Last Updated on March 16, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media
I’ve been reluctant to publish this post about rock keyboard players—or keyboardists—because technically and theoretically, I’m not a pianist or keyboardist. If somebody asks, yes, I can play keyboards, but I’m no Edgar Winter. However, piano was the first instrument I learned to play, before drums or guitar.
Keyboard Heroes
Unlike guitar and drums, I never had a keyboard hero or role model. Everything about keyboards was need-based. For many years, my bands didn’t have many keyboard parts, so my skills never went above 1.5 on the Rock Keyboard Proficiency Scale.
From 1996–1999, I played bass in Golden Tones, and started playing keyboards more often. At that point, my skills were probably in the 2.8 range. I could play “Bennie and the Jets” all the way through. “Für Elise” was still quite out of reach.
In 2006, I bought my first digital piano with weighted keys, which was a game-changing shift from playing Casio, Korg, and Moog synthesizers. I got obsessed with teaching myself how to play piano (better) and spent six months learning Elton John, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney songs.
At the peak of the obsession, I’d optimistically rate my skills around 3.9–4.0. And I’m still waiting for Axl Rose to call me about that touring gig.
Terms & Conditions
- Every player on this list is easily 4.0 and above.
Absent a piano recital, there’s no way to objectively rank them, so I’m going on gut feel, as usual.
- Must be active from 1965–present.
Why? There’s a difference between rock music and rock n’ roll. We’re not talking about Jerry Lee Lewis or Fats Domino. Rock music as we know it starts around 1965.
- One player, one song.
I’ll pick my favorite song to justify the selection.
Top Rock Keyboardists of All Time
Tony Banks (Genesis)
This was an easy pick.
The third through eighth Genesis studio albums (Nursery Cryme (1971) to Wind & Wuthering (1976)—the Steve Hackett era, basically—are le crème de le crème of progressive rock, and Banks is unquestionably the best keyboardist and composers of the genre. Meanwhile, the prog-to-pop rock crossover stuff like Duke (1980) and Genesis (1983) are good, too.
Banks is a human highlight reel of rock keyboard, but to pick a favorite track, let’s go with “Firth of Fifth” from Selling England by the Pound (1973) because it’s the first Genesis song I ever heard.
Freddie Mercury (Queen)
We think of him as a supersonic frontman who tamed and trained an audience of millions at Live Aid, but Freddie could play, man. I’m going with “Love of My Life”.
Donald Fagan (Steely Dan)
“Aja” features an uncommon mix of funk, jazz, R&B, soul, and classic rock—and a stunning drum performance by Steve Gadd!
Runners-up: “Green Earring” from The Royal Scam (1976) and “Home at Last” also from Aja (1977).
Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys)
This was a tough one.
Gotta go with “You Still Believe in Me” from Pet Sounds (1966).
Ray Manzarek (The Doors)
The Fender Rhodes (electric piano) performance on “Riders on the Storm”. Seven minutes is a long time in rock music, but Manzarek keeps things moving.
Eddie Jobson (Roxy Music, U.K., et. al)
Exceptionally talented multi-instrumentalist who played a huge role in some of the most important art rock, prog rock, and experimental rock groups of all time. I’m always impressed by Jobson’s playing on “In the Dead of Night” by prog supergroup U.K. featuring Allan Holdsworth, John Wetton, and Bill Bruford. Their 1978 debut album is among the best prog albums ever made.
Nicky Hopkins
His piano performance on “She’s a Rainbow” by the Rolling Stones really sticks with me.
Tony Kaye (Yes)
The keyboard performance on “I’ve Seen All Good People”.
Bill Payne (Little Feat)
The live version of “Dixie Chicken” from Waiting for Columbus (1978).
Rick Wakeman (Yes)
The keyboard performance on “Roundabout”.
Edgar Winter (Edgar Winter Group)
My parents always let me stay up late for The Midnight Special, which is how I saw this version “Frankenstein” with my own six-year-old eyes.
Jan Hammer (Mahavishnu Orchestra, et. al)
The keyboards on all of The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) by the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Joe Jackson
The keyboard performance on “Another World” from Night and Day (1982).
Ian Stewart (Rolling Stones)
Stewart famously refused to play minor chords. His performance on “Let It Bleed” is really nice.
Leon Russell
Gotta go with “Delta Lady”.
Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers)
I love the way the organ and piano support the chorus of “Here Comes My Girl” from Damn the Torpedos (1979).
Larry Knechtel (Simon & Garfunkel)
The piano performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.
Paul McCartney
The piano performance on “Lady Madonna” has always been a favorite and an aspiration that maybe I can play it properly some day.
Neal Doughty (R.E.O. Speedwagon)
The organ solo in “Roll with the Changes” is one of the few keyboard solos I’ve got memorized. [Note: Video starts at the solo.]
Billy Joel
“Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” is one of those songs you can’t help but like, deep in your soul, even if you hate Billy Joel’s music. This live version is amazing.
Mike Ratledge (Soft Machine)
Soft Machine was a trio on their 1968 debut album, so Ratledge was covering a lot of ground on Lowrey organ with a fuzz box and Wah-wah pedal. “Hope for Happiness” has a great solo on the second half.
Chuck Leavell (Allman Bros, Rolling Stones)
When guitarist Duane Allman died in 1972, the Allman Brothers Band chose not to replicate the twin-guitar attack, and instead, asked Chuck Leavell to join on piano, creating a dueling keyboard sound with Gregg Allman on organ. The piano on “Jessica” from Brothers and Sisters (1973) is fantastic. Meanwhile, Leavell has been the touring keyboardist and musical director of the Rolling Stones since 1982, and also appearing on most of their albums since Undercover (1983).
Bernie Worrell
Best known for his work in Parliament-Funkadelic, Worrell pioneered the use of synthesizers in funk music, most notably on “Mothership Connection (Star Child)” and “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” from Mothership Connection (1975). He also gained a reputation as an influential “sideman” for Keith Richards, Jack Bruce, Yoko Ono, Bill Laswell, Mos Def, Sly and Robbie, and Fela Kuti.
Worrell was a touring member of Talking Heads in the 1980s, and featured on “Girlfriend Is Better” from Speaking in Tongues (1983).
Garth Hudson (The Band)
The dramatic solo organ intro on “Chest Fever” was an improvisation drawing from classical, jazz, and gospel music. Levon Helm said rhetorically, “What do you remember about “Chest Fever” The lyrics or the organ part?”
[Note: Richard Manuel sings lead, but the song is credited to Robbie Robertson, who said “I’m not sure that I know the words to ‘Chest Fever’; I’m not even so sure there are words to ‘Chest Fever’.”1 There are words, most likely written by Manuel.]
She’s been down in the dunes and she’s dealt with the goons
Now she drinks from the bitter cup, I’m trying to get her to give it up
She was just here, I fear she can’t be here no more
And as my mind unweaves, I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
Richard Manuel (The Band)
The piano performance on “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”.
Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer)
The organ performance of “Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression, Part 2”.
Elton John
Not a doubt, it’s “Bennie and the Jets”.
Billy Preston
To be honest, I thought Preston’s appearance on “Get Back” was incongruous. It sounds nice and everything, but… I like the keyboard performance on “Will It Go Round In Circles”.
George Duke (Zappa)
The keyboard and vocal performance on “Inca Roads”.
Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello & the Attractions)
A no-brainer pick. “Pump It Up” does the job.
Jools Holland (Squeeze)
I almost went with “Another Nail in My Heart”, but here you go.
Warren Zevon
The piano performance on “Lawyers, Guns, and Money”.
Pete Townshend
Townshend was a trail blazer in synthesizer programming, but I get off on the keyboard performance on “Love, Reign O’er Me”.
Billy Powell (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
The organ part was played by Al Kooper, but the piano performance on “Free Bird” is all Billy Powell.
Robert Lamm (Chicago)
The piano performance of “Saturday in the Park”.
Dr. John
“Iko Iko” was never really my thing, but I like this one.
Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey)
I’m a closet queen for mid-period Journey cuts like “Just the Same Way”.
Mike Garson (David Bowie)
Garson joined the reformed Spiders from Mars in 1973, first appearing on Aladdin Sane, making a huge impression with an avant-garde piano performance on the title cut.
Ian McLagan (Rod Stewart, Faces)
The piano performance on “(I Know) I’m Losing You”.
Richard Tandy (Electric Light Orchestra)
The keyboards on “Turn to Stone”.
Roy Bittan (Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band)
The piano performance on “She’s the One”.
Gary Wright
How could I skip “Dream Weaver”?
Dennis DeYoung (Styx)
The keyboard performance on “Blue Collar Man”.
Jon Lord (Deep Purple)
A master of the Hammond organ, bringing heavy, classical-influenced sounds to hard rock. I actively dislike Deep Purple, but respect where its due.
John Evan (Jethro Tull)
It’s a controversial opinion, but I think Aqualung (1972) is a better progressive rock album than Thick As a Brick (1972), mainly because the guitar and keyboard interplay between Martin Barre and John Evan is much more cohesive on Aqualung, and “Hymn 43” is a prime example. You gotta dig through Thick As a Brick to find something as engaging.
Manfred Mann
It was a toss up between this and another Springsteen cover, “For You”.
Tori Amos
I don’t know why the piano playing on “Cornflake Girl” follows me around like a clerk in a Filipino department store.
Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater)
Rudess is a modern prog metal virtuoso known for incredible technical ability and pioneering new sound technologies.
Mark “Moogy” Klingman (Utopia)
I would have picked something from Todd Rundgren’s A Wizard, A True Star (1973) or Todd (1974), but “Utopia (Live)” aka The Utopia Theme Song is my favorite.
Roger Powell (Utopia)
He replaced Klingman. “Magic Dragon Theater” from Ra (1977) is good fun.
Gregg Allman (Allman Brothers Band)
The organ performance on “Whipping Post”.
Stevie Wonder
Music of My Mind (1972) is one of my all-time favorite albums, and it’s 97 percent Stevie on keyboards and other instruments. Art Baron plays trombone on “Love Having You Around” and Buzz Feiten plays electric guitar on “Superwoman”, and Syreeta does backup vocals on “Sweet Little Girl”. My favorite track is “Happier Than the Morning Sun”, which is simply Stevie on clavinet and vocals.
Roger O’Donnell (The Cure)
It’s impossible to say if that’s O’Donnell or Robert Smith playing keyboards on “Lovesong”, but it drives the song.
Rod Argent (Zombies)
Fun fact: Rod Argent played piano on The Who’s “Who Are You?”.
The keyboard performance of “Hold Your Head Up” is a classic.
Steve Winwood (Traffic)
It was unusual in 1967 to hear uptempo blues rock in a minor key, and that always stuck with me through the years, especially as Winwood starting making yacht rock in the mid 1980s.
Steve Walsh (Kansas)
Roughly half of the rock listicles I’ve written contain a video that I beseech you to watch, and this, my friends, is the video for this post. If you make it to 3-minute mark, you will be supremely rewarded with a visual representation of Cocaine in 1976. Steve Walsh is a treasure.
John “Rabbit” Bundrick (The Who)
The keyboard performance of “Let My Love Open the Door”.
Mike Pinder (The Moody Blues)
Going back to some O.G. psychedelic rock with “Legend of a Mind” aka Timothy Leary’s Dead.
Page McConnell (Phish)
The only Phish song I’ve ever heard on terrestrial FM radio.
Don Airey (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath)
It kills me that Ozzy Osbourne didn’t know anything about Aleister Crowley.
Roddy Bottum (Faith No More)
The keyboard performance on “Midlife Crisis”.
Al Kooper (Bob Dylan, Blood, Sweat & Tears)
Great story about how Al Kooper fudged his way into the recording session for “Like a Rolling Stone.”
Ian Underwood (King Crimson, Zappa)
Underwood played all the keyboard parts on “In the Court of the Crimson King”, but I still think “Peaches en Regalia” is a better overall performance.
Geoff Downes
Video killed the radio star just like digital technology killed rock music, and frankly, what AI is likely to do to human civilization.
Mick Talbot (Style Council, Dexys Midnight Runners)
One of the few songs I could hear every day and not get sick of it.
John Lennon
A beautiful song with touching insight into Lennon’s sense of harmony.
Rick Davies (Supertramp)
I love the slinky electric piano performance on “Bloody Well Right”.
