List of Famous Organists
- Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England, is a musical icon whose career has spanned more than five decades. A prodigious talent, he was playing piano at the age of three and won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at just eleven years old. His journey to stardom began in earnest in 1967 when he met Bernie Taupin, an aspiring lyricist. Their partnership, which continues today, has created some of the most memorable songs in pop history. John's first major breakthrough came with the 1970 album Elton John, which included the hit single "Your Song." This ballad propelled him into a stratosphere of success that few artists achieve, leading to an illustrious career marked by numerous chart-topping hits, sold-out world tours, and an incomparable influence on the music industry. From "Rocket Man" and "Tiny Dancer" to "Candle in the Wind" and "I'm Still Standing," his discography is filled with timeless classics. John has sold over 300 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists in history. Apart from his music, Elton John is also known for his flamboyant style and activism. He came out as gay in 1988 and has since been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. In 1992, he established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for HIV/AIDS research and prevention. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for his contributions to music and charitable services. Throughout his career, John has received countless awards and accolades, including multiple Grammys, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award, solidifying his status as a true legend in the entertainment world.The Best Elton John Albums of All TimeSee all
- 1Goodbye Yellow Brick Road804 Votes
- 2Madman Across the Water714 Votes
- 3Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy716 Votes
- David Bowie, born David Robert Jones, was an iconic figure in the world of music, renowned for his distinctive voice, eclectic musical style, and innovative approach to artistry. Born on January 8, 1947, in Brixton, London, England, Bowie's passion for music began at a young age. His early influences included Little Richard, Elvis Presley, and the jazz records played by his father. Known for his continuous reinvention, Bowie's career spanned over five decades, during which he released 27 studio albums. Bowie's breakthrough came in 1969 with his single Space Oddity, timed with the Apollo 11 moon landing. His versatility was showcased in his album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars that introduced the alter ego Ziggy Stardust, a character that personified alienation and glam rock. This was followed by a series of successful albums including Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs, and the soul-influenced Young Americans. In the late 1970s, Bowie moved towards electronic and ambient music with his Berlin Trilogy: Low, Heroes, and Lodger. Aside from music, Bowie also had a significant impact on fashion and theater. He was known for his androgynous looks and flamboyant stage outfits, influencing trends throughout his career. He also acted in films like The Man Who Fell to Earth and Labyrinth, proving his talent across multiple artistic mediums. Bowie passed away on January 10, 2016, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire musicians and artists worldwide. His innovative approach to music and his ability to constantly reinvent himself have solidified his place as one of the most influential figures in popular culture.The Best David Bowie Albums of All TimeSee all
- 1The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars1,547 Votes
- 2Hunky Dory1,384 Votes
- 3Low1,389 Votes
- Born as Farrokh Bulsara in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, Freddie Mercury is globally celebrated for his exceptional talent and charisma. He moved to England at a young age where he studied art and design at Ealing Art College, London. This education would later influence many of Queen's album covers that he designed himself. In 1970, Mercury teamed up with Brian May and Roger Taylor to form the rock band Queen, which soon became an international sensation. Mercury's distinctive voice had a remarkable range that spanned over four octaves. His flamboyant stage presence and powerful vocals made him one of the most beloved entertainers in rock music history. As the primary lyricist for Queen, Mercury penned numerous hits including "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love", and "We Are The Champions". These songs not only topped charts during their time but continue to be classics even today. Despite his early demise due to complications from AIDS at the age of 45 in 1991, Mercury remains an iconic figure in popular culture. His life was immortalized on screen through the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody which won multiple awards worldwide. Today Freddie Mercury continues to inspire millions with his music legacy - a testament to his unparalleled contribution as a musician, performer and cultural icon.
- Stevie Wonder, born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in 1950, is an iconic American musician, singer, and songwriter who has significantly influenced the world of music with his prodigious talents. Born premature and suffering from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which led to blindness shortly after birth, Wonder's disability did not deter him from pursuing a career in music. His journey began at a young age when he exhibited exceptional musical talent, playing various instruments such as the piano, harmonica, and drums. Recognizing his potential, Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, signed him at the tender age of 11. Over the years, Wonder's musical prowess has transcended time and genres, making him one of the most successful and innovative musicians in the second half of the 20th century. He has released numerous hit singles and albums, including "Superstition," "Sir Duke," and "I Just Called to Say I Love You," that have topped charts globally. His album Songs in the Key of Life is often hailed as a masterpiece, showcasing his unique blend of pop, soul, funk, and jazz. Wonder's contributions to music have earned him countless accolades, including an impressive tally of 25 Grammy Awards, cementing his place among music's elite. Beyond his music, Wonder is also renowned for his humanitarian and political activism. He has been instrumental in campaigning for civil rights and against apartheid, demonstrating his commitment to social justice issues. His efforts culminated in the realization of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday in the United States, following his release of the tribute song "Happy Birthday." Despite the obstacles he faced, Stevie Wonder's life and career are a testament to his resilience, creativity, and unwavering dedication to using his platform to effect positive change.The Best Stevie Wonder Songs of All TimeSee all
- 1Superstition558 Votes
2For Once in My Life387 Votes- 3Isn't She Lovely426 Votes
- Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O.S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period. He is known for instrumental compositions such as the Art of Fugue, the Brandenburg Concertos, and the Goldberg Variations, and for vocal music such as the St Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor. Since the 19th-century Bach Revival he has been generally regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Western art musical canon.The Bach family already counted several composers when Johann Sebastian was born as the last child of a city musician in Eisenach. After being orphaned at age 10, he lived for five years with his eldest brother Johann Christoph Bach, after which he continued his musical development in Lüneburg. From 1703 he was back in Thuringia, working as a musician for Protestant churches in Arnstadt and Mühlhausen and, for longer stretches of time, at courts in Weimar—where he expanded his repertoire for the organ—and Köthen—where he was mostly engaged with chamber music. From 1723 he was employed as Thomaskantor (cantor at St. Thomas) in Leipzig. He composed music for the principal Lutheran churches of the city, and for its university's student ensemble Collegium Musicum. From 1726 he published some of his keyboard music. In Leipzig, as had happened during some of his earlier positions, he had difficult relations with his employer, a situation that was little remedied when he was granted the title of court composer by his sovereign, Augustus, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, in 1736. In the last decades of his life he reworked and extended many of his earlier compositions. He died of complications after eye surgery in 1750 at the age of 65. Bach enriched established German styles through his mastery of counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and his adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy and France. Bach's compositions include hundreds of cantatas, both sacred and secular. He composed Latin church music, Passions, oratorios, and motets. He often adopted Lutheran hymns, not only in his larger vocal works, but for instance also in his four-part chorales and sacred songs. He wrote extensively for organ and for other keyboard instruments. He composed concertos, for instance for violin and for harpsichord, and suites, as chamber music as well as for orchestra. Many of his works employ contrapuntal genres such as fugue. Throughout the 18th century Bach was mostly renowned as an organist, while his keyboard music, such as The Well-Tempered Clavier, was appreciated for its didactic qualities. The 19th century saw the publication of some major Bach biographies, and by the end of that century all of his known music had been printed. Dissemination of scholarship on the composer continued through periodicals exclusively devoted to him, and publications such as the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV, a numbered catalogue of his works) and new critical editions of his compositions. His music was further popularised through a multitude of arrangements, including the Air on the G String.
- Billy Joel, born William Martin Joel on May 9, 1949, in the Bronx, New York, is a renowned American musician, singer-songwriter, and composer. His musical journey began at a young age when he started piano lessons at his mother's behest, laying the foundation for what would become an illustrious career. An alumnus of Hicksville High School in Long Island, Joel's high school years were marked by a growing passion for music that culminated in him joining the Echoes, a British Invasion cover band, even before his graduation. Joel's breakthrough came in 1973 with the release of Piano Man, a song that not only became his first major hit but also earned him his nickname. This song solidified his reputation as a gifted storyteller capable of capturing the human experience through his lyrics. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he released a series of successful albums including The Stranger and 52nd Street, both of which topped the U.S. album charts. His ability to seamlessly blend various musical styles, from pop and rock to jazz and classical, resulted in a diverse discography that appealed to a broad audience. Beyond his success in the music industry, Joel's life has been characterized by resilience in the face of personal and professional challenges. His battles with substance abuse and high-profile divorces have been well-documented, yet he has continued to create music and perform, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to his craft. In recognition of his contributions to music, Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2013.
- George Harrison, widely recognized as the lead guitarist of the Beatles, was born on February 25, 1943, in Liverpool, England. From a young age, he showcased an affinity for music, particularly for guitars, which later propelled him to international stardom. Despite his humble beginnings, his talent and determination led him to become one of the most influential guitarists in the history of rock music. His work with the Beatles, from their formation in 1960 until their disbandment in 1970, brought forth a new era in music, with songs like "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Something," and "Here Comes the Sun" standing as timeless classics. Harrison's role in the Beatles, however, was not limited to his guitar playing. He also contributed significantly to the band's songwriting, often exploring themes of spirituality and introspection. His interest in Hinduism, Indian culture, and Eastern musical influences were evident in many of his compositions. This distinct flavor added another dimension to the Beatles' music, making it more diverse and eclectic. Post-Beatles, Harrison embarked on a successful solo career, releasing several acclaimed albums like All Things Must Pass and Living in the Material World. Beyond his musical accomplishments, Harrison was also known for his philanthropic efforts. In 1971, he organized the Concert for Bangladesh, a landmark event in the history of benefit concerts. His dedication to humanitarian causes continued throughout his life, leaving an indelible mark on the world. George Harrison passed away on November 29, 2001, but his legacy continues to inspire generations of musicians and fans alike.
- James Brown, often dubbed "the Godfather of Soul," was a seminal figure in the evolution of rhythm and blues into soul music and funk. Born on May 3, 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina, Brown's early life was marked by extreme poverty and abandonment. Despite the hardships, he discovered his love for music and performance at a young age, which propelled him to rise above his circumstances and become one of the most influential musical icons of the 20th century. Brown began his career as a gospel singer with the group The Gospel Starlighters. However, his breakthrough came in the mid-1950s when he joined The Famous Flames as a lead vocalist. His electrifying performances and unique blend of rhythm and blues, gospel, and jazz elements soon grabbed international attention. His hit singles such as "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me" set the stage for a new era of soul music. By the 1960s, Brown had also pioneered funk music with hits like "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)," earning him another title - "the Hardest Working Man in Show Business." Brown's influence extended beyond music. He was an active figure during the Civil Rights Movement, using his platform to advocate for black empowerment and social change. His song "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" became an anthem for the movement. Despite personal struggles and legal troubles later in life, Brown's legacy as a trailblazer in music and social activism remains intact. His groundbreaking sound and dynamic performances continue to inspire generations of musicians across various genres. James Brown passed away on December 25, 2006, but his music and his message continue to reverberate, underscoring his enduring impact on the world of music and beyond.
- Brian Wilson, born on June 20, 1942, in Inglewood, California, is a legendary figure in the world of music. Known for his artistic prowess as a singer, songwriter, and record producer, Wilson etched his name into the annals of pop culture history as a co-founder and lead member of The Beach Boys, one of America's most iconic rock bands. His contributions to music have been recognized with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and by winning a Grammy Award for his solo work. Wilson's musical journey is marked by innovation and resilience. He was the principal songwriter behind The Beach Boys' success in the 1960s, composing many of their biggest hits such as "Good Vibrations," and "I Get Around". His experimental approach to harmonies, melodies, and recording techniques, particularly on the album Pet Sounds, significantly influenced the music industry and continues to inspire musicians to this day. Despite battling mental health issues that caused him to retreat from public life periodically, Wilson continued to produce music that resonated with millions around the globe. Beyond his work with The Beach Boys, Wilson also found success as a solo artist. His eponymous debut album was released in 1988, followed by several others, including Smile - a project originally intended for The Beach Boys but completed and released by Wilson in 2004. This album was met with critical acclaim and won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Brian Wilson's enduring influence and innovative spirit have made him a celebrated figure in popular music, cementing his legacy as a true musical genius.
- Robert Smith is best known as the frontman of the influential rock band, The Cure. His iconic appearance, replete with smeared red lipstick, black eyeliner, and disheveled hair, has become emblematic of the post-punk era, and his musical contributions have cemented him as a major figure in alternative music. Born on April 21, 1959, in Blackpool, England, Smith's musical journey began at an early age. His brother Richard introduced him to the guitar when he was just six, sparking a passion that would guide the course of his life. Initially, Smith didn't intend to be a musician; he was more focused on his studies. However, in 1976, together with school friends Michael Dempsey, Laurence Tolhurst, and Porl Thompson, he formed The Easy Cure, which would later become The Cure. The band quickly gained traction, with their debut album Three Imaginary Boys receiving critical acclaim. Smith's poignant lyrics and distinctive voice became the band's signature, creating an immersive soundscape resonating with fans worldwide. Over the years, The Cure has released several albums, with noteworthy ones like Disintegration and Wish, solidifying their status as one of the most iconic bands of the 20th century. Despite numerous lineup changes, Smith remained the consistent face and creative force behind the band's enduring success. His contributions to music have been widely recognized, earning him and the band a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Beyond The Cure, Smith has also worked with other notable artists, including Siouxsie and the Banshees and Billy Corgan, further demonstrating his versatility and influence in the music industry.
- The first ever male African-American to win a Grammy Award, jazz pianist and bandleader Count Basie helped to define the swing era with his distinctive blend of minimal sparse solos and jumping beats. Mentored by the likes of Fats Waller and Willie 'The Lion' Smith, Basie began his career performing in various groups around the major jazz cities before forming the orchestra that he would go on to lead for over half a century. Responsible for launching the careers of such seminal musicians as Lester Young, Buck Clayton and Freddie Green, Basie also helped to showcase the talents of legendary vocalists Billie Holiday, Jimmy Rushing and Joe Williams, and unlike many of his peers, managed to remain a key musical figure long after the big band sound's decline in popularity.
- Gregory LeNoir Allman (December 8, 1947 – May 27, 2017) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He was known for performing in the Allman Brothers Band. Allman grew up with an interest in rhythm and blues music, and the Allman Brothers Band fused it with rock music, jazz, and country at times. He wrote several of the band's biggest songs, including "Whipping Post", "Melissa", and "Midnight Rider". Allman also had a successful solo career, releasing seven studio albums. He was born and spent much of his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee, before relocating to Daytona Beach, Florida and then Richmond Hill, GA. He and his brother, Duane Allman, formed the Allman Brothers Band in 1969, which reached mainstream success with their 1971 live album At Fillmore East. Shortly thereafter, Duane was killed in a motorcycle crash. The band continued, with Brothers and Sisters (1973) their most successful album. Allman began a solo career with Laid Back the same year, and was perhaps most famous for his marriage to pop star Cher for the rest of the decade. He had an unexpected late career hit with his cover of the song "I'm No Angel" in 1987, and his seventh solo album, Low Country Blues (2011), saw the highest chart positions of his career. Throughout his life, Allman struggled with alcohol and substance abuse, which formed the basis of his memoir My Cross to Bear (2012). His final album, Southern Blood, was released posthumously on September 8, 2017. Allman performed with a Hammond organ and guitar, and was recognized for his soulful voice. For his work in music, Allman was referred to as a Southern rock pioneer and received numerous awards, including one Grammy Award; he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. His distinctive voice placed him in 70th place in the Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".
- Antonín Leopold Dvořák ( d(ə-)VOR-zha(h)k, Czech: [ˈantoɲiːn ˈlɛopold ˈdvor̝aːk] (listen); 8 September 1841 – 1 May 1904) was a Czech composer, one of the first to achieve worldwide recognition. Following the Romantic-era nationalist example of his predecessor Bedřich Smetana, Dvořák frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák's own style has been described as "the fullest recreation of a national idiom with that of the symphonic tradition, absorbing folk influences and finding effective ways of using them".Dvořák displayed his musical gifts at an early age, being an apt violin student from age six. The first public performances of his works were in Prague in 1872 and, with special success, in 1873, when he was aged 31. Seeking recognition beyond the Prague area, he submitted a score of his First Symphony to a prize competition in Germany, but did not win, and the unreturned manuscript was lost until rediscovered many decades later. In 1874 he made a submission to the Austrian State Prize for Composition, including scores of two further symphonies and other works. Although Dvořák was not aware of it, Johannes Brahms was the leading member of the jury and was highly impressed. The prize was awarded to Dvořák in 1874 and again in 1876 and in 1877, when Brahms and the prominent critic Eduard Hanslick, also a member of the jury, made themselves known to him. Brahms recommended Dvořák to his publisher, Simrock, who soon afterward commissioned what became the Slavonic Dances, Op. 46. These were highly praised by the Berlin music critic Louis Ehlert in 1878, the sheet music (of the original piano 4-hands version) had excellent sales, and Dvořák's international reputation was launched at last. Dvořák's first piece of a religious nature, his setting of Stabat Mater, was premiered in Prague in 1880. It was very successfully performed in London in 1883, leading to many other performances in the United Kingdom and United States. In his career, Dvořák made nine invited visits to England, often conducting performances of his own works. His Seventh Symphony was written for London. Visiting Russia in March 1890, he conducted concerts of his own music in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. In 1891 Dvořák was appointed as a professor at the Prague Conservatory. In 1890–91, he wrote his Dumky Trio, one of his most successful chamber music pieces. In 1892, Dvořák moved to the United States and became the director of the National Conservatory of Music of America in New York City. While in the United States, Dvořák wrote his two most successful orchestral works: the Symphony From the New World, which spread his reputation worldwide, and his Cello Concerto, one of the most highly regarded of all cello concerti. He also wrote his most appreciated piece of chamber music, the American String Quartet, during this time. But shortfalls in payment of his salary, along with increasing recognition in Europe and an onset of homesickness, led him to leave the United States and return to Bohemia in 1895. All of Dvořák's nine operas but his first have librettos in Czech and were intended to convey Czech national spirit, as were some of his choral works. By far the most successful of the operas is Rusalka. Among his smaller works, the seventh Humoresque and the song "Songs My Mother Taught Me" are also widely performed and recorded. He has been described as "arguably the most versatile... composer of his time".
- James Taylor, one of the most influential singer-songwriters in the music industry, has had a long and illustrious career. Born on March 12, 1948, in Boston, Massachusetts, Taylor's love for music was cultivated at a young age. His upbringing in a musically rich family environment laid the groundwork for his future success. He learned to play the cello as a child before switching to guitar, which eventually became his primary instrument. Taylor's career skyrocketed when he signed with The Beatles' Apple Records in 1968, making him the first non-British artist to be signed by the label. His breakthrough album, Sweet Baby James, released in 1970, brought him international acclaim. This album featured the hit single "Fire and Rain," which quickly climbed the charts and solidified Taylor's place in the music industry. His distinctive style of blending folk, rock, and pop elements, coupled with his warm baritone voice and deeply personal lyrics, resonated with audiences worldwide. Over the course of his career, Taylor has received numerous accolades for his significant contributions to music. He has won multiple Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Performance and Album of the Year. In 2000, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a testament to his enduring influence on popular music. His legacy continues to inspire generations of musicians and music lovers alike.
- Gregory Walter Graffin, Ph.D (born November 6, 1964) is an American punk rock singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, college lecturer, and author. He is most recognized as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and only constant member of the noted Los Angeles band Bad Religion, which he co-founded in 1980. He also embarked on a solo career in 1997, when he released the album American Lesion. His follow-up album, Cold as the Clay was released nine years later. Graffin obtained his PhD in the history of science at Cornell University and has lectured courses in natural sciences at both the University of California, Los Angeles and at Cornell University.
- Lionel Hampton worked on a variety of projects during his entertainment career. Hampton had an early acting career in film, appearing in such titles as "A Song Is Born" (1948), the Steve Allen biopic "The Benny Goodman Story" (1955) and the Alan Freed musical "Mister Rock and Roll" (1957). He also appeared in "No Maps on My Taps" (1978). Hampton worked in television around the start of his acting career with a role on "Austin City Limits" (PBS, 1974-2015). Hampton also contributed music to "The Atomic Cafe" (1982) with Kevin Rafferty. In the eighties and the nineties, Hampton's music continued to appear on the silver screen, including in films like the comedy "Losin' It" (1983) with Tom Cruise, "Pobre Mariposa" (1986) and the adaptation "Memphis Belle" (1990) with Matthew Modine. Hampton's music was also featured in the Nicolas Cage dramatic adaptation "City of Angels" (1998), "Focus" (2001) with William H. Macy and the Julia Roberts dramatic period piece "Mona Lisa Smile" (2003). His music was also featured in the thrilling mystery "Hollywoodland" (2006) with Adrien Brody and the romantic comedy "Music and Lyrics" (2007) with Hugh Grant. Hampton's music was most recently featured in the Keanu Reeves action flick "John Wick" (2014).
- Barbara Harbach is a composer, harpsichordist, organist and teacher. Since 2004, she has been Professor of Music at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She founded Women in the Arts-St. Louis to highlight women's work and gain more performances for musicians and composers. A number of her pieces have been recorded by the Slovak Symphony Orchestra; its recording of a collection of her music released in 2008 received three major classical music awards. In 1989 Harbach founded the small Vivace Press, to publish music by underrepresented composers. In 1993 she was a co-founder of the journal, Women of Note Quarterly, and continues as its editor.
- Isaac Hayes, a name that resonates powerfully in the world of music and acting, was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and producer. Born on August 20, 1942, in Covington, Tennessee, Hayes endured a challenging childhood, losing both parents at a young age and being raised by his grandparents. Despite these hardships, Hayes found solace in music, teaching himself how to play piano, organ, and saxophone. His natural talent for music led him to become a session musician for Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, a pivotal moment that would shape his career. Hayes's contribution to the music industry is remarkable. He is best known for his work during the 1960s and 1970s when he helped shape the Southern soul and Memphis soul genres. As a songwriter, Hayes, alongside his writing partner David Porter, penned numerous hits for other artists, including Sam & Dave's "Soul Man." However, his most significant achievement came in 1971 with the release of the soundtrack for the film Shaft, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Song. This made Hayes the first African-American to win an Oscar in a non-acting category. Moreover, Hayes's talents were not confined to the realm of music. He also had a successful acting career. Perhaps his most memorable role was as the voice of Chef, a loveable school cafeteria worker, in the popular animated series South Park. This role brought a new generation of fans to Hayes and showcased his versatility as an entertainer. Despite facing personal and financial difficulties later in life, Hayes left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry before his death in 2008. His legacy continues to inspire countless musicians and actors worldwide.
- Anton Szandor LaVey (born Howard Stanton Levey; April 11, 1930 – October 29, 1997) was an American author, musician, and occultist. He was the founder of the Church of Satan and the religion of LaVeyan Satanism. He authored several books, including The Satanic Bible, The Satanic Rituals, The Satanic Witch, The Devil's Notebook, and Satan Speaks! In addition, he released three albums, including The Satanic Mass, Satan Takes a Holiday, and Strange Music. He played a minor on-screen role and served as technical advisor for the 1975 film The Devil's Rain and served as host and narrator for Nick Bougas' 1989 mondo film Death Scenes.LaVey was the subject of numerous articles in news media throughout the world, including popular magazines such as Look, McCall's, Newsweek, and Time, and men's magazines. He also appeared on talk shows such as The Joe Pyne Show, Donahue and The Tonight Show, and in two feature-length documentaries: Satanis in 1970 and Speak of the Devil: The Canon of Anton LaVey in 1993. Two official biographies have been written on LaVey, including The Devil's Avenger by Burton H. Wolfe, published in 1974, and The Secret Life of a Satanist by Blanche Barton, published in 1990. Historian of Satanism Gareth J. Medway described LaVey as a "born showman", with anthropologist Jean La Fontaine describing him as a "colourful figure of considerable personal magnetism". Academic scholars of Satanism Per Faxneld and Jesper Aa. Petersen described LaVey as "the most iconic figure in the Satanic milieu". LaVey was labeled many things by journalists, religious detractors, and Satanists alike, including "The Father of Satanism", the "St. Paul of Satanism", "The Black Pope", and the "evilest man in the world".
- Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific output, and theatrical performances. For much of his career, Ra led "The Arkestra", an ensemble with an ever-changing name and flexible line-up. Born and raised in Alabama, Blount became involved in the Chicago jazz scene during the late 1940s. He soon abandoned his birth name, taking the name Le Sony'r Ra, shortened to Sun Ra (after Ra, the Egyptian God of the Sun). He developed a complex persona and an idiosyncratic, myth-based credo that would make him a pioneer of Afrofuturism. He claimed to be an alien from Saturn on a mission to preach peace, and throughout his life he publicly denied ties to his prior identity.His widely eclectic and avant-garde music echoed the entire history of jazz, from ragtime and early New Orleans hot jazz, to swing music, bebop, free jazz and fusion. His compositions ranged from keyboard solos to works for big bands of over 30 musicians, along with electronic excursions, songs, chants, percussion pieces, and anthems. From the mid-1950s until his death, Ra led the musical collective The Arkestra (which featured artists such as Marshall Allen, John Gilmore and June Tyson throughout its various iterations). Its performances often included dancers and musicians dressed in elaborate, futuristic costumes inspired by ancient Egyptian attire and the Space Age. (Following Ra's illness-forced retirement in 1992, the band remained active as The Sun Ra Arkestra, and, as of 2018, continues performing under the leadership of veteran Ra sideman Marshall Allen.)Though his mainstream success was limited, Sun Ra was a prolific recording artist and frequent live performer, and remained both influential and controversial throughout his life for his music and persona. He is now widely considered an innovator; among his distinctions are his pioneering work in free improvisation and modal jazz and his early use of electronic keyboards and synthesizers. Over the course of his career, he recorded dozens of singles and over one hundred full-length albums, comprising well over 1000 songs, making him one of the most prolific recording artists of the 20th century.
- Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos for violin and cello, and two symphonies. He also composed choral works, including The Dream of Gerontius, chamber music and songs. He was appointed Master of the King's Musick in 1924. Although Elgar is often regarded as a typically English composer, most of his musical influences were not from England but from continental Europe. He felt himself to be an outsider, not only musically, but socially. In musical circles dominated by academics, he was a self-taught composer; in Protestant Britain, his Roman Catholicism was regarded with suspicion in some quarters; and in the class-conscious society of Victorian and Edwardian Britain, he was acutely sensitive about his humble origins even after he achieved recognition. He nevertheless married the daughter of a senior British army officer. She inspired him both musically and socially, but he struggled to achieve success until his forties, when after a series of moderately successful works his Enigma Variations (1899) became immediately popular in Britain and overseas. He followed the Variations with a choral work, The Dream of Gerontius (1900), based on a Roman Catholic text that caused some disquiet in the Anglican establishment in Britain, but it became, and has remained, a core repertory work in Britain and elsewhere. His later full-length religious choral works were well received but have not entered the regular repertory. In his fifties, Elgar composed a symphony and a violin concerto that were immensely successful. His second symphony and his cello concerto did not gain immediate public popularity and took many years to achieve a regular place in the concert repertory of British orchestras. Elgar's music came, in his later years, to be seen as appealing chiefly to British audiences. His stock remained low for a generation after his death. It began to revive significantly in the 1960s, helped by new recordings of his works. Some of his works have, in recent years, been taken up again internationally, but the music continues to be played more in Britain than elsewhere. Elgar has been described as the first composer to take the gramophone seriously. Between 1914 and 1925, he conducted a series of acoustic recordings of his works. The introduction of the moving-coil microphone in 1923 made far more accurate sound reproduction possible, and Elgar made new recordings of most of his major orchestral works and excerpts from The Dream of Gerontius.
- Giovanni Battista Draghi (Italian pronunciation: [dʒoˈvanni batˈtista ˈdraːɡi]; 4 January 1710 – 16 or 17 March 1736), often referred to as Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (Italian: [perɡoˈleːzi; -eːsi]), was an Italian composer, violinist and organist. His best-known works include his Stabat Mater and the opera La serva padrona (The Maid Turned Mistress). His compositions include operas and sacred music. He died of tuberculosis at the age of 26.
- Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (French: [ʃaʁl kamij sɛ̃ sɑ̃(s)]; 9 October 1835 – 16 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic era. His best-known works include Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863), the Second Piano Concerto (1868), the First Cello Concerto (1872), Danse macabre (1874), the opera Samson and Delilah (1877), the Third Violin Concerto (1880), the Third ("Organ") Symphony (1886) and The Carnival of the Animals (1886). Saint-Saëns was a musical prodigy; he made his concert debut at the age of ten. After studying at the Paris Conservatoire he followed a conventional career as a church organist, first at Saint-Merri, Paris and, from 1858, La Madeleine, the official church of the French Empire. After leaving the post twenty years later, he was a successful freelance pianist and composer, in demand in Europe and the Americas. As a young man, Saint-Saëns was enthusiastic for the most modern music of the day, particularly that of Schumann, Liszt and Wagner, although his own compositions were generally within a conventional classical tradition. He was a scholar of musical history, and remained committed to the structures worked out by earlier French composers. This brought him into conflict in his later years with composers of the impressionist and dodecaphonic schools of music; although there were neoclassical elements in his music, foreshadowing works by Stravinsky and Les Six, he was often regarded as a reactionary in the decades around the time of his death. Saint-Saëns held only one teaching post, at the École de Musique Classique et Religieuse in Paris, and remained there for less than five years. It was nevertheless important in the development of French music: his students included Gabriel Fauré, among whose own later pupils was Maurice Ravel. Both of them were strongly influenced by Saint-Saëns, whom they revered as a genius.
- Gabriel Urbain Fauré (French: [ɡabʁiɛl yʁbɛ̃ fɔʁe]; 12 May 1845 – 4 November 1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th-century composers. Among his best-known works are his Pavane, Requiem, Sicilienne, nocturnes for piano and the songs "Après un rêve" and "Clair de lune". Although his best-known and most accessible compositions are generally his earlier ones, Fauré composed many of his most highly regarded works in his later years, in a more harmonically and melodically complex style. Fauré was born into a cultured but not especially musical family. His talent became clear when he was a small boy. At the age of nine, he was sent to a music college in Paris, where he was trained to be a church organist and choirmaster. Among his teachers was Camille Saint-Saëns, who became a lifelong friend. After graduating from the college in 1865, Fauré earned a modest living as an organist and teacher, leaving him little time for composition. When he became successful in his middle age, holding the important posts of organist of the Église de la Madeleine and director of the Paris Conservatoire, he still lacked time for composing; he retreated to the countryside in the summer holidays to concentrate on composition. By his last years, Fauré was recognised in France as the leading French composer of his day. An unprecedented national musical tribute was held for him in Paris in 1922, headed by the president of the French Republic. Outside France, Fauré's music took decades to become widely accepted, except in Britain, where he had many admirers during his lifetime. Fauré's music has been described as linking the end of Romanticism with the modernism of the second quarter of the 20th century. When he was born, Chopin was still composing, and by the time of Fauré's death, jazz and the atonal music of the Second Viennese School were being heard. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, which describes him as the most advanced composer of his generation in France, notes that his harmonic and melodic innovations influenced the teaching of harmony for later generations. During the last twenty years of his life, he suffered from increasing deafness. In contrast with the charm of his earlier music, his works from this period are sometimes elusive and withdrawn in character, and at other times turbulent and impassioned.
Hugh Paddick
Hugh William Paddick (22 August 1915 – 9 November 2000) was an English actor, whose most notable role was in the 1960s BBC radio show Round the Horne, in sketches such as "Charles and Fiona" (as Charles) and "Julian and Sandy" (as Julian). Both he and Kenneth Williams are largely responsible for introducing the underground language polari to the British public.Paddick also enjoyed success as Percival Browne in the original West End production of The Boy Friend, in 1954.- Josef Anton Bruckner (German: [ˈantɔn ˈbʁʊknɐ] (listen); (1824-09-04)4 September 1824 – (1896-10-11)11 October 1896) was an Austrian composer, organist, and music theorist best known for his symphonies, masses, Te Deum and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, strongly polyphonic character, and considerable length. Bruckner's compositions helped to define contemporary musical radicalism, owing to their dissonances, unprepared modulations, and roving harmonies. Unlike other musical radicals such as Richard Wagner and Hugo Wolf, Bruckner showed extreme humility before other musicians, Wagner in particular. This apparent dichotomy between Bruckner the person and Bruckner the composer hampers efforts to describe his life in a way that gives a straightforward context for his music. Hans von Bülow described him as "half genius, half simpleton". Bruckner was self-critical of his work, and often reworked his compositions. There are several versions of many of his works. His works, the symphonies in particular, had detractors, most notably the influential Austrian critic Eduard Hanslick, and other supporters of Johannes Brahms who pointed to their large size and use of repetition, as well as to Bruckner's propensity for revising many of his works, often with the assistance of colleagues, and his apparent indecision about which versions he preferred. On the other hand, Bruckner was greatly admired by subsequent composers, including his friend Gustav Mahler.
- John Douglas Lord (9 June 1941 – 16 July 2012) was an English composer, pianist, and Hammond organ player known for his pioneering work in fusing rock with classical or baroque forms, especially with Deep Purple, as well as Whitesnake, Paice Ashton Lord, The Artwoods, and The Flower Pot Men. In 1968, Lord co-founded Deep Purple, a hard rock band of which he was regarded as the leader until 1970. Together with the other members, he collaborated on most of his band's most popular songs. He and drummer Ian Paice were the only continuous presence in the band during the period from 1968 to 1976, and also from when it was reestablished in 1984 until Lord's retirement from Deep Purple in 2002. On 11 November 2010, he was inducted as an Honorary Fellow of Stevenson College in Edinburgh, Scotland. On 15 July 2011, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree at De Montfort Hall by the University of Leicester. Lord was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 8 April 2016 as a member of Deep Purple.
- Daniel Rogers Pinkham, Jr. (June 5, 1923 – December 18, 2006) was an American composer, organist, and harpsichordist.
- Richard Christopher Wakeman (born 18 May 1949) is an English keyboardist, songwriter, producer, television and radio presenter, and author. He is best known for being in the progressive rock band Yes across five tenures between 1971 and 2004 and for his solo albums released in the 1970s. He is a current member of Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman. Born and raised in West London, Wakeman intended to be a concert pianist but quit his studies at the Royal College of Music in 1969 to become a full-time session musician. His early sessions included playing on "Space Oddity", among others, for David Bowie, and songs by Junior's Eyes, T. Rex, Elton John, and Cat Stevens. Wakeman became a member of Strawbs in 1970 before joining Yes a year later, playing on some of their most successful albums across two stints until 1980. Wakeman began his solo career in 1973; his most successful albums are his first three: The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973), Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974), and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1975), all concept albums. He formed his rock band, The English Rock Ensemble, in 1974, with which he continues to perform, and scored his first film, Lisztomania (1975). Wakeman pursued solo projects in the 1980s that varied in levels of success; his most successful album was 1984, released in 1981, which was followed by his minor pop hit single, "Glory Boys", from Silent Nights (1985). He hosted the television show Gastank, and recorded his first of several New-age, ambient, and Christian music albums with Country Airs (1986) and The Gospels (1987), respectively. From 1988 to 1990 he was a member of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe which led to his third Yes stint until 1992. He returned twice more between 1995 and 2004, during which he completed several more solo projects and tours, including his most significant of the decade, Return to the Centre of the Earth (1999). Wakeman continues to record albums and perform concerts worldwide in various capacities; his most recent album is Piano Odyssey (2018). Wakeman's discography includes over 90 solo albums that range from several musical styles. He has made many television and radio appearances; in recent years he became known for his contributions to the BBC comedy series Grumpy Old Men, Watchdog and his radio show on Planet Rock that aired from 2005 to 2010. Wakeman has written three books; an autobiography and two memoirs. In 2017, Wakeman was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Yes.
- Richard William Wright (28 July 1943 – 15 September 2008) was an English musician, composer, singer, and songwriter. He was a founder member, keyboardist, and vocalist of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, performing on all but one of the group's albums including The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Division Bell, and playing on all of their tours.Wright grew up in Hatch End, Middlesex and met future Pink Floyd bandmates Roger Waters and Nick Mason while studying architecture at the Regent Street Polytechnic. After being joined by frontman and songwriter Syd Barrett, the group found commercial success in 1967 before Barrett's instability led to him being replaced by David Gilmour and Wright taking over songwriting duties with Waters. Initially a straightforward singer/songwriter, Wright later acted as an arranger to Waters and Gilmour's compositions. He began to contribute less towards the end of the 1970s and left the band after touring The Wall in 1981. He rejoined the band as a session player in 1987 for A Momentary Lapse of Reason, and became a full-time member again for The Division Bell in 1994. Sessions with Wright during this period were later released on the album The Endless River. Away from Pink Floyd, Wright recorded two solo albums, including a collaboration with Anthony Moore on Broken China, and briefly formed the duo Zee. After rejoining Waters, Mason and Gilmour as Pink Floyd for Live 8 in 2005, he became part of Gilmour's regular solo touring band, singing occasional lead on songs such as "Arnold Layne", before his death in September 2008. Overshadowed by bandmates Barrett, Waters and Gilmour, Wright was the quietest and most reserved member of Pink Floyd. His contributions have sometimes been overlooked, but his death brought a reappraisal and recognition of his talents. His jazz and improvisation influences and keyboard performances were an important part of the Pink Floyd sound. As well as being a prominent player of the Farfisa and Hammond organs and the Kurzweil synthesizer, Wright sang regularly in the band and occasionally took the lead vocal on Pink Floyd songs such as "Time", "Remember a Day" and "Wearing the Inside Out".
- Sly Stone (born Sylvester Stewart, March 15, 1943) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer who is most famous for his role as frontman for Sly and the Family Stone, a band that played a critical role in the development of soul, funk, rock, and psychedelia in the 1960s and 1970s.Raised in California, Stone mastered several instruments at an early age and performed gospel music as a child with siblings (and future bandmates) Freddie and Rose. In the mid-1960s, he worked as both a record producer for Autumn Records and a disc jockey for San Francisco radio station KSOL, In 1966, Stone formed Sly & the Family Stone, among the first racially integrated, male and female acts in popular music. The group would score hits such as "Dance to the Music" (1968), "Everyday People" (1968), and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" (1969), and acclaimed albums such as Stand! (1969) and There's a Riot Goin' On (1971). By the mid-1970s, Stone's drug problems and erratic behavior effectively ended the group, leaving him to record several unsuccessful solo albums. In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the group.
- Pianist Keith Jarrett was a prodigy from an early age. Born in Pennsylvania, he began playing piano at age two, appeared in a TV talent program at three, and gave a classical recital at five. He studied music through his teens, rejecting an offer to work in Paris with Nadia Boulanger and instead attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After moving to New York and playing club dates, he was recruited by drummer Art Blakey to join the Jazz Messengers, making his recorded debut on the 1966 live album Buttercorn Lady; future solo star Chuck Mangione was also in that lineup. Jarrett than joined saxophonist Charles Lloyd in a seminal quartet with drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist Cecil McBee; together they made the album Forest Flower which saw crossover success among the hippie audience in 1968. Hippie culture was also an influence on Jarrett's early solo release, Restoration Ruin, a Dylanesque folk-rock album unlike anything else in his catalogue. In another about-face he then joined up with Miles Davis, who had recently made Bitches Brew and was headed into his most extreme electric phase. His 1970 stint with Davis was captured on several live albums, which feature Jarrett's keyboard interplay with the young Chick Corea. The electric direction would continue on Jarrett's early '70s albums, with notable contributors including Dewey Redman (sax), Airto Moriera (percussion) and Charlie Haden (bass). By the mid-70s Jarrett was leading two separate quartets, one European and one American, drawing from classical and folk sources along with post-bop and free jazz. After his brief fusion period, he decided he was opposed to playing electric instruments. A turning point in Jarrett's career was the late-1971 release of Facing You, his first solo piano album for the fledgling ECM label. His complex, lyrical improvisations (often accompanied by spontaneous vocalizations) would become his trademark, and an influence on the New Age genre. 1975's entirely improvised double album The Koln Concert sold 3.5 million copies and became the best-selling solo piano album in history; a Japanese tour the following year was released as a 10-LP set, Sun Bear Concerts. His improvised shows continued to be a popular and critical success, captured on a further string of live albums. In 1983 he formed a new trio with DeJohnette on drums and bassist Gary Peacock; they recorded extensively and divided their repertoire between free improvisations and arrangements of standards. During 1988 he returned to classical music with an album of Bach pieces, launching an ongoing series of classical recordings. Despite a late-'90s break from performing caused by chronic fatigue syndrome, Jarrett continued to work prolifically as a soloist and bandleader. In 2015 two simultaneous albums, the solo jazz Creation and a classical album of Bartok and Barber pieces, were released to commemorate his 70th birthday.
- Tom Constanten (born March 19, 1944, Long Branch, New Jersey, United States) is an American keyboardist, best known for playing with Grateful Dead from 1968 to 1970.
- Johann Pachelbel (baptised 1 September 1653 – buried 9 March 1706) was a German composer, organist, and teacher who brought the south German organ schools to their peak. He composed a large body of sacred and secular music, and his contributions to the development of the chorale prelude and fugue have earned him a place among the most important composers of the middle Baroque era.Pachelbel's music enjoyed enormous popularity during his lifetime; he had many pupils and his music became a model for the composers of south and central Germany. Today, Pachelbel is best known for the Canon in D, as well as the Chaconne in F minor, the Toccata in E minor for organ, and the Hexachordum Apollinis, a set of keyboard variations.He was influenced by southern German composers, such as Johann Jakob Froberger and Johann Caspar Kerll, Italians such as Girolamo Frescobaldi and Alessandro Poglietti, French composers, and the composers of the Nuremberg tradition. He preferred a lucid, uncomplicated contrapuntal style that emphasized melodic and harmonic clarity. His music is less virtuosic and less adventurous harmonically than that of Dieterich Buxtehude, although, like Buxtehude, Pachelbel experimented with different ensembles and instrumental combinations in his chamber music and, most importantly, his vocal music, much of which features exceptionally rich instrumentation. Pachelbel explored many variation forms and associated techniques, which manifest themselves in various diverse pieces, from sacred concertos to harpsichord suites.
- Guy Edward Fletcher is an English multi-instrumentalist, best known for his position as the keyboardist in the rock band Dire Straits from 1984 until the group's dissolution, and his involvement in many parts of Mark Knopfler's solo work.
Virgil Fox
Virgil Keel Fox (May 3, 1912 in Princeton, Illinois – October 25, 1980 in Palm Beach, Florida) was an American organist, known especially for his flamboyant "Heavy Organ" concerts of the music of Bach. These events appealed to audiences in the 1970s who were more familiar with rock 'n' roll music and were staged complete with light shows. His many recordings made on the RCA Victor and Capitol labels, mostly in the 1950s and 1960s, have been remastered and re-released on compact disc in recent years. They continue to be widely available in mainstream music stores.- Alice Coltrane (née McLeod, August 27, 1937 – January 12, 2007), also known by her adopted Sanskrit name Turiyasangitananda or Turiya Alice Coltrane, was an American jazz musician and composer, and in her later years a swamini. One of the few harpists in the history of jazz, she recorded many albums as a bandleader, beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s for Impulse! and other major record labels. She was the second wife and the widow of jazz saxophonist and composer John Coltrane.
- Brent Mydland (October 21, 1952 – July 26, 1990) was an American keyboardist, vocalist, and songwriter. He was a member of The Grateful Dead from 1979 to 1990, a longer tenure than any other keyboardist in the band. Growing up in Concord, California, Mydland took up music while in elementary school. After graduation, he played with a number of bands and recorded one album with Silver before joining the Dead's Bob Weir's solo band. This led to an invitation to join the Dead in 1979, replacing Keith Godchaux who had decided to leave. Mydland quickly became an important member in the Dead, using a variety of keyboards including Hammond organ and various synthesizers and singing regularly. He wrote several songs on the band's studio albums released while he was a member. After a tour in the early summer 1990, Mydland died of an accidental drug overdose.
- Michael Mills is an actor who appeared in "The Simpsons," "Party of Five," and "Road Movie."
John Bull
John Bull (1562 or 1563 – 12 March 1628) was an English composer, musician and organ builder. He was a renowned keyboard performer of the virginalist school and most of his compositions were written for this medium.- Todd Wilson is an American organist. He is head of the organ department at Cleveland Institute of Music, house organist at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron and organ curator of the Cleveland Orchestra. In 2010 he became organist at Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland, and in 2011 accepted the role of choirmaster, succeeding Horst Buchholz.
- Melvin Rhyne Indianapolis, Indiana, was a jazz organist best known for his work with Wes Montgomery.
Peter Hurford
Peter Hurford OBE is a British organist and composer. Educated at Blundell's School, he later studied both music and law at Jesus College, Cambridge, graduating with dual degrees, subsequently obtaining a reputation for both musical scholarship and organ playing. Hurford subsequently studied in Paris under the blind French organist André Marchal, exploring music of the Baroque period. He is best known for his interpretations of Bach, having recorded the complete Bach organ works for Decca and BBC Radio 3. His expertise also encompasses recordings of the Romantic literature for organ, performances notable for attention to stylistic detail. His playing style is noted for clean articulation, beauty of expression, and a sense of proper tempi. Hurford was appointed organist of Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa from 1956 to 1957 and then organist and choirmaster of St Albans Cathedral Choir in 1958, serving with great distinction in this capacity for exactly twenty years. He conceived the idea of an organ competition in 1963, partly to celebrate the new Harrison & Harrison organ designed by Ralph Downes and himself.- Gustav Leonhardt (30 May 1928 – 16 January 2012) was a Dutch keyboard player, conductor, musicologist, teacher and editor. He was a leading figure in the movement to perform music on period instruments. Leonhardt professionally played many instruments, including the harpsichord, pipe organ, claviorganum (a combination of harpsichord and organ), clavichord, fortepiano and piano. He also conducted orchestras and choruses.
- Bradley Joseph (born 1965) is an American composer, arranger, and producer of contemporary instrumental music. His compositions include works for orchestra, quartet, and solo piano, while his musical style ranges from "quietly pensive mood music to a rich orchestration of classical depth and breadth".Active since 1983, Joseph has performed in front of millions of people around the world. He played various instruments in rock bands throughout the Midwest until 1989 when Greek composer Yanni hired him for his core band after hearing a tape of his original compositions. He was a featured concert keyboardist with Yanni through six major tours, most recently in 2003 for the 60-city Ethnicity tour. He appears in the multi-platinum album and concert film, Live at the Acropolis. Joseph also spent five years as musical director and lead keyboardist for Sheena Easton, including a 1995 performance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Joseph is the founder of the Robbins Island Music label. His solo career began when he independently released Hear the Masses, featuring many of his Yanni bandmates. This debut was followed by Rapture, an instrumental album recorded with a 50-piece orchestra in which Joseph wrote and conducted all of the scores. It was released on the Narada label and reached ZMR Airwaves Top 30. A number of subsequent recordings including Christmas Around the World and One Deep Breath also held positions on ZMR's Top 100 radio chart, with the most recent being Paint the Sky which debuted at #15 in April 2013. Paint the Sky was nominated for Best Neo-Classical Album in the 10th annual ZMR Music Awards. He has produced numerous CDs/DVDs and piano books. His music is included in multiple various-artist compilation albums including the 2008 release of The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II.
- Henri Constant Gabriel Pierné (16 August 1863 – 17 July 1937) was a French composer, conductor, and organist.
- Karl Richter (15 October 1926 – 15 February 1981) was a German conductor, choirmaster, organist and harpsichordist.
- Planet P Project is a pseudonym used by American rock musician Tony Carey for his science-fiction themed, progressive rock/space rock music. Carey has released six albums under the Planet P Project name: Planet P (1983, later retitled Planet P Project), Pink World (1984), Go Out Dancing, Part I (1931) (2005), Go Out Dancing, Part II (Levittown) (2008), Go Out Dancing, Part III (Out in the Rain) (2009) and Steeltown (2013). Music videos for singles from the first albums received heavy to moderate airplay on MTV, when originally released. Pink World was originally a two-record set, released on bright-pink-colored vinyl. Planet P's most well known singles were "Why Me?" (a sweeping, energetic romp about outer space and isolation), and the downbeat "Static". Go Out Dancing, Part I (1931) is the first of the trilogy, with part two titled Go Out Dancing, Part II (Levittown) and part three as Go Out Dancing, Part III (Out in the Rain). The project's name was inspired from the fictional "Planet P" in Robert A. Heinlein's book Starship Troopers.
- Dr. John, born Malcolm John Rebennack Jr., was a remarkable figure in the world of music who straddled various genres with his unique blend of blues, pop, jazz, boogie-woogie and rock-n-roll. Born on November 20, 1941, in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was a child prodigy, drawn to music from an early age. Dr. John's fascination with music began with the piano, a passion that rapidly developed as he frequented local clubs and bars, absorbing the rich, diverse musical heritage that the city had to offer. In the early 1960s, following a gunshot injury to his hand, Dr. John transitioned from guitar to piano, setting the course for a career that would span over five decades and see him collaborate with musical greats such as Van Morrison, Frank Zappa, and The Rolling Stones. His stage name "Dr. John" was inspired by a 19th-century voodoo priest, fittingly reflecting his deep connection to the mystical and spiritual roots of New Orleans. A six-time Grammy award winner, Dr. John garnered worldwide recognition for his distinctive gravelly voice and flamboyant stage presence. His most celebrated album, Gris-Gris, released in 1968, is considered a classic, capturing his psychedelic, voodoo-infused musical style. In recognition of his significant contributions to the music industry, Dr. John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.
- Chester Cortez Thompson (born December 11, 1948) is an American drummer, percussionist, session musician, producer, and teacher. He performed with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention from 1973 to 1975, and with the progressive rock band Genesis from 1977 to 1992, and again in 2007. He is a current member of his jazz group, the Chester Thompson Trio, formed in 2011.
- Don Gabriel Pullen (December 25, 1941 – April 22, 1995) was an American jazz pianist and organist. Pullen developed a strikingly individual style throughout his career. He composed pieces ranging from blues to bebop and modern jazz. The great variety of his body of work makes it difficult to pigeonhole his musical style.
- Antonius Gerhardus Michael (Ton) Koopman (Dutch: [ˈkoːpmɑn]; born 2 October 1944) is a Dutch conductor, organist and harpsichordist. He is also professor at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. In April 2003 he was knighted in the Netherlands, receiving the Order of the Netherlands Lion.
- Arjen Anthony Lucassen (born 3 April 1960, in Hilversum, Netherlands) is a Dutch singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer best known for his long-running progressive metal/rock opera project Ayreon.Lucassen started his career in 1980 as the guitarist and backing vocalist of Dutch band Bodine as Iron Anthony, before joining Vengeance in 1984. After eight years he left the band, wanting to go into a more progressive direction, and released two years later an unsuccessful solo album entitled Pools of Sorrow, Waves of Joy under the nickname Anthony. In 1995, Lucassen released an album uncredited to any artist called Ayreon: The Final Experiment, in which he sang, wrote every song and played most of the instruments. The album conducted to the creation of Ayreon; despite being relatively unknown at first, the project gained notable attention and praise with the release of its third album Into the Electric Castle, establishing Lucassen as a notable composer of rock operas. Following Ayreon's success, Lucassen has been involved in many other projects: he is the creator, composer and current guitarist/keyboardist of Star One, Guilt Machine, and The Gentle Storm, and the creator and former guitarist of Ambeon and Stream of Passion. He composes and writes most of his songs, but leaves the lyrics to his musical partners in some of his projects. Lucassen plays a wide variety of instruments: his main instruments are guitar and keyboards, however he also plays bass, banjo and many others. Overall, in his career and including all his bands and projects (as principal instrumentalist/creative force or as a member), Lucassen has released twenty-six studio albums, four live albums, two EPs and seventeen singles. He has also made many minor participations alongside various artists including Shadow Gallery, After Forever, Within Temptation and Avantasia, and appears in over 50 albums. Since the creation of Ayreon, Lucassen progressively made a name for himself under rock and metal reviewers, with many critics calling him a "genius", and praising his composition abilities and originality. In his review of 01011001 Allmusic reviewer stated "Music this over the top almost defies criticism. Reviewing it is like reviewing the world's tallest building. It doesn't care; it just goes on and on."
- One of the most prolific composers from the golden age of Italian film soundtracks, Piero Piccioni scored nearly 200 films between 1953 and 1998. Although Piccioni had grown up in a musical family, and had even formed one of Italy's first jazz orchestras prior to World War II, the Turin native was working as a lawyer in Rome in the early 1950s when he first came into contact with the thriving postwar film industry; noted director Michelangelo Antonioni suggested he provide a jazz score for a friend's documentary. From that casual beginning, Piccioni quickly became nearly as much in demand as his contemporaries Ennio Morricone and Piero Umiliani. His jazz background, which quickly grew to include a strong bossa nova element as that Brazilian style became internationally popular in the early 1960s, strongly colors his scores, making his style reminiscent of American contemporaries like Nelson Riddle and Henry Mancini; though many of the films he scored are at best charming period pieces, his soundtrack albums garner a high price on the collectors' market, and even many of his most obscure film scores have been reissued or bootlegged over the years. His career highlights include a special Italy-only score for Jean-Luc Godard's "Contempt," the Peter Sellers caper comedy "After the Fox" (incongruously directed by former neo-realist master Vittorio de Sica), and Lena Wertmuller's 1975 masterpiece "Swept Away."
- Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger (19 March 1873 – 11 May 1916), commonly known as Max Reger, was a German composer, pianist, organist, conductor, and academic teacher. He worked as a concert pianist, as a musical director at the Leipzig University Church, as a professor at the Royal Conservatory in Leipzig, and as a music director at the court of Duke Georg II of Saxe-Meiningen. Reger first composed mainly Lieder, chamber music, choral music and works for piano and organ. He later turned to orchestral compositions, such as the popular Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Mozart (1914), and to works for choir and orchestra such as Gesang der Verklärten (1903), Der 100. Psalm (1909), Der Einsiedler and the Hebbel Requiem (both 1915).
- Julian Miles "Jools" Holland, OBE, DL (born 24 January 1958) is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer and television presenter. He was an original member of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, George Harrison, David Gilmour, Magazine, The The and Bono. Since 1992, he has hosted Later... with Jools Holland, a music-based show aired on BBC2, on which his annual show Hootenanny is based. Holland is a published author and appears on television shows besides his own and contributes to radio shows. In 2004, he collaborated with Tom Jones on an album of traditional R&B music. Holland also regularly hosts the weekly programme Jools Holland on BBC Radio 2, which is a mix of live and recorded music and general chat and features studio guests, along with members of his orchestra.
- Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, violinist, singer, and comedic entertainer. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid the groundwork for modern jazz piano. His best-known compositions, "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Honeysuckle Rose", were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1984 and 1999. Waller copyrighted over 400 songs, many of them co-written with his closest collaborator, Andy Razaf. Razaf described his partner as "the soul of melody... a man who made the piano sing... both big in body and in mind... known for his generosity... a bubbling bundle of joy". It's possible he composed many more popular songs and sold them to other performers when times were tough. Waller started playing the piano at the age of six, and became a professional organist aged 15. By the age of 18 he was a recording artist. Waller's first recordings, "Muscle Shoals Blues" and "Birmingham Blues", were made in October 1922 for Okeh Records. That year, he also made his first player piano roll, "Got to Cool My Doggies Now". Waller's first published composition, "Squeeze Me", was published in 1924. He became one of the most popular performers of his era, touring internationally and achieving critical and commercial success in the United States and Europe. He died from pneumonia, aged 39. One descendant is professional football player Darren Waller, who is Fats' great-grandson.
- Korla Pandit is an actor.
- Anthony John Medeski (born June 28, 1965) is an American jazz keyboard player and composer. Medeski is a veteran of New York's 1990s avant-garde jazz scene and is known popularly as a member of Medeski Martin & Wood. He plays the acoustic piano and an eclectic array of keyboards, including the Hammond B3 organ, melodica, mellotron, clavinet, ARP String Ensemble, Wurlitzer electric piano, Moog Voyager Synthesizer, Wurlitzer 7300 Combo Organ, Vox Continental Baroque organ, and Yamaha CS-1 Synthesizer (a "kids' toy"), among others. When playing acoustic piano, Medeski usually plays the Steinway piano and is listed as a Steinway Artist.
- Second only to Thom Yorke as Radiohead's major creative force, multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood constantly helped to guide the band towards new sonic territories while also pursuing a sideline composing classical scores for a string of big-screen epics. Born in Oxford in 1971, Greenwood first showcased his talents in indie-rock outfit Illiterate Hands with future The Unbelievable Truth members Andy Yorke and Nigel Powell before he joined the former's brother and his own sibling, Colin, as harmonica player in On A Friday, later taking over keyboard duties and eventually settling in the role of lead guitarist.
- Donald Thomas Scholz (born March 10, 1947) is an American rock musician, songwriter, inventor, engineer, and philanthropist, best known as the founder and only continuous member of the band Boston. He came into the recording industry in an unusual way; as an MIT-trained engineer interested in music, he had designed his own recording studio in an apartment building basement to record his own music. The first Boston album was mostly recorded in this basement studio, often using devices he designed and invented himself. After the initial success of the band, he founded Scholz Research & Development, Inc. to develop and market his own inventions, many under the Rockman brand. He has been described by Allmusic as "a notoriously 'un-rock n' roll' figure who never enjoyed the limelight of being a performer," preferring to concentrate almost exclusively on music, production, and inventing new electronic equipment. In more recent years, he has spent much of his money and time working on charitable work.
- Leopold Anthony Stokowski (18 April 1882 – 13 September 1977) was an English conductor of Polish descent. One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra and his appearance in the Disney film Fantasia. He was especially noted for his free-hand conducting style that spurned the traditional baton and for obtaining a characteristically sumptuous sound from the orchestras he directed. Stokowski was music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the NBC Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony of the Air and many others. He was also the founder of the All-American Youth Orchestra, the New York City Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra and the American Symphony Orchestra. Stokowski conducted the music for and appeared in several Hollywood films, most notably Disney's Fantasia, and was a lifelong champion of contemporary composers, giving many premieres of new music during his 60-year conducting career. Stokowski, who made his official conducting debut in 1909, appeared in public for the last time in 1975 but continued making recordings until June 1977, a few months before his death at the age of 95.
- Edward George Power Biggs (March 29, 1906 – March 10, 1977) was a British-born American concert organist and recording artist.
- Bob van Asperen (born 8 October 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch harpsichordist and early keyboard instrument performer, as well as a conductor. He graduated in 1971 from the Amsterdam Conservatory, where he studied the harpsichord with Gustav Leonhardt and the pipe organ with Albert de Klerk. Since then he has been performing extensively in Europe and the rest of the world, both as a soloist and as an accompanist/conductor. In addition to his live performances, he has recorded repeatedly for several labels, including Sony, EMI, Teldec, Virgin, and Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, specialising in the keyboard repertoire of the 16th - 18th centuries, such as the harpsichord works of Froberger, J. S. Bach and Handel. One of the most important discography projects he has undertaken is the complete keyboard works of C.P.E. Bach and also the complete sonatas of Catalan composer Antonio Soler (Astrée, 1992). Various other projects are under way, while many of his recordings have been awarded with prestigious prizes, such as the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and the Diapason d'Or. Bob van Asperen has taught at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam, while for the past thirty years he has been giving master-classes in Europe, USA and elsewhere. In addition to his teaching activities, he has also contributed as a musicologist and editor of several modern editions of works by J. S. Bach and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, as well as other early Dutch composers.
- Paul Jacobs (born 1977) is an American organist. He is the first organist to receive a Grammy Award. Jacobs is currently the chair of the Juilliard School's organ department.
- Dieterich Buxtehude (German: [ˈdiːtəʁɪç bʊkstəˈhuːdə]; Danish: Diderich, pronounced [ˈtiðəʁek pukstəˈhuːðə]; c. 1637/39 – 9 May 1707) was a Danish-German organist and composer of the Baroque period. His organ works represent a central part of the standard organ repertoire and are frequently performed at recitals and in church services. He composed in a wide variety of vocal and instrumental idioms, and his style strongly influenced many composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach. Today, Buxtehude is considered one of the most important composers in Germany of the mid-Baroque.
- Booker Taliaferro Jones Jr. (born November 12, 1944) is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer and arranger, best known as the frontman of the band Booker T. & the M.G.'s. He has also worked in the studios with many well-known artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, earning him a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement.
- Page Samuel McConnell (born May 17, 1963 in Philadelphia) is an American multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work as a songwriter and keyboardist for the band Phish. In addition to being a member of Phish since 1985, McConnell has been part of a number of other side projects, including leading the electronic jazz fusion band Vida Blue and acting as a session musician for the comedy rock duo Tenacious D. He released his debut solo album, Page McConnell, in 2007.
- Robert James Berkeley Fleming (November 12, 1921 – November 28, 1976) was a Canadian composer, pianist, organist, choirmaster and teacher. Robert was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. At a young age his family settled in Saskatoon where he first studied with his mother. Between 1937 and 1939 he studied under Arthur Benjamin, and Herbert Howells in England at the RCM. When he returned to Saskatoon he taught piano before making his formal debut in 1940 at Darke Hall in Regina and later toured Saskatchewan as a recitalist. While studying piano with Lyell Gustin in 1941-2 he became the assistant organist at the Church of St Alban the Martyr in Saskatoon. In 1941 and 1945 he attended The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), to which in later years he contributed music. While at RCM he studied under Healey Willan for composition, Norman Wilks for piano, Ettore Mazzoleni for conducting, and John Weatherseed and Frederick Silvester for Organ. Between 1945 and 1946 he taught at Upper Canada College before joining the National Film Board, where he worked in Ottawa and Montreal as a staff composer between 1946 and 1958 before becoming music director between 1958 and 1970. Between those years he was music director for the Ottawa Ballet Festival in 1953 and organist-choirmaster at Glebe United Church in 1954 and at St George's Anglican Church in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec. In 1970 he and his family moved back to Ottawa, where he taught 20th-century music and Canadian composers at Carleton University. In 1972 he became the organist-choirmaster at St Matthias' Anglican Church in Ottawa (Westboro). He died November 28, 1976, and is survived by his wife Margaret Fleming, his children Berkeley, Michael, Richard and Margot, and nine grandchildren.
- ric "Garth" Hudson CM (August 2, 1937 – January 21, 2025) was a Canadian multi-instrumentalist best known as the keyboardist and occasional saxophonist for rock group the Band, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He was a principal architect of the group's sound, described as "the most brilliant organist in the rock world" by Keyboard magazine. Hudson was the last living original member of the Band.
- Marco Benevento (born July 22, 1977) is a pianist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who has been a fixture of the New York experimental music rock and jazz scene since 1999. He is the founder and recording engineer of Fred Short, a recording studio in Upstate New York, and a member of the rock groups Benevento/Russo Duo and Joe Russo's Almost Dead, both of which feature his regular musical collaborator Joe Russo.
Nicola Montani
Nicola A. Montani, KCSS, who was born in New York in 1880 and died in 1948, was a conductor, composer, arranger, and publisher of sacred music. Montani founded the St. Gregory Guild and the Society of St. Gregory. In 1920, he published the famous St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book, containing mainly his own editions and compositions, similar to Oreste Ravanello's work. He was a Knight Commander of St. Sylvester. Montani published "Essentials in Sight Singing" - a modern method of Selfeggio, Book I, Parts One and Two of the Complete Work Fundamentals. Published by the C.C. Birchard & Company in Boston. ©1931, printed October 1936. Foreword by J. Lewis Browne.Bruno Marini
Bruno Marini (Verona, Italy May 18, 1958) is an Italian Baritone saxophone and Hammond organ player. He has released more than 100 albums, including recordings with Jack McDuff, Steve Lacy, Anthony Braxton, John Tchicai, Joe Lovano, Herbie Goins, Bobby Durham, Han Bennink, and Jimmy Carl Black. He has also played with musicians that include Shirley Scott, Gary Bartz, Benny Golson, Joe Henderson, Sal Nistico, Hal Singer, Paul Jeffrey, Clark Terry, Nat Adderley, Chet Baker, Bill Dixon, Kenny Burrell, Mal Waldron, Donald Garrett, Jimmy Cobb, Joe Chambers, Albert "Tookie" Heath... Selected Discography As sideman with Bobby Duhram • Blues for me (General Records) • Domani's Blues (Azzurra Music) • Live at Ghedi Jazz Festival (Vibra Records) • Roots of Acid Jazz (Racing Jazz) with Jimmy Carl Black • Freedom Jazz Dance (Azzurra Music) • 125 Electronic Bebop (JDigital) • Jack McDuff, Jackpot (Red Records) • Gerry Hemingway feat. Anthony Braxton, 2nd Line Ratoon (BIMHUIS) • Steve Lacy & Keptorchestra, Sweet Sixteen (Caligola) • Joe Lovano & Keptorchestra, Miss Etna (Caligola) • John Tchicai + Ice9, No Trespassing (Azzurra Music) • Herbie Goins, Number One in Your Heart (Azzurra Music) • Forever Deep feat. Ian Paice, Forever Deep (Azzurra Music) • Han Bennink/Daniele D'Agaro/Bruno Marini, The Tempest (Artesuono) • Luca Flores/Bruno Marini, Riddles (LMJ) • Street Jazz Unit, Seein’ the Light (Schema) • Cristina Mazza and Daniel Sous, Catch the Beat (Azzurra Music) • Valentina Black, Beat Generator (Vibra Records) • DJ Zeta, Scratch Against the Machine (Azzura Music) As leader • BM4 (LMJ) • Love me or leave me (LMJ) • West of the Blues (LMJ) • Hammond Blood (Iklos / Azzurra Music) • Bop'n out (Splasch) • 70 Steps to 60's (Azzurra Music) • B-Movie (1mix2) • Soft Machine (MaxySound) • Scrub Game (Blue Art) • Hammer and Tongs (Hip Code) • Elements in Space (Hip Code) • Electric Church (Hip Code) • Twist and Sabbath (Magogo Records)- Irvin Mayfield Jr. (born December 23, 1977) is an American trumpeter, composer, bandleader and educator.
- Bill Payne (born March 12, 1949) is an American pianist who, with Lowell George, co-founded the American rock band Little Feat. He is considered by many other rock pianists, including Elton John, to be one of the finest American piano rock and blues musicians. In addition to his trademark barrelhouse blues piano, he is noted for his work on the Hammond B3 organ. Payne is an accomplished songwriter whose credits include "Oh, Atlanta". Following the death of Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward on August 12, 2010, Payne is the only member of the group from the original four-piece line-up currently playing in the band. Payne has worked and recorded with J. J. Cale, Doobie Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Bryan Adams, Pink Floyd, Bob Seger, Toto, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Helen Watson, Stevie Nicks, Shocking Edison, Robert Palmer and Stephen Bruton. He was a guest performer on Bonnie Raitt's album Sweet Forgiveness in 1977, and wrote its track, "Takin' My Time." Paul Barrere and Bill Payne played several live concerts with Phil Lesh and Friends, from October 1999 through July 2000. Payne was a member of Boulder band Leftover Salmon from 2014 until December 2015. In August 2015, Payne was selected to play keyboards for The Doobie Brothers after their keyboardist Guy Allison was called to work on an album project in Japan. In the few weeks of touring with the Doobies, he was featured with the band and Michael McDonald on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Payne's temporary term ended in early September after the Doobies' concert at the BB&T Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey. However, in December 2015 Payne rejoined the Doobies as a touring member, officially taking the position previously held by Allison.
- Ole Olsen (4 July 1850 – 4 November 1927) was a Norwegian organist, composer, conductor and military musician.
- Derek Sherinian (born August 25, 1966) is an American keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, Steve Vai, and Joe Bonamassa. He was also a member of Dream Theater from 1994–99, is the founder of Planet X and also one of the founding members of Black Country Communion and Sons of Apollo. He has released seven solo albums that have featured a variety of prominent guest musicians, including guitarists Slash, Yngwie Malmsteen, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Lukather, Joe Bonamassa, Billy Sheehan, Zakk Wylde and Al Di Meola. Sherinian has distinguished himself by his aggressive "guitaristic" approach to his keyboard style. In 2018, he was voted #9 Greatest Keyboardist Ever in Prog Magazine. He has also appeared on the cover of numerous keyboard magazines around the world, including the November 2011 issue of Keyboard Magazine, which declared Sherinian a "Keyboard Hero for a new generation". He has also been called the "King of the Keys" by Guitar World magazine and the "Caligula of Keyboards" by Alice Cooper. His musical influences include Elton John, Van Halen and Jeff Beck. He is of Greek and Armenian descent and has a special interest in Armenian history.
- Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (UK: , US: , French: [ɔlivje mɛsjɑ̃]; December 10, 1908 – April 27, 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex; harmonically and melodically he employs a system he called modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from the systems of material generated by his early compositions and improvisations. He wrote music for chamber ensembles and orchestra, vocal music, as well as for solo organ and piano, and also experimented with the use of novel electronic instruments developed in Europe during his lifetime. He travelled widely and wrote works inspired by diverse influences ranging from Japanese music, the landscape of Bryce Canyon in Utah and the life of St. Francis of Assisi. He said he perceived colours when he heard certain musical chords (a phenomenon known as synaesthesia in its literal manifestation); combinations of these colours, he said, were important in his compositional process. For a short period Messiaen experimented with the parametrisation associated with "total serialism", in which field he is often cited as an innovator. His style absorbed many global musical influences such as Indonesian gamelan (tuned percussion often features prominently in his orchestral works). Messiaen entered the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 11 and was taught by Paul Dukas, Maurice Emmanuel, Charles-Marie Widor and Marcel Dupré, among others. He was appointed organist at the Église de la Sainte-Trinité, Paris, in 1931, a post held until his death. He taught at the Schola Cantorum de Paris during the 1930s. On the fall of France in 1940, Messiaen was made a prisoner of war, during which time he composed his Quatuor pour la fin du temps ("Quartet for the end of time") for the four available instruments—piano, violin, cello and clarinet. The piece was first performed by Messiaen and fellow prisoners for an audience of inmates and prison guards. He was appointed professor of harmony soon after his release in 1941, and professor of composition in 1966 at the Paris Conservatoire, positions he held until his retirement in 1978. His many distinguished pupils included Iannis Xenakis, George Benjamin, Alexander Goehr, Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Yvonne Loriod, who became his second wife. He found birdsong fascinating, notating bird songs worldwide and incorporating birdsong transcriptions into his music. His innovative use of colour, his conception of the relationship between time and music, and his use of birdsong are among the features that make Messiaen's music distinctive.
Josh Phillips
Josh Phillips (born 19 December 1962, Rochester, Kent, England) is a rock keyboardist and composer. He first played Hammond organ with Procol Harum in 1993 and has been the band's organist since 2004.He began his career at sixteen playing organ on the soundtrack to Quadrophenia, and he later appeared in the film with his band Cross Section. From 1983 to 1984 he was the keyboardist for Diamond Head. He has written for and/or performed with a wide range of musicians, including Big Country, Leo Sayer, Pete Townshend, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Kenney Jones, Ronan Keating, Alisha’s Attic, Heatwave, Midge Ure, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney.Along with Dan McGrath he has composed title themes and incidental music for many TV shows including Strictly Come Dancing and Take Me Out. For the US version of Strictly Come Dancing, Dancing with the Stars, they have received numerous ASCAP Awards. He also has songwriting credits on Procol Harum's 2017 album Novum. He is the co-writer of 'Suburban House' with Andrew Brel, recorded by Leo Sayer.He is the same person as Josh/Jonathan Phillips-Gorse, and had many album credits under that name from the 1980s.- Juliette Nadia Boulanger (French: [ʒy.ljɛt na.dja bu.lɑ̃.ʒe]; 16 September 1887 – 22 October 1979) was a French composer, conductor, and teacher. She is notable for having taught many of the leading composers and musicians of the 20th century. She also performed occasionally as a pianist and organist.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire but, believing that she had no particular talent as a composer, she gave up writing music and became a teacher. In that capacity, she influenced generations of young composers, especially those from the United States and other English-speaking countries. Among her students were those who became leading composers, soloists, arrangers, and conductors, including Aaron Copland, Roy Harris, Virgil Thomson, Darius Milhaud, Elliott Carter, David Diamond, Dinu Lipatti, Igor Markevitch, İdil Biret, Daniel Barenboim, John Eliot Gardiner, Philip Glass, Lalo Schifrin, Astor Piazzolla, Quincy Jones, and Michel Legrand. Her female students, whose chances in the 20th century for recognition were significantly lower than that of the men, include Grażyna Bacewicz, and notable American composers such as Louise Talma and Elaine Bearer. Boulanger taught in the US and England, working with music academies including the Juilliard School, the Yehudi Menuhin School, the Longy School, the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, but her principal base for most of her life was her family's flat in Paris, where she taught for most of the seven decades from the start of her career until her death at the age of 92. Boulanger was the first woman to conduct many major orchestras in America and Europe, including the BBC Symphony, Boston Symphony, Hallé, New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia orchestras. She conducted several world premieres, including works by Copland and Stravinsky.
- Al Kooper (born Alan Peter Kuperschmidt, February 5, 1944) is an American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears (although he did not stay with the group long enough to share its popularity), providing studio support for Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965, and bringing together guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills to record the Super Session album. In the 1970s he was a successful manager and producer, notably recording Lynyrd Skynyrd's first three albums. He's also had a successful solo career, written music for film soundtracks, and has lectured in musical composition. He continues to perform live.
- Barry Cooper (born 1949) is an English musicologist, composer, organist, Beethoven scholar, and editor of the Beethoven Compendium.
- Emilio de' Cavalieri, or Emilio dei Cavalieri — the spellings "del" and "Cavaliere" are contemporary typographical errors — (c. 1550 – 11 March 1602) was an Italian composer, producer, organist, diplomat, choreographer and dancer at the end of the Renaissance era. His work, along with that of other composers active in Rome, Florence and Venice, was critical in defining the beginning of the musical Baroque era. A member of the Roman School of composers, he was an influential early composer of monody, and wrote what is usually considered to be the first oratorio.
- James Harrell McGriff (April 3, 1936 – May 24, 2008) was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader.
Alexandra Fol
Alexandra Fol (born July 11, 1981) in Sofia, Bulgaria is a Bulgarian-Canadian composer who resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Fol has composed more than 40 works in different mediums, which have been performed by ensembles such as Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, the orkest de ereprijs, Ossia New Music, the New Fromm players, the thingNY ensemble, the Young Artists Orchestra, McGill University Orchestra, and others. Fol's works have been performed by the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, the Sofia Philharmonic, the New Score Chamber orchestra, among others. In 2005 she was one of four composers commissioned to write a children's work for the 70th anniversary of the Montréal Symphony Orchestra's Children's series. "Pegasus", op. 37 was performed throughout the 2005-2006 season and included in an educational CD for children. Important performances of her works include the premiere of her "Two Songs for Voice and Orchestra" by one of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestras in 1994 and the premiere of her Concerto for Violinon a 16 c. Storioni violin by Leonid Iogansen and the Boston University Orchestra in 2001. Fol teaches composition for the "Vermont MIDI Project". She was a finalist for the 2006 Gaudeamus International Composers Award and a 2007 Tanglewood Music Center composition fellow, and is recipient of grants by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture among others. Fol studied composition at Boston University, the Eastman School of Music and McGill University. Her principal teachers include "Richard Cornell". Archived from the original on 2011-06-28. and John Rea.- Niels Wilhelm Gade (22 February 1817 – 21 December 1890) was a Danish composer, conductor, violinist, organist and teacher. He is considered the most important Danish musician of his day.
- Marcel Dupré (French pronunciation: [maʁsɛl dypre]) (3 May 1886 – 30 May 1971) was a French organist, composer, and pedagogue.
- Maurice Duruflé (French: [dyʁyfle]; 11 January 1902 – 16 June 1986) was a French composer, organist, and teacher.
- Keith Noel Emerson (2 November 1944 – 11 March 2016) was an English keyboardist, songwriter, and film composer. He played keyboards in a number of bands before finding his first commercial success with the Nice in the late 1960s. He became internationally famous for his work with the Nice, which included writing rock arrangements of classical music. After leaving the Nice in 1970, he was a founding member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP), one of the early progressive rock supergroups. Emerson, Lake & Palmer were commercially successful through much of the 1970s, becoming one of the best-known progressive rock groups of the era. Emerson wrote and arranged much of ELP's music on albums such as Tarkus (1971) and Brain Salad Surgery (1973), combining his own original compositions with classical or traditional pieces adapted into a rock format.Following ELP's break-up at the end of the 1970s, Emerson pursued a solo career, composed several film soundtracks, and formed the bands Emerson, Lake & Powell and 3 to carry on in the style of ELP. In the early 1990s, Emerson rejoined ELP, which reunited for two more albums and several tours before breaking up again in the late 1990s. Emerson also reunited the Nice in 2002 for a tour.During the 2000s, Emerson resumed his solo career, including touring with his own Keith Emerson Band and collaborating with several orchestras. He reunited with ELP bandmate Greg Lake in 2010 for a duo tour, culminating in a one-off ELP reunion show in London to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary. Emerson's last album, The Three Fates Project, was released in 2012. Emerson reportedly suffered from depression, and in his later years developed nerve damage that hampered his playing, making him anxious about upcoming performances. He died by suicide on 11 March 2016 at his home in Santa Monica, California. Emerson was widely regarded as one of the top keyboard players of the progressive rock era. AllMusic describes Emerson as "perhaps the greatest, most technically accomplished keyboardist in rock history".
- Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark (born November 15, 1954) is an American gospel singer, composer, musician, and evangelist, as well as member of the Hammond organ Hall of Fame. She is a member of The Clark Sisters, an influential gospel vocal ensemble active since the late 1960s.
- Charles-Marie Jean Albert Widor (21 February 1844 – 12 March 1937) was a French organist, composer and teacher, most notable for his ten organ symphonies.
- Felix Cavaliere (born November 29, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and musician. Although he was a member of Joey Dee and the Starliters, best known for their hit "Peppermint Twist", he is best known for his association with The Young Rascals during the 1960s. The other members of The Rascals were Eddie Brigati, Dino Danelli and Gene Cornish. Cavaliere sang vocals on six of their successful singles and played the Hammond B-3 organ.
- Earl Van Dyke (July 8, 1930 – September 18, 1992) was an African American soul musician, most notable as the main keyboardist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
- Anthony George Banks (born 27 March 1950) is an English musician, songwriter and film composer primarily known as the keyboardist and founding member of the rock band Genesis. Banks is also a prolific solo artist, releasing six solo albums that range through progressive rock, pop, and classical music. Banks co-formed Genesis in 1967 while studying at Charterhouse as their keyboardist and one of their principal songwriters and lyricists. He became a prolific user of the Hammond T-102 organ, Mellotron, ARP Pro Soloist and Yamaha CP-70 piano. In the band's earliest years Banks would play acoustic guitar for some of the mellow and pastoral songs. In 2010, Banks was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis. In 2015, he was named "Prog God" at the Progressive Music Awards. Banks is ranked No. 11 on MusicRadar's greatest keyboard players of all time.
- George Bernard "Bernie" Worrell, Jr. (April 19, 1944 – June 24, 2016) was an American keyboardist and composer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic. Worrell was described by Jon Pareles of The New York Times as "the kind of sideman who is as influential as some bandleaders."
- Amina Claudine Myers (born March 21, 1942) is an American jazz pianist, organist, vocalist, composer, and arranger.
- Lazar "Laza" Ristovski (Serbian Cyrillic: Лаза Ристовски, pronounced [lǎːza ristǒʋskiː]; 23 January 1956 – 6 October 2007) was a Serbian and former Yugoslav keyboardist, known for being a member of rock bands Smak and Bijelo Dugme, as well as for his eclectic solo work that spawned many different musical genres.
- Benjamin Montmorency "Benmont" Tench III (born September 7, 1953) is an American musician and singer, best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
- Lawrence Sam Goldings (born 1968) is an American pianist, organist, and composer.
- Oliver Theophilus Jones, (born September 11, 1934 in Little Burgundy, Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian jazz pianist, organist, composer and arranger.
- Kenneth William David Hensley (born 24 August 1945) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s.He wrote or co-wrote the majority of Uriah Heep's songs during this period, including the hit singles "Lady in Black" (on which he sang lead vocals), "Easy Livin'" and "Stealin'", as well as "Look at Yourself", on which he also sang lead vocals, and "Free Me".
- Terrance Corley Burrus is an American keyboardist, composer, record producer, conductor, business, realty and fashion designer executive. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he started touring as a teenager playing with jazz fusion violinist Michał Urbaniak and singer Jean Carne, while still in high school in New York. At that time Burrus replaced Urbaniak's keyboardist Barry Eastman (who wrote "You Are My Lady" years later for Freddie Jackson). Burrus was brought to Jean Carne through percussionist-producer Norman Hedman who was one of Burrus's musical mentors as a child. Later on through these types of associations, Burrus went on to play with trumpeter Tom Browne, drummer Lenny White and singer Melba Moore. Recommended by his friend pianist Kenny Kirkland, who was the keyboardist for Sting during the mid-1980s, Burrus had moved on to play with the great Lena Horne in her award-winning show Lady and Her Music in 1984. Her band comprised Terry on piano and keyboards, Ben Brown on bass, Rodney Jones on guitar, Wilby Fletcher on drums, along with music director Linda Twine and an array of musicians including the London Symphony Orchestra. While still playing for artists, Burrus was releasing solo recordings and concertizing on his own. In 1983 Terry released his first solo single, called "Love Rockin'", for Arista Records a funk/electro/soul piece written and with all vocals and instruments by Burrus, with high-school buddy Omar Hakim drumming. This was known as Terry Burrus And Transe, produced by Burrus and Marcus Miller, another high-school friend. Burrus and Miller, along with drummer Poogie Bell, Bobby Broom, another high-school guitar friend, and Bernard Wright (also a high-school companion) went on to play for an off-Broadway show written by Weldon Irvine in 1977 called Young Gifted And Broke at the Billie Holiday Theater in Brooklyn, New York. Irvine had co-written with Nina Simone the famed song "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black". Return To Forever's drummer,and jazz fusion pioneer Lenny White joined the "Young Gifted And Broke" crew of musicians as a second and replacement drummer for Poogie Bell at times, during the post Chick Corea Return to Forever season. As time went on Terry became a highly respected and successful recording session man, playing on recordings of Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton, Janet Jackson, Swing Out Sister, Mariah Carey, The Cardigans, Donna Summer, Lisa Stansfield, Gloria Estefan, Aretha Franklin, Phyllis Hyman, Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, Satoshi Tomiie, Todd Terry and others. Being no stranger to synthesizers and electronic sounds, Burrus is said to own just about every electric keyboard that has come out since the Wurlitzer electric piano. In addition Burrus has always been intrigued by the great classical masters, having studied the artistry of Mozart, Beethoven, Handel and others during his school days in New York, and in his contemporary piano compositions and playing can be heard classical influences. He performs many classical piano recitals around the world as well playing as in the jazz and pop genres. Burrus has been sideman/music director on many tours of Jazz Explosion, as they were known in the 1980s and '90s, as well as on soul and gospel concerts with the Harlem Gospel Singers, Lionel Hampton, Gato Barbieri, George Benson, Angela Bofill, Larry Carlton, Bill Withers, Ramsey Lewis, Crown Heights Affair, Chaka Khan, Ronnie Laws, The Main Ingredient, Johnny Kemp, Stanley Clarke, Noel Pointer, Bobbi Humphrey, Sherry Winston. Burrus also wrote and produced with the president of Philadelphia International Records, Kenny Gamble, including "Living In Confusion" and "Forever With You" for Phyllis Hyman. Burrus wrote "I Just Love You So Much" for Billy Paul and wrote/produced "Love Goddess" for Lonnie Liston Smith. Burrus also wrote and produced "I'll Wait for You" and "The One And Only Lady In My Life" for Virgin recording group Burrell, among a long list of other compositions and productions to his credit. With contributions to the many remixes of artists from the 1980s and '90s to the present day, reinforcing the sound of house music and electronic music, his early associations working with Def Mix Productions, Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, Satoshi Tomei and Todd Terry, Junior Vasquez, Paul Simpson, Winston Jones, Dave Shaw, Jellybean Benitez, Tony Humphries, François K and many other international and American DJ producers have rooted him well on the dance-floor and in the remix world. Burrus has created sounds in electronica that he has extended into the world of Techno, Trance, Ambient, World music and more, his piano style especially being prevalent and dominant in the 1990s on many recordings by well known and new artists around the world. From his teenage days as a jazz fusionist to funkster to house and electronica pioneer, Burrus has been an ambassador of electronic music.
- Violet Louise Archer (April 24, 1913 – February 21, 2000) was a Canadian composer, teacher, pianist, organist, and percussionist. Born Violet Balestreri in Montreal, Quebec, in 1913, her family changed their name to Archer in 1940. She died in Ottawa on 21 of February 2000.
- Stéphane Raoul Pugno (23 June 1852 – 3 January 1914 [O.S. 21 December 1913]) was a French composer, teacher, organist, and pianist known for his playing of Mozart's works.
- Orlando Gibbons ( (listen); baptised 25 December 1583 – 5 June 1625) was an English composer, virginalist and organist of the Elizabethan (late Tudor) and early Jacobean periods. Due to his sudden and early death, Gibbons' output was not as large as his older contemporary William Byrd's, but he still managed to produce various secular and sacred polyphonic vocal works, including consort songs, services, motets, more than 40 full anthems and verse anthems, a set of 20 madrigals as well as at least 20 keyboard works and various instrumental ensemble pieces including nearly 30 fantasies for viols. He is well known for the 5-part verse anthem This Is the Record of John, the 8-part full anthem O Clap Your Hands Together, 2 settings of Evensong and what is often thought to be the best known English madrigal: The Silver Swan.Born in Oxfordshire, Gibbons was probably the 8th of 10 children and born into a musical family where his father, William Gibbons, was a wait and his children were expected to follow his footsteps in the trade. It is not known who he studied composition with, although it is possible to have been with an older brother or his father. Gibbons was certainly acquainted with William Byrd and John Bull due to the three's later collective publication of the first printed collection of keyboard music, Parthenia, and since Bull was a student of Byrd it is possible that Gibbons was as well, however there is no uncircumstantial evidence to support this.Regardless to how his education came about, he was musically proficient enough to not only be appointed by King James I a gentleman of the Chapel Royal sometime around May of 1603 but also a senior organist by 1605. By 1606 he had graduated from King's College, Cambridge with a Bachelor of Music and later he also received an honorary Doctor of Music from Oxford in May of 1622. The most important position achieved by Gibbons was his appointment in 1623 as the organist at Westminster Abbey which he held for 2 years until his death on the June 5th, 1625.Gibbons was the leading composer in early 17th century England and a pivotal transition figure from the end of the Renaissance to the beginning of the Baroque era. He was praised in his time by a visit in 1624 from the French ambassador, Charles de L'Aubespine, who stated upon entering Westminster Abbey that “At the entrance, the organ was touched by the best finger of that age, Mr. Orlando Gibbons." Musicologist and composer, Frederick Ouseley, dubbed him to be the "English Palestrina" and the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould praised him highly and compared his music, especially for the keyboard, to the likes of Beethoven and Webern. Gibbons paved the way for a future generation of English composers by perfecting the Byrd's foundations of the English madrigal as well as both full and verse anthems, and especially by teaching music to his oldest son, Christopher, who in turn taught John Blow, Pelham Humfrey and most notably Henry Purcell the English pioneer of the Baroque era. The modern music critic John Rockwell claimed that the oeuvre of Gibbons: "all attested not merely to a significant figure in music's past but to a composer who can still speak directly to the present."
- César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck (10 December 1822 – 8 November 1890) was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life. He was born at Liège, in what is now Belgium (though at the time of his birth it was part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands). He gave his first concerts there in 1834 and studied privately in Paris from 1835, where his teachers included Anton Reicha. After a brief return to Belgium, and a disastrous reception for an early oratorio Ruth, he moved to Paris, where he married and embarked on a career as teacher and organist. He gained a reputation as a formidable musical improviser, and travelled widely within France to demonstrate new instruments built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. In 1858, he became organist at the Basilica of St. Clotilde, Paris, a position he retained for the rest of his life. He became professor at the Paris Conservatoire in 1872; he took French nationality, a requirement of the appointment. His pupils included Vincent d'Indy, Ernest Chausson, Louis Vierne, Charles Tournemire, Guillaume Lekeu and Henri Duparc. After acquiring the professorship, Franck wrote several pieces that have entered the standard classical repertoire, including symphonic, chamber, and keyboard works.
- Herbert Norman Howells (17 October 1892 – 23 February 1983) was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music.
- Flamboyant Australian entertainer who performed as a singer, songwriter and pianist. Famed for his lavish, energetic concerts which combined elements of P.T. Barnum and Liberace, Allen got his big break when he was discovered by Judy Garland during her world tour. At the time, he was half of an act called "Chris and Peter Allen" that was performing at the Hong Kong Hilton. Allen went on to open for Garland in Miami, Las Vegas, and other cities. He made his mark in the US performing in New York cabarets.
- Adriano Banchieri (Bologna, 3 September 1568 – Bologna, 1634) was an Italian composer, music theorist, organist and poet of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. He founded the Accademia dei Floridi in Bologna.
- Clément Philibert Léo Delibes (French: [klemɑ̃ filibɛʁ leo dəlib]; 21 February 1836 – 16 January 1891) was a French composer of the Romantic era (1815–1910), who specialised in ballets, operas, and other works for the stage. His most notable works include the ballets Coppélia (1870) and Sylvia (1876), as well as the operas Le roi l'a dit (1873) and Lakmé (1883).
- Emm Gryner (born 8 June 1975 in Sarnia, Ontario) is a Canadian singer-songwriter best known for her 1998 indie hit "Summerlong".
- Darren Arthur Reed (born June 18, 1963), better known by his stage name Dizzy Reed, is an American musician and occasional actor. He is best known as the keyboardist for the rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he has played, toured, and recorded since 1990. Aside from lead singer Axl Rose, Reed is the longest-standing, and was the only member of Guns N' Roses to remain from the band's Use Your Illusion era, until early 2016 when guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan returned to the band. In 2012, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Guns N' Roses, although he did not attend the ceremony. He was also a member of the Australian-American supergroup The Dead Daisies with his Guns N' Roses bandmate Richard Fortus, ex-Whitesnake member Marco Mendoza, ex-Mötley Crüe frontman John Corabi and session drummer Brian Tichy.
- Alan Price (born 19 April 1942) is an English musician, best known as the original keyboardist for the British band the Animals and for his subsequent solo work.Price was born in Fatfield, Washington, County Durham, and was educated at Jarrow Grammar School, County Durham. He is a self-taught musician and was a founding member of the Tyneside group "The Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo", which was later renamed the Animals. His organ-playing on songs by the Animals, such as "The House of the Rising Sun", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and "Bring It On Home to Me" was a key element in the group's success.After leaving the Animals, Price went on to have success on his own with his own band the Alan Price Set and later with Georgie Fame. He introduced the songs of Randy Newman to a wider audience. Later, he appeared on his own television show as well as achieving success with film scores, including winning critical acclaim for his musical contribution to the film O Lucky Man! (1973) as well as writing the score to the stage musical Andy Capp. Price has also acted in films and television productions.
- Rick DePiro, who is known by his stage name Ricky Dee, is an American Country singer-songwriter, notable and award winning jazz pianist and jazz organist, and a music producer who has recorded and produced over twenty-five albums. DePiro is also the founder of RADCO Music Group, a Los Angeles based multimedia group consisting of JaRic Records and Entertainment, a Los Angeles based independent record label and multimedia company that is located, as well, in Nashville, Carol Lynn Designs, an Entertainment industry based jewelry design and manufacturing company bringing to market the designs of famed Celebrity jewelry designer Carol Lynn facilitated to television by Emmy award winning designer and stylist Soyon An, each of American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance fame, RADCO Media Group, a web design and internet specialty company and the "PLAY MUSIC-ENJOY LIFE!"TM Piano series for Music and Wellness as part of PLAY MUSIC-ENJOY LIFE!
- Donald Paterson (born 1963) is a Scottish poet, writer and musician.
- James Oscar Smith (December 8, 1925 or 1928 – February 8, 2005) was an American jazz musician whose albums often charted on Billboard magazine. He helped popularize the Hammond B-3 organ, creating a link between jazz and 1960s soul music. In 2005, Smith was awarded the NEA Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the highest honor that America bestows upon jazz musicians.
- Douglas R. Major (born 1953 in Berwick, Pennsylvania) is a prominent American composer of sacred music and concert organist. He is the former choral director and organist at the Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., where he frequently performed on nationally televised services and state occasions.
- Vincent Leo Welnick (February 21, 1951 – June 2, 2006) was an American keyboardist, best known for playing with the band the Tubes during the 1970s and 1980s and with the Grateful Dead in the 1990s.
- Ernest Aaron Freeman (August 16, 1922 – May 16, 1981) was an American pianist, organist, bandleader, and arranger. He was responsible for arranging many successful rhythm and blues and pop records from the 1950s to the 1970s.
- Milton Brent Buckner (July 10, 1915 – July 27, 1977) was an American jazz pianist and organist, who in the early 1950s popularized the Hammond organ. He pioneered the parallel chords style that influenced Red Garland, George Shearing, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson. Buckner's brother, Ted Buckner, was a jazz saxophonist.
