Who is the greatest Rock organist of All Time?

Matthew Fisher, of Procul Harum, long under-appreciated.

 

My pick is not based on who is influencial, but his ability and style is a personal favorite.

Jordan Rudess, currently with Dream Theater (but has been involved with other things).

And I just can't let this thread get any further without giving some props to Keith Emerson.

 

Guys, guys, guys.....Rod Argent!!! Time of the Season. I rest my case.

 

Was my Favorite in the 60's

I vote for Rick Wakeman - Concert 1970's YES Fragile and Close to the Edge

 

Yup, one of my -personal- favorites...Still trying to get the One Way "Lee Michaels" Self Titled Cee Dee...forget ebay, they never go for under $25.00!
Of course, I'm looking for a bargain!

 

Benmont's piano playing on Mary Chapin Carpenter's Stones in the Road is simply stunning. It's absolutely perfect for MCC's music. Just wonderful.

 

I have to go with Jon Lord as well. No keyboardist, nevermind organist, has ever come close to rocking my world the way Jon did with the songs Lazy and Space Truckin'.

And then there's of course honourable mentions like Rick Wakeman, Billy Preston, Ray Manzarek, Eric Woolfson, Alan Parsons, Rick Wright, Roger Hodgeson and...

 

Ray Manzarek has always been a favorite. With any Doors song, it's always Manzarek's work that grabs me. The Doors were more than Morrison!


ashleyfan said:

This one came to mind for me too. I agree!

 

Oh, one more. Tom Scholz of Boston. He did some wicked things on the debut album. "Foreplay" (the song here ) and "Smokin'" are two of my all-time favorites.

 

If all he did was the "Hush" solo, Jon Lord would be in the rock organist's Hall of Fame. But he made the B-3 almost guitar-like, battling Blackmore (and others) like no one else, so he gets my vote (although Argent, Emerson, Wakeman and Hudson all are fantastic as well).

 

Hi Steve! Yeah, Felix Cavaliere is his name. He has done a few solo albums as well. Surely worth to seek after.
Not that I am so good with their music …

I vote for these three gentlemen, but perhaps the first one is still greatest of them all …: Jon Lord, Garth Hudson and Matthew Fisher.
Without their music you have a huge gap in your music library!

 

Jon Lord.

 

37 replies and no one has mentioned Keith Emerson???????

 

SLY STONE

 

Jon Lord ..... Rick Wakeman..........Keith Emerson

 

Shame on all of you for not mentioning Paul Schaffer.

 

Already been mentioned, but the first guy to come to my mind was Al Kooper.

Special mention to Darian Sahanaja of The Wondermints and Brian Wilson's band, touring with Heart this year.

How about Brian Auger, was he mentioned before?

 

winwood
booker t.
al kooper
gregg allman

 

That's another thread....best bald organist!

 

Keith Emerson gets my vote. I don't know how many times I played those early Nice albums over and over.

 

For sure.

When I was 18 or so my mum bought an electronic organ and I bought the complete The Doors sheet music and taught myself to play some of Ray's right-hand.

Regards,
Geoff

 

The organ is one of those instruments that I just don't like the sound of, whether in rock, jazz, or classical (I can only listen to Bach's organ pieces in orchestral transcriptions). So my thoughts probably don't count for much. But for me, the most effective/successful uses of the organ in rock have been:

1) John Evan/David Palmer in Jethro Tull's 70s stuff (I love the twin organ counterpoint in "One Brown Mouse" and other tracks in the Songs from the Wood/Heavy Horses era)
2) Wakeman (Yes)
3) Argent (Zombies)

I don't like Deep Purple all that much but I will admit to being impressed by some of Jon Lord's stuff. And I find the simple silly organ riff in Beck's "Where It's At" irresistable...

 

I am amazed no one has mentioned Brian Wilson. Just my 2 cents worth.