3 Rock Stars Who Made the Piano and Keyboard Cool Again

When you think of classic rock artists or classic rock bands, often it’s a glamorous lead singer, a wild lead guitar player, and a duo of talented rhythm players on bass and drums. That’s the most common lineup and the most common vision of a rock band. But there are others who have bucked that four-piece trend and sat down at the keys to help make rock music. With that in mind, let’s explore the careers of three such artists, a trio of keyboard players who helped make the instrument more famous, more beloved, and more essential when it comes to making rock songs, no matter what era you come from. Indeed, these are three classic rock artists who made playing the keys famous.

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Elton John

It’s a rare talent indeed to be able to sit at a grand piano or a keyboard on a stage meant for a symphony, play, or some other highfalutin art form, and then start to play music that rocks. But that’s what the British-born Elton John has been doing now for a half-century. Bridging classical music with rock, John has become a Hall of Famer thanks to songs like “Rocket Man” and “Tiny Dancer” and he’s done it all from a piano bench. While it seems totally normal now, it’s a real magic trick he pulled off throughout his illustrious, bedazzled career.

Ray Manzarek

The man who played the keys for The Doors was truly what unlocked the band. Okay, forgive the puns. But it’s true. While so many think of lead vocalist Jim Morrison when it comes to the psychedelic rock group, the band’s secret weapon was really its keyboard player, Ray Manzarek. Morrison’s tripped-out poetry and good looks were memorable, but when you were really listening to the band, it was the strange, off-kilter, melodic funhouse keys playing from Manzarek that really got your mind going.

Ray Charles

No matter what genre you classify Ray Charles in, the man was an inspiration. Whether singing country songs like “Georgia On My Mind” or rock songs like “Hit The Road Jack!”, Charles was a master composer. But even more than his swing or the way he sang, it was how he tickled them ivories that made him a superstar. He had such facility on the piano, even though he didn’t have the use of his eyes. The blind Charles was a force of nature, able to get your toes tapping in an instant. The man had more hits than a baseball team—and all of them included the piano.

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