Mar 122016
One of the all-time great prog rockers and keyboard players has just passed into the infinite. Keith Emerson died the other day at the age of 71 at his Santa Monica home. Police are investigating as to whether his death was a suicide. Emerson was an absolute master of the keyboard, encompassing rock, classical, and jazz in his playing. Not only that, he was a pioneer of the use of synthesizers in rock. He was also the prime mover behind the Nice as well as Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, which was one of the very biggest prog groups of the 1970s. Frankly, I’m not a huge fan of ELP – I find them to be often bombastic and sometimes overbearing – but there is no denying that Emerson’s keyboard skills were almost untouchable.
I gave Brain Salad Surgery a spin over the weekend in Keith’s honor. My college roommate was a fan and I listened to Tarkus more than I cared to, but I can appreciate ELP for expanding my musical horizons as teenager — I am sure the first time I heard Fanfare for the Common Man it was by ELP! Some really strange choices on album covers, though — Tarkus looks like a jr. high kid did it and I think they kind of disowned Love Beach.
Thanks for posting this, tonyola. I, too, had several ELP albums in my high school collection, and even did a very short dance performance to “Fanfare.” As funoka said, I too appreciate ELP for expanding my musical horizons. I had been taking piano lessons and the fare was mostly classical. To hear rock musicians playing keyboards continues to be an interest of mine.
That picture is amazing. I do feel sorry for whoever the roady was having to lug that on and off stage though.