The Top Keyboard Players of All Time (Session Players - Pop Rock)

[Breckmin]

I'm basing this list on - not just playing ability - but also the talent
to create arrangements and counter melodies and the ability to work
with/like programmers (i.e. Anthony Marinelli, Steve Porcaro and Rhett
Lawrence) to find sounds and licks which will work best for a song.

My Top 10:

1. David Foster

2. Robbie Buchanan

3. Greg Phillinganes

4. Walter Afanasieff

5. Michael Omartian

6. David Paich

7. Elliot Wolff

8. Fred Zarr

9. Howard Jones (British Artist)

10. Keith Thomas

Michael Boddicker probably would have been next on the list. Billy
Preston and Elton John would also be top 15 for me... Honorable
mention: Jane Child and Chris Cameron (Wham/George Michael).

 

[Breckmin]

All of those 10 guys are probably listed as Producers and not just keyboard players.

Plus I would have probably put Patrick Leonard on the top 15 list but I limited the
list to my favorite top 10.

 

[Bro_Sam]

I'm basing this list on - not just playing ability - but also the talent
to create arrangements and counter melodies and the ability to work
with/like programmers (i.e. Anthony Marinelli, Steve Porcaro and Rhett
Lawrence) to find sounds and licks which will work best for a song.

My Top 10:

1. David Foster

2. Robbie Buchanan

3. Greg Phillinganes

4. Walter Afanasieff

5. Michael Omartian

6. David Paich

7. Elliot Wolff

8. Fred Zarr

9. Howard Jones (British Artist)

10. Keith Thomas

Michael Boddicker probably would have been next on the list. Billy
Preston and Elton John would also be top 15 for me... Honorable
mention: Jane Child and Chris Cameron (Wham/George Michael).

If you're talking about session players, where is Leon Russel? For that matter, where's Chuck Leavell?

 

[Breckmin]

If you're talking about session players, where is Leon Russel? For that matter, where's Chuck Leavell?

There's at least a dozen more I would have liked to have included.
C.J. Vanston. kenny Babyface Edmonds, Jimmy Jam, Michael Lange,
Tom Keane (John Keane's brother)

etc, etc, etc

 

[Rainer.]

Bill Evans is the most genius man to ever lay a hand on a piano.


Him and maybe Liszt.

 

[Type53]

.

 

[ih329]

Billy Preston - the 5th Beatle

 

[iplay4JC]

Pop rock = Billy Joel

Rock = Jon Lord, John Paul Jones

Prog rock = Jordan Rudess

 

[Dave-W]

Can't believe no one listed Keith Emerson (King Crimson, Nice, ELP) who had the nickname "Hendrix of the electric keyboard;" and Rick Wakeman (Yes) for Prog Rock.