, TN | Booker T. & the MGs, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Stephen Stills, Otis Redding, Drive-By Truckers, the Mar-Keys, Rancid> | see more |
Tony Kaye | 01/11/46 | Leister, England | Yes, Flash, Badger, Detective, Badfinger, Circa, Yoso, David Bowie | see more |
Peter Keys | 05/30/65 | Burlington, VT | P-Funk, George Clinton, 420 Funk Mob, Lynyrd Skynyrd, SeepeopleS and Steve Richard | see more |
Carole King | 02/09/42 | NYC, NY | James Taylor the City Danny Kortchmar Neil Sedaka Gerry Goffin Louise Goffin Soraya | see more |
Mark “Moogy” Klingman | 9/7/50 (11/15/11) | Great Neck, NY | Utopia, Bette Midler, Bo Diddley | coming soon |
Larry Knechtel | 08/04/40 (8/20/09) | Bell, California | Bread, The Wrecking Crew | see more |
Al Kooper | 02/05/44 | Brooklyn, NY | Mike Bloomfield, The Blues Project, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Bob Dylan | see more |
T Lavitz | 04/16/56 (10/7/10) | Lakewood, NJ | Dixie Dregs, Jazz Is Dead, Jefferson Starship, Widespread Panic | see more |
Chuck Leavall | 04/28/52 | Birmingham, Alabama | The Allman Brothers Band The Rolling Stones,John Mayer,The Black Crowes,Sea Level,Eric Clapton,Gov’t Mule,Aquarium Rescue Unit | see more |
Amy Lee | 12/13/81 | Riverside, CA. | Evanescence, Dave Eggar Seether | see more |
Jerry Lee Lewis | 09/29/35 | Ferriday, LA. | Solo performer | see more |
Professor Longhair | 12/19/18 – (1/30/80) | Bogalusa, LA. | Solo performer | see more |
Jon Lord | 06/09/41 – (7/16/12) | Leicester, England | Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Paice Ashton Lord, The Artwoods, The Flower Pot Men | see more |
Manfred Mann | 10/21/40 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Manfred Mann Manfred Mann Chapter Three, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band |
see more |
Richard Manuel | 04/03/43 (4/4/86) |
Stratford, Ontario, CA | The Band, Ronnie Hawkins & the Hawks, the Revols, Bob Dylan, the Pencils | see more |
Ray Manzarek | 02/12/39 (5/20/13) | Chicago, IL. | The Doors, Manzarek – Krieger, Rick & the Ravens, Nite City, The Manzarek – Rogers Band | see more |
Bob Mayo | 08/25/51 (2/23/04) |
NY, NY | Peter Frampton, Hall & Oates. Foreigner, Robert Plant, Dan Fogelberg, Aerosmith, Joe Walsh, Joe Vitale, Procol Harum, The Renovators, Doc Holliday, Rat Race Choir, Renegade, Ramble and the Descendants | see more |
Page McConnell | 05/17/63 | Philadelphia, PA. | Phish, Vida Blue, Tenacious D, Phil Lesh and Friends, Spam Allstars, Porter Batiste Stoltz | see more |
Goldy McJohn | 05/02/45 | Toronto, Canada | The Mynah Birds, The Sparrows, Steppenwolf, Humble Pie, The Saints, Freddy & the Screamers, Southern Pacific | see more |
Ron “Pigpen” McKernan | 09/08/45 | San Bruno, VA | Grateful Dead, Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions, The Warlocks | coming soon |
Ian Mclagan | 05/12/45 (12/3/14) | Hounslow, Middlesex, England | Small Faces, Faces, Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones, The New Barbarians, Bump Band, Billy Bragg and the Blokes, Michael Grimm, Izzy Stradlin, The Empty Hearts | see more |
Andrew McMahon | 09/03/82 | Concord, MA. | Something Corporate, Jack’s Mannequin, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness | coming soon |
Christine McVie | 07/12/43 | Bouth, Cumbria, England | Fleetwood Mac, Chicken Shack | see more |
Freddie Mercury | 09/15/46 (11/24/91) |
Stonetown, Zanzibar | Queen, Larry Lurex, Ibex / Wreckage, Sour Milk Sea, Montserrat Caballé | see more |
Mic Michaeli | 11/11/62 | Upplands Vasby, Sweden | Europe, Glenn Hughes, Brazen Abbot, Last Autumn’s Dream, Nordic Beast | see more |
Max Middleton | 08/04/46 | Amersham, Buckinghampshire, England | Jeff Beck, The Jeff Beck Group, BBA, Hummingbird, Chris Rea, Kate Bush, Bobby Tench, Nazareth, Cleo Laine, Cozy Powell, Snowy White, Robert Ahwai, Streetwalkers, Mick Taylor | see more |
Kevin Moore | 05/26/67 | Kings Park, NY | O.S.I., Chroma Key, Dream Theater, Fates Warning | see more |
Patrick Moraz | 06/24/48 | Morges, Switzerland | Refugee, Yes, The Moody Blues, Mainhorse, VÃmana | see more |
Larry Muhoberac | 02/12/37 | Louisiana | Elvis Presley (session work w/multiple artists) | see more |
Steve Nieve | 02/19/1958 | London, England | Elvis Costello The Attractions Madness | see more |
Jack Nitzsche | 04/22/37 (8/25/00) | Chicago, Il. | The Nooney Rickett 4, Sonny Bono, Phil Spector, The Wrecking Crew, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, The Rolling Stones, Willy DeVille | coming soon |
Roger O’ Donnell | 10/29/55 | London, England | The Cure, The Psychedelic Furs Thompson Twins, Berlin | see more |
David Paitch | 06/25/54 | Los Angeles, CA. | Toto, Boz Scaggs, Michael Jackson | see more |
Alan Park | 10/05/51 | Glasgow, Scotland | Beggars Opera (various | coming soon |
Bill Payne | 03/12/49 | Waco, TX. | Little Feat, Phil Lesh and Friends, Leftover Salmon | see more |
Greg Phillinganes | 05/12/56 | Detroit MI. | Stevie Wonder, The Jacksons, Michael Jackson, Toto, Eric Clapton, Quincy Jones | see more |
Mike Pinder | 12/27/41 | Edington, Birmingham, England | The Moody Blues El Riot and the Rebels Krew Kat | see more |
Billy Powell | 06/03/52 (1/28/09) | Corpus Christi, TX. | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, .38 Special | see more |
Roger Powell | 03/14/49 | Utopia, Todd Rundgren | see more | |
Billy Preston | 09/02/46 (6/6/06) | Houston, TX | Little Richard,Syreeta,Sam Cooke, The Beatles,Sly and the Family Stone,King Curtis,The Rolling Stones,Ray Charles,George Harrison, Ringo Starr & his All-Star Band | see more |
Alan Price | 04/19/42 | Washington, County Durham, England | The Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, The Alan Price Set, Price and Fame, Alan Price and Friends, The Animals, Eric Burdon, The Electric Blues Company, Bobby Tench, Zoot Money | see more |
Don Randi | 02/25/37 | NY, NY | Wrecking Crew, jazz and session musician | see more |
Mike Ratledge | 05/04/43 | Maidstone, Kent, England, | Soft Machine,Karl Jenkins | see more |
Paul Raymond | 11/16/45 | St Albans, Hertfordshire, England | England Plastic Penny, Chicken Shack, Savoy Brown, Danny Kirwan, UFO, The Michael Schenker Group, Waysted, Paul Raymond Project | see more |
Little Richard | 12/5/28 | Macon, GA | Solo Performer | see more |
Billy Richie | 04/20/44 | Lanark, Scotland | The Premiers, 1-2-3, Clouds | see more |
Gregg Rolie | 06/17/47 | Seattle, WA. | Santana, Journey, The Storm, Abraxas Pool, Gregg Rolie Band, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band | see more |
David Rosenthal | 01/01/61 | NY, NY | Rainbow, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Enrique Iglesias, Robert Palmer, Steve Vai,[2] Cyndi Lauper,[2] Yngwie Malmsteen, Little Steven and Happy The Man. | see more |
Jordan Rudess | 12/4/56 | Great Neck, NY | Dream Theater, Dixie Dregs, Liquid Tension Experiment, John Petrucci, Rod Morgenstein, David Bowie, Vinnie Moore, Tom Coster, Kip Winger, NóirÃn Nà Riain, Rhonda Larson, Paul Winter, Scott McGill, Steven Wilson, Prefab Sprout, Jupiter, Neal Morse, Daniel J, Neil Zaza, Annie Haslam, John-Luke Addison, Behold… The Arctopus, Liquid Trio Experiment, Enrique Iglesias, Mr. Fastfinger, Ricky Garcia, Frost*, Richard Lainhart, Ayreon | see more |
Leon Russell | 04/02/42 (11/13/16) | Lawton, OK. | Wrecking Crew, Solo performer (session work) | see more |
David Sancious | 11/30/53 | Asbury Park, New Jersey | Bruce Springsteen, Santana, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Stanley Clark | see more |
Neil Sedaka | 03/13/39 | Brooklyn, NY | solo performer | see more |
Paul Shaffer | 11/28/49 | Thunder Bay, Ontario | CBS Orchestra, The World’s Most Dangerous Band | see more |
Dave Sinclair | 11/24/47 | Herne Bay, Kent, England | Caravan, Matching Mole, Hatfield and the North, Polite Force, Camel | coming soon |
Derek Sherinian | 08/25/66 | Laguna Beach, CA | Dream Theater, Planet X, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Yngwie Malmsteen, Billy Idol, Black Country Communion, Joe Bonamassa, PSMS | see more |
Claudio Simonetti | 02/19/52 | São Paulo, Brazil | Cherry Five/Goblin, Daemonia | see more |
Chris Stainton | 03/22/44 | Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England | Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, The Grease Band, Spooky Tooth, Eric Clapton, Boxer, The Who, Jim Capaldi, Ian Hunter, Elkie Brooks, Bryn Haworth, Maddy Prior, Roger Waters, B.B. King, Jimmy Smith , David Gilmour, The Alarm, Bryan Ferry | see more |
Mark Stein | 03/11/47 | Bayonne, NJ | Vanilla Fudge, Boomerang, Tommy Bolin Alice Cooper | see more |
Cat Stevens | 07/21/48 | London, England> | Solo Artist | see more |
David A. Stewart | 09/09/52 | Sunderland, England | The Tourists Eurythmics The Spiritual Cowboys Vegas Platinum Weird SuperHeavy Shakespears Sister Joss Stone Stevie Nicks | coming soon |
Ian Stewart | 07/18/38 (12/12/85) | Pittenweem, Fife, Scotland | The Rolling Stones, Rocket 88, Led Zeppelin, George Thoroughgood | see more |
Richard Tandy | 03/26/48 | Birmingham, England | Electric Light Orchestra, Jeff Lynne, Tandy Morgan Band | see more |
Richard Tee | 12/24/43 (7/21/93) |
Brookln, NY | Paul Simon, Hank Crawford, George Benson, Grover Washington, Jr., Cornell Dupree, Stuff, Steve Gadd, Jackie DeShannon, Hall & Oates, Billy Joel, Bob Marley, Quincy Jones, Roberta Flack, Peter Gabriel, Aretha Franklin, Wilbert Longmire, Mariah Carey, Tom Scott, George Harrison | see more |
Benmont Tench | 09/07/53 | Gainesville, FL. | Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Mudcrutch, Don Henley, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Works Progress Administration | see more |
Ian Underwood | 05/22/39 | NY, NY | The Mothers of Invention, Flo & Eddie, Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart | coming soon |
Thijs Van Leer | 03/31/48 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Focus | see more |
Rick Wakeman | 05/18/49 | London, England | Solo, Yes, English Rock Ensemble, Strawbs | see more | Bobby Whitlock | 03/18/48 | Memphis, TN. | Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, Derek and the Dominos, Eric Clapton, Coco Carmel | see more |
Paul “Wix” Wickens | 03/27/56 | Brentwood, Essex, England | Paul McCartney, Paul Carrack, Jim Diamond, Nik Kershaw, Boy George, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan | see more |
Brian Wilson | 06/20/42 | Inglewood, CA | The Beach Boys | see more |
Edgar Winter | 12/28/46 | Beaumont, TX. | Johnny Winter, Rick Derringer, The Edgar Winter Group, Sawbuck, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, David Lee Roth, Todd Rundgren, Ronnie Montrose | see more |
Steve Winwood | 05/12/48 | Handsworth, Birmingham, England | Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith, Eric Clapton, Jim Capaldi, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, Billy Joel | see more |
Bernie Worrell | 04/19/44 (6/26/16) | Long Branch, NJ | Parliament-Funkadelic, Talking Heads, Praxis, Tom Tom Club, Colonel Claypool’s Bucket of Bernie Brains | see more |
Gary Wright | 04/26/43 | Cresskill, NJ | Spooky Tooth, Wonderwheel, George Harrison, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Stone Temple Pilots | see more |
Richard Wright | 07/28/43 (9/15/08) | Hatch End, Middlesex, England | Pink Floyd, Zee, Syd Barrett, David Gilmour, Anthony Moore | see more |
Warren Zevon | 01/24/47 (9/07/03) | Chicago Il | CBS Orchestra, Billy Bob Thornton, Jackson Browne, David Lindley, Waddy Wachtel, Bruce Springsteen, Dwight Yoakam, Hindu Love Gods, Linda Ronstadt, The Everly Brothers, Don Everly, Phil Everly, Richie Hayward, Jack Casady, Chick Corea, Jerry Garcia, David Gilmour, Neil Young, Don Henley, George Clinton, Timothy B. Schmit, Bob Dylan, Joe Walsh, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty, The Eagles, R.E.M., The Turtles, lyme and cybelle, Jorge Calderón, Stevie Nicks, Rock Bottom Remainders, David Marks, Widespread Panic | see more |