Who Do You Think Is the Greatest Singing Keyboardist?

Aretha Franklin

 

Criminally underrated piano player.

 

I would like to nominate Nat King Cole. He was of course a fantastic vocalist, but he actually began his career as a jazz pianist.

 

Little Ray Charles

 

Edgar Winter.

 

He sang lead vocals on some songs when he was in The Nice. According to Wikipedia, he sang lead vocals on the first three songs from their second album, Ars Longa Brevis.

 

Gary Brooker

 

Aaahhhh...

 

When I think of "keyboards", my mind goes to rock. (though I love Re-re and Stevie etc...)

FWIW, the first keyboard/vocalist I thought of was Dennis DeYoung.

 

Gotta be Ray or Stevie or the other Stevie or Gregg but man do I have a big weak spot for that third Lee Michaels LP.

Almost made me ditch guitar and save for a B-3 ... almost.

 

I really like Mike Finnigan.

 

Nailed it! Close the thread

 

Paul McCartney:

 

Rod Argent deserves a mention.

 

Some keyboardists are better singers and some singers are better keyboardists . but Elton John combines the best of both.
He understands the piano of Jerry Lee and Little Richard, but he's very good with gospel too. And he's classically-trained.
He can play a churchy-organ--as well as synths, harpsichords and everything else with keys.
When he was younger, he had a very good, pleasant voice with a bit of range.

He's also always been prolific , tossing off catchy melodies like so much confetti.

 

If we are going to be strict about the definition of rock it has to be Jerry Lee Lewis. Also Leon Russell, Elton, Billy Joel, Little Richard, and Greg Allman are on the short list.

If we are more loose in the definition then Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, James Booker, and Dr John are near the top.

 

Paul McCartney or Stevie Wonder are the greatest singing keyboardist in rock.

Bruce Hornsby or Elton John are the greatest keyboardists who sing in rock.

 

A mention for Bobby Whitlock. Not the best but a personal favorite.

 

A mention for Thomas Dolby, not the greatest but a huge talent nonetheless...

 

Paul McCartney
Regina Spektor

Really, no lack of talent out there for singing piano players, so the above to are just personal favorites, lots of other great names to be mentioned...

 

When I think about the greatest singing keyboardist, I can't decide whether it's Gregg Allman or Steve Winwood.
However, I have many favorites. Leon Russell, Dr. John, Chuck Leavell, Richard Manuel etc. etc.

 

Bingo! Right on the first shot, well done!

 

Well, it has to be Fats Domino.

 

Jerry Jermont, Aretha Franklin, and Duane Allman @ FAME Recording Studios

"...For the house band at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala., the recording session on Jan. 24, 1967, was going to be just another gig. The musicians had never heard of Aretha Franklin, the 24-year-old singer that Atlantic’s Jerry Wexler had booked for the session. When she walked in, the band barely paid her any attention. And then Franklin sat down at the Steinway, played one chord and instantly commanded the room. She had yet to sing a note.

“You could tell by the way she hit the piano the gig was up,” says legendary songwriter Dan Penn in Peter Guralnick’s book Sweet Soul Music. “Everybody was just like little bees just buzzing around the queen.” Spooner Oldham, who had been hired to play piano on the session, begged Wexler to let him switch to organ so Franklin could stay at the Steinway. The record they cut that day, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” would become Franklin’s first major hit, and the album of the same name remains the most vivid showcase of her piano playing.

Throughout her career, Franklin was her own best accompanist. Her gospel-infused style was never flashy -- she rarely took a solo -- but it betrayed a deceptively complex rhythmic and harmonic sense. She knew better than any hired pianist how to kick off a vocal run, build momentum or make a sung note resonate just as she heard it in her head. Her rumbling basslines and sensual right-hand chords could alternately ramp up the emotion of her singing or provide an earthly tether for her soaring voice..."

 

Gotta mention Jimmy Webb.