In his twenties, he formed a band called “The Nice” with bassist/vocalist Lee Jackson, drummer Brian Davison and guitarist David O’List, which backed ex-Ike and Tina Turner’s singer P.P. Bach, Aaron Copland, Demetri Shostokovich, Bela Bartok and Alberto Ginestera amongst others. Classical composers also became influential to his music including J.S. Some of his early influences were jazz artists Fats Waller, Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck, Jack McDuff and Big John Patton. In his late teens, he moved to London, joined the band “V.I.P.’s” and later “Gary Farr and the T-Bones,” backing their mentor T-Bone Walker at the Marquee Club in London, also touring Germany, France and the UK. With both “The Nice” and “Emerson, Lake & Palmer,” Emerson composed and recorded some of rock’s most adventurous music and brought it to the masses with unmatched virtuosity and skillful showmanship.īorn Novemin Todmorden, Lancashire, England, Keith Emerson soon became a piano sensation in his hometown of Worthing, Sussex by the time he was fourteen years old. A modern wizard of electronic and acoustic keyboards, most notably the organ and synthesizer, he set the standard for modern players.
He was known as one of the most prominent leaders in the progressive rock movement, fusing rock ‘n’ roll with a myriad of musical styles, such as classical, jazz and world music. Keith Emerson (1944-2016) Hammond Hall Of Fame-2014 The Nice/Emerson Lake &PalmerĪ certified keyboard legend, Keith Emerson was one of the most important figures to emerge from the thriving UK rock scene of the 1960’s and 70’s.