We rank our Favourite 5 Progressive Rock Keyboard Players 

Keith Emerson on the keyboard is technologically a musical savant. No argument there. Interestingly, the incredibly talented Rachel Flowers almost does Keith Emerson better than Keith Emerson. Regarding the other progressive rock keyboardists, that's a subjective topic. I enjoy the style and complexity of Tony Banks melodies immensely, yet I would never compare him to Keith. [ the apples to oranges thingy ] I admire the musical style of Rick Wakeman because of his mastery of keyboard chord change techniques. As far as progressive "hard rock" keyboardists.......Jon Lord is the man. As a child, I joined my church choir, not because I could sing, but because I wanted to be closer to the mesmerizing church organ pipes behind the choir loft. That was when my dream was completely fulfilled. 60 years later I have 5 keyboards (Yamaha synthesizer, Mellotron M4000D, Roland piano, Steinway piano, and a Wurlitzer organ and I rock out every day. Of course I'm familiar with Robert Moog and Walter/Wendy Carlos for making his equipment famous. I'm going to look into Oscar Peterson.........haven't heard of him....until your post. Thanks for your posting your comment.

Emerson was the Franz Liszt of rock.

Nice comparison Mike!

Holy moly. What a gift to keyboards Oscar Peterson displays. Thanks again for the heads up. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tCrrZ1NnCuM.html

@@stargate1555 Oscar was the greatest jazz pianist ever. You can find youtube footage of him with Joe Pass on guitar.

Kerry is definitely in my top 5 as an all-around great player and inventive composer and arranger. He just doesn't get the attention that the others have had due to publicity. Not everyone can handle Gentle Giant music as easily as Yes or ELP.

Absolutely! You beat me to it 👍

His composing skills were amazing.

He could play the keys. The cello. The vibes. His solos on Funny Ways were electrifying in performance. He could sing-he was the band’s softer voice. But his keyboard playing…almost unimaginably good!

Truer words were never spoken.👍

That song is perfect, and the keys are perfect. Just reading the name of the song gives me goosebumps.

​@@kratinohi pumpkin. And here I thought I was the only one that gave you Goosebumps. Hahaha

Keith Emerson once stated that Rod Argent was his favourite rock keyboard player.

I rarely hear his name when discussing best keyboardists, but you are absolutely correct!

Agreed

Amazing how many of us old fahts, now in our late 60s, had the same epiphany when we first fired up BSS -- from all over the world. Me just a farm boy from Oklahoma. I think Keith was on to something big...! 😂

Without a doubt!!

I wholeheartedly concur.

Absolutely! You beat me to it 👍

I saw Minnear live twice. He might be the most talented musician I’ve ever seen.

Yes!!

Oh, totally agree. But, I guess they can't mention all the greats in one video. Two of my favorites are Vincent Crane and the keyboardist from the group, Ekseption. I consider both Steve Walsh and Kerry Livgren as exceptional keyboardists, too.

Hans Jurgen Fritz is always on my top 10. He absolutely idolized Keith Emerson. I guess that's obvious

Hey William, yes, without doubt Emerson was incredible. Thank you for dropping by

Well put my friend. Yes it will he is the bach Beethoven and Mozart of our era. That's something Rick Wakeman could never aspire to. And that's the difference between the two. Actually vanleer of focus could also be put in that description.

Hi Chas, I’m in the process of preparing two videos on Emerson. The first will definitely contain commentary on The Nice and Emerson’s role in that band. Cheers, Tom

​@@theyak7912I've seen it it's really an awesome video. Waiting for part 2.

@@edljnehan2811 Thank you. I’m still working on the script for Part 2, and am looking forward to make a start on recording it soon

@@theyak7912 thanks part 1 blew me away. I left a very favorable comment in the comments section of that video.

Hello again, I've just uploaded Part 2. Thank you again!

You are absolutely correct. I saw them warm up for Steve Hackett. The guy is a classical virtuoso, and most people don't know it.

Renaisssance is/was an AMAZING band. I just discovered them 50 years late

John Tout was basically an orchestra on stage. Incredibly talents and passionate in his playing, his right hand was most frequently on the piano and his left on whatever he would use for the orchestral sounds, synths primarily. I was deeply hurt when of heard of his passing.

Thank You for bringing up John Tout. I rank him right up there with Kieth and Rick. His orchestral arrangements with Renaissance were awesome. He never got the recognition because Annie and Jon got all the attention. But John gave them the rug to stand on, letting them shine. I have a photo buried somewhere of John and Me from after one of Renaissances performances in NYC…. Treasured memories of seeing Kieth, Rick and John in their prime….warm the heart. 👍🏻❤️🍻😎

@@topcat43truffles15 this is great, JT seems to be a very discrete person, Lucky you!😀. I keep on thinking why never a solo album. Great Band, great musicians

Thank you Mike!

Kerry Minnear is great, I love his harmonies and choice of sounds, he also plays cello in acoustic compositions

Hi Chad, I've just uploaded a video on Jobson if interested. Tom

"...like Yes better than ELP" -> in an alternate universe, maybe.

@@guidosarducci209 Well Father, I do believe that Yes sold more albums than ELP. So, there are people who like Yes better. Personally, I think it's impossible to objectively rank any of them. It's like 2 different bottles of fine wine. Just enjoy them both.

@@Relayer6a Both bands, both players, wonderful. How lucky were we to be here at this time?

@@Relayer6a Wakeman didn’t drive all of those album sales. He wasn’t even there for some of those albums. Emerson was not only there for every album, he wrote most of the material.

@@kathyratino962 I have no idea what your point is. I said objectively Emerson is #1. If you can't accept that some people might like Wakeman or Yes better than ELP then that's on you noy anything I said.

Good now switch number one and number three and add mr. Van Lear Focus at number four and you've got a pretty decent list.

@@edljnehan2811 Love him, but just not the same player/writter as Minnear at all, I have all of Yes and ELP from day one and for me Rick is a better all around Keyboardist !! I'll give the Showman and piano crown to Keith. But Yes did it much better also !! 🎶

@@ronniefarnsworth6465 I've been listening and going to concerts since the late sixties. I saw Yes open up for Emerson Lake and Palmer in 1971. Trust me there is no comparison. Keith Emerson is the Mozart Bach Beethoven of our time. In 1 to 200 years nobody will know who Rick Wakeman is. Keith Emerson is timeless. Give vanleer of focus a chance. Google Focus Live & rare and you'll get to see early videos of the band on RU-vid. Mr. Vanleer is absolutely amazing I think he is second to Emerson. Take it from an old dog who has seen all of the greats. Several times.

@@edljnehan2811 Yup I get it I'm not going to have a silly fight on YT on how many concerts etc 100+ for me easy Btw and saw the top Prog & Rock bands many times each we Lived in the Boston area and seen everybody, My older Brother worked at a major music instrument store that the bands always stopped in, and had access to great tickets !! My first was Yes 1972' at 14' so with our friends any show within 3 hr drive we went to, Boston, Providence, Hartford, New Haven, Cape Cod, NYC. It's all good and like what you like and make your own Post list I promise you I won't tell you to change your order 1-10 I don't do that to anyone post !! Bad YT etiquette I think. 🤔✌🎶

@@ronniefarnsworth6465 well I am that older brother okay and I've seen five times that many starting in the late 60s. I'm also a maestro musician. Bad RU-vid etiquette? Hahaha. With all the crapola on RU-vid I didn't think there was such a thing. Sounds like you need someone to take you to the potty. Hahaha hahaha

Hi Adam, I absolutely love Jobson and both UK albums. Thanks for making your comment!

Hi Adam, I've just uploaded a video on Jobson if interested. Tom

@@theyak7912 1000% Thank you!!

@@adamjacksonmedia You're welcome

Hi 'Q' you make a great point here. The ranking we gave was for our 'favourite' keyboard players not based on virtuosity alone. These were our Top 5 picks on the day of filming, and it was hard to limit the number to just 5 each. Our rankings might be slightly different today but I still love Wright's sound and melodic style. Cheers, Tom

Keith Emerson played the Mellotron with the Nice, and attempted to use the Mellotron in order to perform Abaddon's Bolero. A few bootlegs of this failed attempt exist.

If you listen to the orchestral version of Ginastera's Toccata and then ELP's, it is amazing how very very close those 3 duplicated what an entire orchestra did. Astonishing.

@@SRV2013 I have seen those videos of Abaddon's Bolero. On Trilogy, I'm pretty sure he's stacking monophonic moog tracks to create the orchestration. He used the Mellotron to try and preform it live which I understand was hit or miss. My point is he didn't actually write parts for Mellotron in any of his compositions the way that some of his contemporaries, such as Rick Wakeman and Tony Banks. That's what I would have loved to hear!

Did you ever see the Abaddon's Bolero Video from 1973. Keith was not using the mellotron, but surprisingly Greg did. 😮 I never new Greg was playing keys at ELP times.

​@@TakeABox1ThatRocksI was going to mention that you beat me to it

Happiness is just around the Bend. Keith Emerson loved his playing.

16 actually.

Saw him play that live with them in Bray (Ireland) in 74 or 75 I think, he had not long taken over from Darryl Way 😊

@@johnmorris8799 Eddie is The Most. Lucky You for that!

Hi guys, thank you for commenting here. I’ve just uploaded a video on Jobson if interested. Tom

Clive Nolan Brilliant.

Dave Stewart is quite innovative. He may be the first to use a fuzz and wah wah on a Hammond organ. Egg, Hatfield and the North, National Health, etc., Stewart is the king of the Canterbury keyboardists.

Ever heard Emerson's Maple Leaf Rag? Anyone who crowns Wakeman hasn't really heard Emerson. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DFW1-lyMRjg.html

Hi Slam, yes you are correct. I inserted the wrong image. Well done!

I caught that too I bought my CS80 for only $99. Granted it was the VST version lol. Yamaha was also nice enough to feature some CS80 sounds in their Yamaha MODX hardware synth of which I'm delighted to own as well.

Hi Slam, I've just uploaded a video on Jobson if interested, which also has a short segment on the CS80. Tom

Yes - Pat was not mentioned. Criminal! Likely the greatest digits of all of them..

I put him at #2

Hi Michael, I've just uploaded a video on Jobson if interested. Tom

Number 6 copied off of number 5 and is nowhere near as good. Number five should be number one. Now add vanleer from Focus and overall you have a pretty good list.

@edljnehan2811 it wasn't necessary a who is better list as each guy brought a different dynamic to the table. I, however, still stand with Minear as number 1. As a total musician. He was another Royal Academy graduate. Here is a player with great chops on several instruments, timing that is second to no one as well as complete hand independence. His music was musicans music. I have seen classical composers that are particularly wowed with Gentle Giant's music. He just wasn't as showy as Emerson. I agree with you with regard to Wakeman. My problem with Keith was one. His technique was a bit sloppy. I have heard that he was self-taught largely. Had he been trained, however, by a good classical teacher, he may have gone on to be a concert pianist. But in truth, when you play standing arms stretched out from one keyboard to another, jump around on stage stabbing your organ, playing backward, you are not in proper position to execute good technique. I think he paid for that later in life with his hand problems. Keith brought a lot to the table in terms of ragtime, some jazzier elements, and an appreciation for more modern composers. He also did things you often hear in the classical piano technique. His use of his left hand and his complete hand independence is something many keyboard players don't develop. Most guys start out as piano players and are hamstrung by the usual role of the left hand as an accompaniment hand. If you really love Emerson, you'd enjoy the Cairo band of the 90s. Keyboardist named Mark Robertson. Great performer, but I have no idea what he is doing now. As for the Focus player Van Leer, I have never heard much of his work. I do own one or two Focus albums. Jan Akkerman is an incredible guitarist, and I followed his work to this day. Here is a man that plays it all from classical lute solos to fusion jazz, swing, bebop, blues, you name it. Focus was a rather short-lived band. It's ashamed they didn't get more well known here in the states. Kayak is another such great Dutch band. But due to a fear of flying, they are unknown outside of Europe.

@@smitlag okay kayak are known in the US especially in the Midwest where I'm from. They got plenty of AirPlay in the 70s on aor progressive rock stations like KSHE in St Louis. Now onto Focus. Focus have been around since 1969 and are still playing in one form or another today. They only had one hit Hocus Pocus that really got any airplay here in the states outside of some tracks getting early 1970s airplay on those same underground progressive rock aor FM radio stations. Do yourself a favor as you do sound knowledgeable Google Focus Live & rare and you'll immediately be treated to all the early seventies Focus videos featuring of course the great Jan akkerman who next to Jeff Beck is my favorite guitarist. Now to mr. Emerson I really don't even know where to start so I guess I'll say he was even a favorite amongst well-known classical and jazz musicians. I spoke to a lady I knew who played with the st. Louis Symphony Orchestra and she even told me how in the classical world he was the only real rock musician that garnered any respect. Don't forget that his group the nice started progressive rock which means he started progressive rock. Don't forget his expertise on the module Moog synthesizer which is extremely hard to master and that also he introduced it to the masses in rock concerts for the first time. No one else has done that certainly not mr. Wakeman. His piano concerto off of The Works vol 1 album was even played on classical radio where it received praise from people such as Leonard Bernstein. Dance stretching hands between two organs routine you talk about is extremely hard to do and if you notice most keyboardist don't do it as it requires your brain to work in many different directions. No Keith Emerson was not classically trained it's pretty much accepted he is or was a savant. Pretty much a musical genius. Yes he was over-the-top in his Showmanship with the daggers and the flying piano routine but that was just part of what Rock audiences wanted back then to fill stadiums and arenas. No different than Pete Townshend smashing his guitar are Keith Moon destroying his drum kit or Jimi Hendrix lighting his guitar on fire. Emerson just took the same thing to the keyboards while also playing the instrument backwards, laying on his back and even facing away from the yard and his self and actually playing. No musical buffoonery involved here he was actually performing some pretty awesome keyboard work. You sound knowledgeable however I think you need to go back to school where Keith Emerson is involved. Why do you think he's called God on the keyboards? Why do you think all of these people worship Him and consider him the greatest? You read the comments see for yourself. I hope you're not stupid. Now one final note Google that Focus and watch the Great t. Vanleer. You won't be disappointed. I'm no kid I've been into this type of music since the 60s. So I repeat Google Focus Live & rare I believe the videos cover the years 1970 to 1976 in the studio and on the concert stage.

@@smitlag PS who the hell is Kerry minear? Hahaha

@edljnehan2811 please tell me you are not serious. Gentle Giant wrote probably some of the most intricate progressive music ever created back at that time. It definitely wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but there is no dispute over the talent of these guys. Every member of that band played several instruments. Kerry played keyboards, cello, guitar, pitched percussion, recorders, and occasionally sang as well.

Switch number one and two and replace Wright with vanleer of focus. And there you go

He's the best Hammond player in rock. He was really the only player that utilized the legato technique that is required to play the organ correctly. Most players are taught on the piano and then simply carry that technique over to the organ. I am a keyboardist. I studied classical piano. When I took harpsichord lessons, I had to totally relearn the proper, correct technique to play the harpsichord.

@@ScienceTalkwithJimMassa And Jon Lord also played the harpsichord, in "Blind" from DP's third album. Also worth a listen is his solo work, "Sarabande", in which he added the clavier to his skill set.

@@ScienceTalkwithJimMassa You have heard Keith Emerson play the Hammond, right?

The Stranglers is great band, even if it's considered "punk", the music is very tasteful, and keyboard parts of Dave Greenfield are quite complex . p.s. punk-prog exists, check the band Cardiacs.

Same. I think he's the most musical of all mentioned. I've always admired all the through-composed solos with solid melodies over interesting harmonic choices.

I saw the same show but in St Louis. But I'm just the opposite I think eopie blew them off the stage

I think ELP blew them off the stage. Pardon the stupid mistake that Google made in the earlier comment

Hi Joe, thank you so much!

Triumvirate is ALWAYS the undiscovered, or, at least, unmentioned/forgotten, jewel-of-prog… Star Castle…. (along with Camel, IQ, and a very few “sparkly”, individual songs….

Toccata is EPIC.

I did in 1973 on white blotter. And you're right for a while there I was not of this Earth. Also John Tout of Renaissance and Hans Jurgen Fritz triumvirate need a lot more love in the comments. They were absolutely awesome in concert.

@@edljnehan2811 John Hawken & John Tout deserve mention!

@@domofswitch forgive me. You're absolutely right John Hawken truly does enter the chat as one of the all-time greats. After all he was the original keyboardist for Renaissance back in the Keith and Jane relf days. And yes he was awesome. I do believe he got his start with Johnny Winter. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. However since he didn't make it into the Annie Haslam Renaissance naturally I think John Tout gets more recognition however in my opinion they were pretty much neck-and-neck in the musicianship ranks. I loved his piano work on Kings and Queens and illusion.

Hi Stuart, yes Lord was also a great player but I class him to be more in the heavy rock genre as you also suggested. I do plan to present a video on Lord once in the near future. Regards, Tom

Hi Joseph, I actually mention Love Beach in another video, 'Our Top 10 Prog Rock Flop Albums'. Here's the link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qWyrOth98Bc.html You may be interested in viewing. Cheers

@@theyak7912 But Love Beach was not a flop. It had some gorgeous work and some fine work. There were just two awful songs, Love Beach and Taste of My Love. I have always contended that Pete Sinfield must have been pissed at Greg about something to put Taste of My Love in his mouth. It's dreadful. Don't judge an album by its cover. Memoirs and Canario are both beautiful.

​@@kratinoyes they are Kit Kat. I actually think if they didn't have that stupid BG's looking picture on the cover that album wouldn't have taken such a beating. What they could have done was combine some of the better songs from Works volume two and took the two Duds off of Love Beach and they would have had a pretty good album. Also like I said leave that moronic Beach Boys picture off.

Treasures on that beach, but beware the quicksand 😁

Hi Harry, that's an interesting thought. If you have the link you're welcome to post it here. Anyway, here's an early recording of Awaken (before Wakeman) with very sparse (or deleted) keyboards by Moraz. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-plfIcNpehUw.html Regards, Tom

Also, the green album by Jobson was titled ZINC. @@theyak7912

Hi Lee, that’s a great list also!

Hi David ... that is a very detailed comment. I do agree, Emerson was unbelievably good who led the way in many respects for other prog. rock keyboardists. Rachel Flowers is an incredible keyboard player and multi-instrumentalist, especially for someone who is blind. I'm glad you like Jobson too, who I first heard on the UK albums and still love listening to these. He tried a more commercial approach shortly afterwards but didn't return to the heights he achieved with UK. Cheers

@@theyak7912 - I am definitely impressed with Rachel. Especially when I first heard her play Tarkus in her early teens. I too like Richard Wright. His playing on Echoes is outstanding. However, later on, I think Roger actually played some of the synth parts. Going by what I saw on Live in Pompeii anyway. Am I wrong? I'd love to give Richard credit where credit is due.

Rachel Flowers is not only Emerson‘s heir, she is also a brilliant (orchestral) composer in her own right!

And, for a while, with Camel!!

Hi Richard, I like your reply. Yes, Emerson was a class of his own, and untouchable in my opinion. I also have my 'Top 10 Crimson pics' here if interested. Cheers, Tom

@@theyak7912 I am interested!

@@theyak7912 Tom, you need to talk some sense into your partner. . .

​@@kratinohahaha hahaha

There's actually an old Emerson Lake and Palmer video on RU-vid from their first album where Keith Emerson is playing his usual keyboards and Greg Lake is playing the mellotron instead of the bass guitar. First and only time I've ever seen anything like that.

1 Patrizio Fariselli (Area) 2 Flavio Premoli (PFM) 3 Vittorio Nocenzi (BMS) 4 Claudio Simonetti (Goblin) 5 Roby Facchinetti (POOH)

5. Hugh Who?

@@RayyMusik Hugh Banton - Organist with Van Der Graaf Generator. Awesome, this guy built his own organ and worked building and installing church organs

Hey, thanks for dropping by Scot!

1 Patrizio Fariselli (Area) 2 Flavio Premoli (PFM) 3 Vittorio Nocenzi (BMS) 4 Claudio Simonetti (Goblin) 5 Roby Facchinetti (POOH)