150 greatist Keybord players of ROCK

[bronxdrummer182]

1. Keith Emerson (ELP)
2. Rick Wakeman (Yes)
3. Jon Lord (Deep Purple)
4. Ray Manzarek (The Doors)
5. Jerry Lee Lewis
6. Tony Banks (Genesis)
7. Ray Charles
8. Fats Domino
9. Richard Wright (Pink Floyd)
10. Ian Underwood (The Mothers Of Invention)
11. Tony Hymas (Jeff Beck)
12. Steve Winwood (Traffic)
13. Nicky Hopkins (Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck)
14. Al Kooper (Blood Sweat & Tears)
15. Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater, The Dregs)
16. Elton John
17. Jan Hammer
18. Billy Preston
19. Billy Joel
20. Kevin Moore (Dream Theater)
21. T. Lavitz (The Dregs)
22. Brian Eno
23. Jens Johansen (Yngwie Malmsteen)
24. Stevie Wonder
25. Steve Walsh (Kansas)
26. Professor Longhair
27. Richard Tandy (ELO)
28. Gregg Allman (Allman Brothers Band)
29. Garth Hudson (The Band)
30. Don Airey (Rainbow, Ozzy, Deep Purple)
31. Allan Zavod (Frank Zappa)
32. Booker T Jones
33. Rod Argent (Zombies, Argent)
34. David Sancious (Springsteen, Santana, Sting)
35. Ian Mclagan (Rolling Stones, Faces)
36. Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello)
37. Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater)
38. Johnnie Johnson (Chuck Berry)
39. Jimmy Greenspoon (Three Dog Night)
40. Billy Powell (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
41. Huey "Piano" Smith (The Clowns)
42. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (Grateful Dead)
43. Jon Carin (Pink Floyd, Roger Waters)
44. Klaus Schulze
45. Amos Milburn
46. Allen Ravenstine (Pere Ubu)
47. Geoff Downes (Yes, Asia)
48. Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey)
49. Benmont Tench (The Heartbreakers)
50. Allen Toussaint (session man)
51. Randy Newman
52. Matt Bellamy (Muse)
53. Bob Mayo(Frampton)
54. Bruce Hornsby (B. H. & the Range, Grateful Dead)
55. Spooner Oldham (Wilson Pickett)
56. Tony Macalpine
57. Leon Russell
58. Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep)
59. Roy Bittan (E Street Band)
60. Little Richard
61. Roddy Bottum (Faith No More)
62. Alan Price (The Animals)
63. Bernie Worrell (Talking Heads, Funkadelic)
64. David Rosenthal (Rainbow)
65. Ivory Joe Hunter
66. Dr. John
67. Vincent Crane - (Arthur Brown)
68. Robert Lamm (Chicago)
69. Burton Cummings (Guess Who)
70. Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones)
71. Dennis De Young (Styx)
72. Peter Bardens
73. Bill Payne (Little Feat)
74. Jools Holland (Squeeze)
75. Mike Garson (David Bowie)
76. Bobby Whitlock (Derek & The Dominos)
77. Michael Pinella (Symphony X)
78. Mike Stoller (session man)
79. Jeff Chimenti (Rat Dog, The Dead)
80. Mark Mancina (Yes)
81. Tony Kaye (Yes)
82. Aretha Franklin
83. Eric Drew Feldman (Captain Beefheart)
84. Edgar Winter
85. Issac Hayes
86. Roger Powell (Todd Rundgren, David Bowie)
87. Gary Wright
88. Art Neville
89. Charlie Rich
90. Seth Justman (J Geils Band)
91. Alex Argento
92. James Booker
93. Eric Troyer (ELO)
94. Paul Griffin (Bob Dylan, Don Mclean)
95. Lafayette Leake (Bo Diddley)
96. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
97. Harry "Piano Man" Van Walls (session man)
98. Steve Davidowski (The Dregs)
99. Matt Guillory (Mullmuzzler)
100. Tony Carey - (Rainbow)


101. Dizzy Reed (Guns N Roses)
102. Larry Williams
103. Vince Welnick (Grateful Dead)
104. Lale Larson
105. John Cale (Velvet Underground)
106. Johnny Ace
107. Doug Ingle (Iron Butterfly)
108. Danny Federici (The E Street Band)
109. Warren Zevon
110. Page McConnell (Phish)
111. Bill Rieflin (Ministry, NIN)
112. George Duke (Frank Zappa)
113. David Bryan (Bon Jovi)
114. Rich Vogel (Galactic)
115. Neal Morse (Transatlantic, Spock's Beard)
116. Michael Mcdonald (Doobie Borothers)
117. Patrick Moraz (Refugee, Yes, Moody Blues)
118. Ryo Okumoto (Spock's Beard)
119. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
120. Steve Porcaro (Toto)
121. Eddie Jobson (UK, Roxy Music)
122. Gary Brooker (Procol Harum)
123. Keith Tippett (King Crimson)
124. John "Jojo" Herman (Widespread Panic)
125. Mike Pinder (Moody Blues)
126. Geddy Lee (Rush)
127. Lee Michaels
128. Ian Stewart (Rolling Stones)
129. Pete Townshend (The Who)
130. Mark Parrish (The Dregs)
131. Scott Warren (Dio)
132. Ben Wilson (Blues Traveler)
133. Richard Barbieri (Porcupine Tree)
134. Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac)
135. Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads)
136. Neal Doughty (REO Speedwagon)
137. Gene Taylor (Fabulous Thunderbirds)
138. Reese Wynans (Double Trouble)
139. Chris Ingles (Shadow Gallery)
140. Matt Evidon (Under The Sun)
141. Mark Robertson (Cairo, Tony Macalpine)
142. David Palmer (Jethro Tull)
143. John "Rabbit" Bundrick (The Who)
144. Keith Godchaux (Grateful Dead)
145. Kerry Livgren (Kansas)
146. Ben Folds
147. John Herndon (Tortoise)
148. Manfred Mann
149. Greg Hawkes (Cars)
150. Brent Mydland (Grateful Dead)

[Shagz]

thats a pretty would put togather list Im gonna look into some of the people I never heard of should be very interesting.

[DoktorShred]

no janne warman :(

[I love Muse]

52. Matt Bellamy (Muse)

About fair. Lets hope he can rise up the list!!!

[Speedy Fingers]

Jordan Rudess should be higher :angry:

[PDWAB]

Rich Vogel should be higher too. I just saw Galactic the other day and he was tearing it up.

[GurS]

wtf? why isn't jim steinman up there?

[alexi2]

no janne warman :(

If you would count children of bodom as rock then janne should definitly on that list and high

[*punk_rock_sophie*]

matt belamy only 52!! watch butterflys and hurricanes dude, i would give my left leg to play that well!!

[Rossie]

Yup, Jordan Rudess should be higher.

[I love Muse]

matt belamy only 52!! watch butterflys and hurricanes dude, i would give my left leg to play that well!!

So you can still pedal? :p

[*punk_rock_sophie*]

So you can still pedal? :p

yer hehe! i had to think about that one! :thumb:

[Speedy Fingers]

Why is Jerry Lee Lewis higher than Jordan Rudess?!?!

[I love Muse]

Because the people that make these polls think that way, and Jerry Lee Lewis is more famous than Jordan Rudess.

[Shagz]

Only a person's a opinion.
They believe what they think is best to them.

[onenationunderagroove]

how could you forget the father of rock keyboard?

JOHNNY JOHNSON!!!

no one knows who he is but hes a genius he was chuck berry's keyboardist and is often cited as the father or rock...or something like that

[lifesonguitarist]

alright geddy lees on there!!!

[ddeadheadd]

80. Mark Mancina (Yes)

Who the hell is he? ....he certainly is not a member of Yes.

[Speedy Fingers]

This is the oldest thread on the planet, I cant believe it's still going...it's not even gone past the first page too!!!

[LeeM]

i couldnt even name 20 rock keyboardists, so cool, nice list.

[LavaDevil]

How dare you forget Trent Reznor!

[Ned]

I was sure you were going to omit Paul Griffin and Mike Garson, and I expected you even to forget Jan Hammer as well, but I see that all three appear on your list: Good job. It's curious, however, that you include David Palmer (who is now Dee Palmer, by the way, having undergone a hair-color-change operation) and not John Evan(s)--or maybe he's there too and I happened to look past him.

[clearvision]

Jordan rudess should be no1

That 4NYC album he did...=amazing

[Chimpy247]

Yes, Edward Van Halen is prodominantly a guitar player, but songs like 'Jump', he plays keys on. The solo sounds quite impressive in my view.

[innermasterpeace]

Is Jon Lord really that good?!?
I never thought so...
...Deep Purple is guitar music... which I avoid.
Yes... I'm an *******.

[Ned]

Is Jon Lord really that good?!?
I never thought so...
...Deep Purple is guitar music... which I avoid.
Yes... I'm an *******.

Well, if you're going to include Eddie Van Halen, you can include pretty much anyone who ever touched a keyboard. I've always been fond of Jon Lord's playing, however.

[Ned]

Oh, the list doesn't include Eddie Van Halen, after all. That was merely chimpy's idiotic suggestion. Never mind.

[Pheonix15]

I like it, especially because u put Ray Manzarek in 4th, and he is freakin awesome.

[Ned]

I like it, especially because u put Ray Manzarek in 4th, and he is freakin awesome.

I saw Ray in concert leading his own group many, many, many years ago--more years ago than you can count. I remember I thought he was pretty good (although the music is rather a blur to me now), but it struck me he was accumulating quite a few empty beer cans on his keyboard console as he continued to play and drink--this was in a large concert hall, not a bar, you understand.

[BenFoldsGurl]

I hope that's not in order...because Ben Folds should be way higher!

[ColonelSanderz]

Disappointed to see John Paul Jones at 96. But Zeppelin was more about guitar so its probably right he's there.

[Zappa]

Nice to see Ian Underwood and George Duke on there. Two of my favorite Zappa band members.

[drumguy89]

IMO Jordan Rudess = #1

His work is so incredible and he makes everything look so easy!

***Everybody go listen to An Evening With John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess right now!***

[freakmeeko]

You think the guy form grateful dead is the worst rock keyboardist ever? Man, j0 c0d.

[unclebobscircus]

Is Jon Lord really that good?!?
I never thought so...
...Deep Purple is guitar music... which I avoid.
Yes... I'm an *******.

Listen to the first solo in Highway Star. That's Jon Lord on keyboards.

And my top 3 finished 1, 3, and 4. Not bad for a guitarist.

[Badmoon]

42. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (Grateful Dead)

Not a good pick. Pigpen hardly knew how to play keyboard, he would have even admitted it. However, the other Grateful Dead picks (Brent Mydland, Bruce Hornsby, Keith Godchaux, Vince Welnick) deserved those spots. I do believe Tom Constanten should have been on there.

[Ned]

Disappointed to see John Paul Jones at 96.

Pah! I wonder how YOU'LL look.

[freakmeeko]

Pah! I wonder how YOU'LL look.

Yet another delicious example of how Ned flames everyone. Everyone here's probably better than you.

[PepsiMetal]

Where's the guy from queen? I'd put him on number 1 because he was purely talented.

[thickasabrick]

man this thread is old!

Pigpen? he may be famous, but talentwise he probably shouldn't be up there.

i didn't know Aretha Franklin was good at keyboard.

and i woulda liked to see some of the guys from Jethro Tull (they've had a few different keys players) up there, maybe there was and i just didn't see them.

[willis2441]

you forgot john paul jones of led zeppelin.give him some god **** credit, the man can play bass,keyboards, and mandolins.one of the most underrated musicians of all time.

[ToRidTheDisease]

Trent Reznor > All.

[ToRidTheDisease]

you forgot john paul jones of led zeppelin.give him some god **** credit, the man can play bass,keyboards, and mandolins.one of the most underrated musicians of all time.
96. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)

:rolleyes:

Start opening your eyes.

[The Stormbringer]

Hensley below Sherinian is just plain wrong.

[Ned]

Yet another delicious example of how Ned flames everyone. Everyone here's probably better than you.

It's a J-O-K-E!

[Ned]

i didn't know Aretha Franklin was good at keyboard.

and i woulda liked to see some of the guys from Jethro Tull (they've had a few different keys players) up there, maybe there was and i just didn't see them.

142 David (now--having undergone a hair-color-change operation--Dee) Palmer--but where is John Evan(s)?

[garjen]

Good job listing Pete Townshend as a great keyboardist - usually people just think of him as a guitar player, but those are people that haven't listened to Quadrophenia, in which he played all piano, keys and synths.
Vote for Pete Townshend to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/garjen


1. Keith Emerson (ELP)
2. Rick Wakeman (Yes)
3. Jon Lord (Deep Purple)
4. Ray Manzarek (The Doors)
5. Jerry Lee Lewis
6. Tony Banks (Genesis)
7. Ray Charles
8. Fats Domino
9. Richard Wright (Pink Floyd)
10. Ian Underwood (The Mothers Of Invention)
11. Tony Hymas (Jeff Beck)
12. Steve Winwood (Traffic)
13. Nicky Hopkins (Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck)
14. Al Kooper (Blood Sweat & Tears)
15. Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater, The Dregs)
16. Elton John
17. Jan Hammer
18. Billy Preston
19. Billy Joel
20. Kevin Moore (Dream Theater)
21. T. Lavitz (The Dregs)
22. Brian Eno
23. Jens Johansen (Yngwie Malmsteen)
24. Stevie Wonder
25. Steve Walsh (Kansas)
26. Professor Longhair
27. Richard Tandy (ELO)
28. Gregg Allman (Allman Brothers Band)
29. Garth Hudson (The Band)
30. Don Airey (Rainbow, Ozzy, Deep Purple)
31. Allan Zavod (Frank Zappa)
32. Booker T Jones
33. Rod Argent (Zombies, Argent)
34. David Sancious (Springsteen, Santana, Sting)
35. Ian Mclagan (Rolling Stones, Faces)
36. Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello)
37. Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater)
38. Johnnie Johnson (Chuck Berry)
39. Jimmy Greenspoon (Three Dog Night)
40. Billy Powell (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
41. Huey "Piano" Smith (The Clowns)
42. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (Grateful Dead)
43. Jon Carin (Pink Floyd, Roger Waters)
44. Klaus Schulze
45. Amos Milburn
46. Allen Ravenstine (Pere Ubu)
47. Geoff Downes (Yes, Asia)
48. Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey)
49. Benmont Tench (The Heartbreakers)
50. Allen Toussaint (session man)
51. Randy Newman
52. Matt Bellamy (Muse)
53. Bob Mayo(Frampton)
54. Bruce Hornsby (B. H. & the Range, Grateful Dead)
55. Spooner Oldham (Wilson Pickett)
56. Tony Macalpine
57. Leon Russell
58. Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep)
59. Roy Bittan (E Street Band)
60. Little Richard
61. Roddy Bottum (Faith No More)
62. Alan Price (The Animals)
63. Bernie Worrell (Talking Heads, Funkadelic)
64. David Rosenthal (Rainbow)
65. Ivory Joe Hunter
66. Dr. John
67. Vincent Crane - (Arthur Brown)
68. Robert Lamm (Chicago)
69. Burton Cummings (Guess Who)
70. Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones)
71. Dennis De Young (Styx)
72. Peter Bardens
73. Bill Payne (Little Feat)
74. Jools Holland (Squeeze)
75. Mike Garson (David Bowie)
76. Bobby Whitlock (Derek & The Dominos)
77. Michael Pinella (Symphony X)
78. Mike Stoller (session man)
79. Jeff Chimenti (Rat Dog, The Dead)
80. Mark Mancina (Yes)
81. Tony Kaye (Yes)
82. Aretha Franklin
83. Eric Drew Feldman (Captain Beefheart)
84. Edgar Winter
85. Issac Hayes
86. Roger Powell (Todd Rundgren, David Bowie)
87. Gary Wright
88. Art Neville
89. Charlie Rich
90. Seth Justman (J Geils Band)
91. Alex Argento
92. James Booker
93. Eric Troyer (ELO)
94. Paul Griffin (Bob Dylan, Don Mclean)
95. Lafayette Leake (Bo Diddley)
96. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
97. Harry "Piano Man" Van Walls (session man)
98. Steve Davidowski (The Dregs)
99. Matt Guillory (Mullmuzzler)
100. Tony Carey - (Rainbow)


101. Dizzy Reed (Guns N Roses)
102. Larry Williams
103. Vince Welnick (Grateful Dead)
104. Lale Larson
105. John Cale (Velvet Underground)
106. Johnny Ace
107. Doug Ingle (Iron Butterfly)
108. Danny Federici (The E Street Band)
109. Warren Zevon
110. Page McConnell (Phish)
111. Bill Rieflin (Ministry, NIN)
112. George Duke (Frank Zappa)
113. David Bryan (Bon Jovi)
114. Rich Vogel (Galactic)
115. Neal Morse (Transatlantic, Spock's Beard)
116. Michael Mcdonald (Doobie Borothers)
117. Patrick Moraz (Refugee, Yes, Moody Blues)
118. Ryo Okumoto (Spock's Beard)
119. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
120. Steve Porcaro (Toto)
121. Eddie Jobson (UK, Roxy Music)
122. Gary Brooker (Procol Harum)
123. Keith Tippett (King Crimson)
124. John "Jojo" Herman (Widespread Panic)
125. Mike Pinder (Moody Blues)
126. Geddy Lee (Rush)
127. Lee Michaels
128. Ian Stewart (Rolling Stones)
129. Pete Townshend (The Who)
130. Mark Parrish (The Dregs)
131. Scott Warren (Dio)
132. Ben Wilson (Blues Traveler)
133. Richard Barbieri (Porcupine Tree)
134. Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac)
135. Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads)
136. Neal Doughty (REO Speedwagon)
137. Gene Taylor (Fabulous Thunderbirds)
138. Reese Wynans (Double Trouble)
139. Chris Ingles (Shadow Gallery)
140. Matt Evidon (Under The Sun)
141. Mark Robertson (Cairo, Tony Macalpine)
142. David Palmer (Jethro Tull)
143. John "Rabbit" Bundrick (The Who)
144. Keith Godchaux (Grateful Dead)
145. Kerry Livgren (Kansas)
146. Ben Folds
147. John Herndon (Tortoise)
148. Manfred Mann
149. Greg Hawkes (Cars)
150. Brent Mydland (Grateful Dead)

[mprules]

i dont know much about keyboards but who has been the best keyboardists of dream theater and what makes him better than the others / whos been the worst?

[deldelda]

An alternate list can be found at digitaldreamdoor.com.

Jordan Rudess is top 5. Simple.

[Flamacue]

Yeah, Jon Lord is awesome.

[AForgottenElement]

sorry but for me that list loses all credibility since Mark Kelly isnt in there, The marillion keyboard player should be in the top 20 at least, listen to the intros to incommunicado, garden party and others and tell me you disagree

[Chimaera One]

Found this while looking for decent Pink Floyd keyboard songs...Can I just state, I agree with Jordan Rudess being higher, and Kevin Moore, and Jon Lord is undoubtedly an amazing player, but why is Jethro Tull's Keyboardist not higher? :(. Listen to the Jazz Piano solo by the guy on Keys in "Locomotive Breath" played live! :O!

[PowerRiff45]

Wheres Janis Joplin?!