THE TOP 50
The countdown of the best keyboardists of all time, as voted for by thousands of Prog readers, starts here!
50
MANFRED MANN
He’s been the leader of the progressively minded Manfred Mann’s earth Band since 1971, and before that he owned the charts with the more R&B-based Manfred Mann, and dabbled with jazz rock with Manfred Mann chapter Three.
You say: “The man’s simply done everything throughout a long and illustrious career, as well as regularly taking prog into the singles charts in the 70s. Respect.” – Chris Seddon
49 WOOLLY WOLSTENHOLME
Wolstenholme was an integral part of what made Barclay James Harvest so special. self-taught at both Mellotron and organ, his early sound helped pioneer the band’s symphonic prog approach. His own solo work, recently reissued, is equally forthright.
You say: “so often the forgotten man when polls of keyword players are discussed.” – George Grieve
48
KLAUS SCHULZE
an early electronic prog pioneer with Tangerine dream and ash Ra Tempel, before going on to forge his own career with albums such as Timewind and Moondawn. He recently released his latest lP, silhouettes, aged 71.
You say: “some people may see krautrock as separate from prog but I do not, and the best player in that genre has to be schulze who, despite a huge catalogue over 40-plus years, remains consistently impressive.”
– Kenneth
47
JOHN BECK
Beck made his name with cumbrian prog rockers It Bites, but his mercurial sound has also been heard with sister sarah, unicorn Jones, Kino, John Wetton, alan Parsons and, most recently, Fish.
You say: “His playing really supported both Francis dunnery’s and John Mitchell’s manic guitar lines – good sounds from synths as well as great backing vocals when live.”
– Jeremy Allen
46
ROGER HODGSON
a songwriting genius whose innocent explorations helped make supertramp such a big success, Hodgson is no slouch as a keyboard player, adept at organ, Wurlitzer piano and synthesiser, as well as a host of other instruments.
You say: “He single-handedly reminded us all with his distinct choppy and iconic playing that the piano is and always has been considered a percussion instrument.”
– Tim Dueck
45
DAVE SINCLAIR
as a founding member of The Wilde Flowers and caravan, sinclair’s place in prog history was assured. He’s also played with Matching Mole, Hatfield and The north, The Polite Force and camel. He’s still releasing solo albums, with Out Of sinc arriving earlier this year.
You say: “The third of the triumvirate of canterbury keyboard players. dave sinclair was one of the original members of caravan, creating probably their two betterknown pieces. He also contributed his own inimitable keyboards to the first Matching Mole album.”
– Julian Christou
44
MIKE RATLEDGE
The longest-serving original member of prog/fusion legends soft Machine, Ratledge oversaw a shift from psychedelic whimsy through progressive fields to jazz exploration, working with the likes of Mike Oldfield, david Bedford and syd Barrett along the way.
You say: “a super aggressive and creative keyboard player.” – Christian
43
THIJS VAN LEER
The indomitable keyboard player has fronted dutch prog rockers Focus since he formed them in amsterdam in 1969. Perhaps more famous for his yodelling, van leer is an excellent keyboard player, as well as having a solo career in classical flute.
You say: “Inspirational, eccentric, prolific and still loving his day job.”
– Alison Reijman
42 JEAN-MICHEL JARRE
Few have done more to promote the cause of synthesised music on such a grand scale than Jarre, with his enormous concerts in london’s docklands, new york, china and Russia. His early works Oxygène and Équinoxe were truly groundbreaking.
You say: “Particularly great atmospherics married to clever tunes that could sustain a whole album of experimental keyboard music.”
– Guy Roberts
41
HUGH BANTON
Banton’s strident organ sound helms what Van der Graaf Generator are about just as much as Peter Hammill’s lyrics and vocals. He took on board the band’s bass sound in 1970, adding playing bass pedals to his onstage activities and making us love him all the more.
You say: “a unique player who made so much wonderful noise you didn’t need guitar on most VdGG albums.”
– Martin Painter