Great Organists in Rock

John Novello of Niacin. He's like Keith Emerson on steroids and more soul.

How many people have heard Hugh Banton and Van Der Graff Generator?

Not only does he have the credentials and chops, but organ is such a central part of that groups music and is so prominently displayed on many of their recordings that there can be no other champion in my mind, at least for any music that categorizes cleanly as rock.

Plus those guys are becoming more recognized over the years for doing so many things that no body else ever thought of doing until many years later so their influence is quite large for an act relatively unknown to most.

BTW, I read an argument the other day that in hindsight Kraftwerk was perhaps the most influencial group in rock other than The BEatles themselves. I had never thought about that prior, but I find that a hard thing to argue with.

Geoff Downes.

Not so many years back Frosty was a fixture on the Austin scene. Not sure of his present status.

I remember when Lee Michaels showed up on the scene...loud as hell 2 piece Hammond B3 duo with drummer Frosty. Great fun.

Felix Cavaliere - The Rascals!

Patrick Moraz is my fave...

Oops, I missed seeing Ray Manzerek in the opening post.....so therefore please consider my above post as a ditto for Mr. Manzarek. BTW, The Doors Live at the Hollywood Bowl Blu-Ray, is wonderful both sonically and visually. It documents a historic time in rock when videos were an aberration, rather than the norm...

How 'bout Ray Manzarek of The Doors? His keyboard supplanted the need for a bass guitar....

My favorite has alway been Goldy McJohn of Steppenwolf fame.

2nd to John Paul Johns and
2nd to Hugh Banton

Rod Argent, if he hasn't already been mentioned yet.
John Evans, Jethro Tull.

Gregg Rolie , of early Santana and Journey .

one of my favorites: E. Power Biggs

. . . . he really rocks!

Dayglow- yes, Floyd Sneed was an incredible drummer and Alex Van Halen named Floyd as one of his influences, which is a pretty big admission for a "tough guy" hard rocker. Just check out the Forum album if you haven't already. The studio albums in no way capture their true sound.

Chayro-Your spot on!!! Floyd Sneed was also a world class musician that gets overlooked by many. I was too young at the time to appreciate the talent and diversity of Three Dog Night. I have recently delved into the discography and realize they are severely snubbed by critics and even(were smarter) audiophiles. Sometimes the masses get it right!

I was very sad to hear of Jimmy Greenspoon's death. While Three Dog Night was considered somewhat of a bubblegum band, the backing musicians were fantastic. Jimmy just put down a big cushion of sound, which supported the whole group. Listen to "Three Dog Night Live at the Forum" and you can hear him at his best, IMO.

RIP-Jimmy Greenspoon

Paul Shaffer. Enjoyed his playing 5 nights a week for last 30 years. How can ya beat that?

Vox / Peter Hammil of Van der Graff Generator.

The late, great Richard Wright. Also, one of the finest synthesists of our time. It doesn't always have to be fast and furious to be virtuosic.

Hugh Banton.

His organ related credentials are perhaps unmatched among "rock organists".

Check out some of his low pipe organ like notes on the VDGG album "Still Life".

Graham Bond.

Jon Lord, Deep Purple...just noticed he was on your list sorry but had to chip in & machine head is going on next thanks 77jovian.

^Oh Dear!

David Furnish(ed) Elton John an Organ and concieved another (barf)

Wow, no mention of Moe Denham.

Fail.

Richard Wright for Pink Floyd was the first keyboardist that came to mind - I dont know what type he played, but as far as contributing to a bands sound, I cant think of any other bands where the keyboards worked so well and didn't make it sound like funk-a-delic or the capton and tanell (SP) or something.

Billy Powell from Lyndard Skynard was great too at helping the bands sound and it still sounded like hard rock and not something light weight like elton john or barry manalow.

Generally, i hate keyboards in rock bands, but these are two examples where, imo, they worked very well.

All Hammond players - but then I am biased

Jean-Jacques Kravetz (Frumpy / solo)
Jeff Beer (Odin)
John Tout (Renaissance)
Vincent Crane (Atomic Rooster / Crazy World of Arthur Brown)
Paolo "Apollo" Negri (Wicked Minds / Link Quartet / solo)
Par Lindh
Pete Robinson (Quatermass)
Thomas Bodin (Flower Kings)
Mike Mangan (Big Organ Trio)
John Freund (Bigger Than a Breadbox)
John Novello (Niacin)
Graham Field (Fields / Rare Bird)
Julian Jay Savarin (Solo / Julian's Treatment)
Fred Hellman (Kvartetten Som Sprängde)
Gianluca Gerlini (London Underground)
Eric Malmberg (solo)
Gerald Dellmann (Satin Whale)
Oskar Lundström (Siena Root)
Tillbjörn Persson (Sound Express)
Terry Howells (Still Life)
Rick van der Linden (Trace / Ekseption)
Fred Van Zegveld (solo)

These all have shown to have superb skill either over the course of a career of perhaps on a single album.

Also see my list on RYM (if anyone's remotely interested)
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Crazyworldof/hammond_fest

chuck leavell he's got to be on the list. He's played with everybody.

Hammond B3 is THE organ of merit.
No EJ jokes! Not mouth organ nor even skin flute.
Grow up, people!

Bill Payne - Little Feat
Reese Wynans - SRV
Jimmy Greenspoon - Three Dog Night

Tom Coster, of Santana fame, has to be on this list.

Jan Hammer has to be on this list. His improv skills by themselves are phenomenal if you have ever seen him live!

Chester thompson the organist. He has played for Tower of Power, Santana etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMQo_MeJbFs&feature=related

b

Rod Argent

Chester Thompson, the drummer? Does he also play organ?
Or is there another Chester Thompson out there?

Marty

Merl Saunders although probably more blues & R&B than rock

Elton John certainly has played with his share of organs!!

Seriously though, I wish Jon Lord well in his fight with cancer - best of luck to a true legend.

_Ben

John Paul Jones

Pink Floyds Richard Wright I would add to your list.

Cheers

If Billy Preston wasn't a Rock organist, "Grits ain't grocery, eggs ain't poultry, and Mona lisa was a man". He was referred to as "The 5th Beatle". Since I've always heard him on organ, I fail to see how anyone could think of him as an "electric pianist".

Does Steve Nieve qualify? Alan Price for sure, as mentioned above.

Chester Thompson

Elton John is NOT an organist by any measure (insert lame pun here). Please stay "topic specific" or I'll stop the car and make you walk home.

Paul Carrack

Tony Kaye of Yes. In fact one of the reasons he left the band was his unwillingness to experiment with new keyboard technologies.

AF - I'll cover your EJ with a Billy Joel and raise it with a Joe Jackson (you enjoy being a provocateur dontcha!).

Elton John

Jojo Hermann from Widespread Panic can tickle the ivories. Greg Rollie from Santana/Journey is great also.