Piano/keyboard player Stan Szelest from Buffalo, formed the band Stan and the Ravens in 1958, which he played with for over 30 years, taking time out for many other musical projects. At aged seventeen years in early 1960, Ronnie Hawkins hired him to to play in the Hawks. At this point the Hawks were Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Fred Carter Jr, with Stan and Will Jones doubling on piano and keyboards. When Rick Danko became bassist in 1961, he became Danko's musical teacher. In the summer of 1984, Stan and Levon Helm played together again as members of the short-lived septet The Woodstock All-Stars. By the end of 1990 he became a member of the reunited Band, as they were getting ready to record for CBS, writing songs, recording, and rehearsing with Garth Hudson in Woodstock Stan died of a heart attack. Some of his electric piano work can be heard on the Band album Jericho, where he also co-wrote the Richard Manuel tribute "Too Soon Gone". Stan also recorded with Roy Buchanan, Lonnie Mack, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jesse Ed Davis, Delbert McClinton and Northern Lights.
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GREGG GIUFFRIA
American keyboardist Gregg Giuffria was an early member of the glam rock / heavy metal band from Washington, D.C., Angel, formed in 1975. Along with Punky Meadows, Mickie Jones, Frank Dimino and Barry Brandt they bought their debut album "Angel" out that same year. This was followed by albums 'Helluva Band' in 1976, 'On Earth as It Is in Heaven' and 'White Hot' in 1977, 'Sinful' in 1979 and 'Live Without a Net' in 1980. Leaving Angel in 1981 Gregg put his own band together, the rock band 'Giuffria', releasing a self-titled debut album in 1984, peaking at No.26. The album produced two hit singles, "Call to the Heart" and "Lonely In Love". Gregg, with his band Giuffria toured with acts such as Deep Purple and Foreigner. They released a second hit album 'Silk and Steel' in 1986 giving them another hit single with "I Must Be Dreaming". Gregg formed a 2nd hard rock band 'The House Of Lords', in 1988, signing with Simmons Records they had a successful tour of Japan; toured with Cheap Trick; opened for Scorpions, and released three albums, House Of Lords in 1989, followed by 1990's Sahara and Demons Down in 1992. After which Gregg retired from the music business. Although he has worked on some unreleased solo material and he guested on The House Of Lords 2006 album 'World Upside Down'. He is currently a co-owner of the Biloxi Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
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TOMMY ZVONCHECK
Tommy Zvoncheck, born in Long Island, schooled in Illinois, moved and lived in New Jersey and is now based in Tampa, Florida. Tommy specializes on the keyboards, but he is also a master on the guitar and bass. Maybe to most he is more famous for touring and recording with Blue Oyster Cult, but this busy keyboardist has also toured with The Coasters, Chad Brock, Ghost Riders, Moogy Klingman Band, Scarlet Rivera, Suzanne Fellini, The Dream Syndicate, Spencer Davis, Fernando Saunders, Thommy Price, Rochelle D, Public Image Ltd, Aldo Nova-Portrait, Flo & Eddie, Clarence Clemmons & Red Bank Rockers, Kasim Sulton Band and Musique. Tommy has also performed and/or recorded with Yossi Fine, Jon Paris, Bruce Springsteen, Pat Travers, Ronnie Montrose, Alex Lifeson, John Phillips, Steven Tyler, Patti Smyth, Tom Morrongiello, Tommy Price, JT Lewis, Ellen Foley, Tom Nielson, Eric Johnson, Kenny Aaronsen, Robby Krieger, Harvey Brooks, Richie Canata, and Tommy Mandel. For the last 3 years, 2007 to 2009, he was the musical director for the All Star Jam at the Winter NAMM convention held in January in Anaheim California, and for the last 2 years he has been performing with the John Entwistle Foundation Band. As well as all the above Tommy also has a solo career with his own band ZKG which he formed in 2001.
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CHESTER THOMPSON
Chester Thompson started playing the piano at age five, soon he was playing both piano and organ for the choir at his church. At 13, he had discovered jazz, and by the age of 16, he was playing in high school rock bands, almost exclusively on the Hammond organ. At 19, he spent three years touring with the Rudy Johnson Trio. 1969 sees him move to San Francisco where he still lives todayhe joined up with Jules Broussard, this evolved into Chester leading his own band. It was during this time that he released his first album, a solo project titled, "Power House". He spend the following 10 years playing, touring and composing material for the band Tower of Power. It was in 1983, when he made his debut with Santana on "Beyond Appearances" . Chester co-wrote, with Carlos, the songs on the instrumental album, "Blues for Salvador", he also provided an inspirational spark during the recording of it's Grammy Award-winning title track. In addition, Chester also collaborated with Carlos on nine songs that were included on "Spirits Dancing In the Flesh". Since joining Santana, he's had opportunities to play with some of the other great musicians and groups, including Wayne Shorter, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Temptations and many others, but he continues playing an important part , recording, writing, performing, with Santana, and has become an integral part of "the Santana sound."
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LEE MICHAELS
Although American Lee Michaels, is a talented multi-instrumentalist, the organ dominates his recordings. One of the first to play hard rock on a keyboard instead of guitar, he started out playing the organ for surf groups The Sentinals, and The Strangers. By 1965 he had moved to San Francisco where he played with a Beatle influenced band "Family Tree" before setting out on his solo career. He was usually accompanied by just a drummer, B.E. "Frosty" Smith or Joel Larson. With his unusual Hammond playing technique -- hard, aggressive and loudly amplified he soon attracted a following and bought out his debut album "Carnival of Life" in 1968, followed by "Recital" later that year. It was in 1971 with his 5th album "Fifth" which brought him a breakthrough with the hit track "Do You Know What I Mean" reaching No.6 in the charts. This lead to his signing with Columbia Records and a further two albums with Columbia. He went on to record a further 2 albums "Saturn Rings" and "Absolute Lee by Lee Michaels" eventually released in 1996. Lee also known as Mike Olsen now semi-retired from the music business, owns a chain of restaurants, named "Killer Shrimp", around Southern California.
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MORGAN FISHER
Photo courtesy of Morgan Fisher
British keybaord player Morgan Fisher, born in London, started his musical journey in 1966 playing the organ with the band The Soul Survivors, who soon renamed to The Love Affair, having a No.1 hit in 1968 with "Everlasting Love". In the early 70's Morgan, along with Tim Staffell formed the rock band Morgan. After a short stint with Third Ear Band, in 1976 he joined the legendary British rock band, "Mott the Hoople". In 1980 Morgan conceived and produced the unique "Miniatures" album, 51 one-minute tracks by Robert Fripp, Gavin Bryars, Michael Nyman, The Pretenders, XTC, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Robert Wyatt, The Damned and many more. 1982 sees Morgan with rock band Queen, on their European tour. By 1985 Morgan had moved to Japan, where he has become one of the leading TV commercial music writers, including songs written or arranged for Cat Power, Karin Krog, Jose Feliciano and Zap Mama. Japanese artists include Yoko Ono, Dip in the Pool, The Boom, Heat Wave, Kina Shoukichi, Haruomi Hosono, Kokoo among others. He continues his busy and varied career as organist, keyboard player, producer, composer, film scorer, artist and photographer.
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MARK KELLY
Keyboardist Mark Kelly born in Dublin, influenced by bands Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd and the likes started his professional career with the progressive/psychedelic band Chemical Alice, based in Essex, UK. Mark stayed with the band a year, recording the EP Curioser and Curioser in July 1981, before leaving to join the progressive rock band, Marillion, replacing keyboardist Brian Jelliman, in November 1981. Mark has been with Marillion throughout their touring and recording history of 20 albums, the latest to date being "TBA - Working Title - M15" in 2008, 35 singles, 28 racket record recordings, 20 videos, as well as releasing 14 compilations and several Christmas albums. Mark also appeared on on John Wesley's album 'Under the Red and White Sky' in 1994 and on Jump's album 'Myth of Independence' in 1995. In 2005 he played keyboards with Travis for their headlining set at the Isle of Wight Festival and at the Live8 set in Edinburgh. He continues his work with Marillion.
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DOUG JOHNSON
Keyboardist Doug Johnson from Calgary, Canada together with Paul Dean, Mike Reno founded the rock band Loverboy in 1980. Their self-titled debut album sold over 700,000 in Canada alone, and went on to sell over 2 million in America. The band have released 13 billboard hit singles and 12 albums, the latest to date "Just Getting Started" was released in 2007. As well as his busy band career, Doug is also a published classical music composer. He wrote the classical quintet "The Crescent Suite" which uses piano, violin, cello, flute, and viola. His commercial composition work includes the soundtrack for the syndicated shows "The Shopping Bags" and "You, Me, and the Kids". He was nominated for a Jessie award for his work on the Vancouver Aquarium TV commercial. He also co-wrote music for Broadway-style musicals "Front Page News" and "A Time To Remember". Doug continues touring, recording and composing for his band Loverboy and work on his many side projects.
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GARTH HUDSON
Canadian Garth Hudson, virtuoso organist and keyboardist played with many bands and played plenty of sessions before he joined Bob Dylan's backing band in 1966, with went on to become known as The Band. Throughout The Bands long history, and numerous hits, Garth has been active also as a session musician, performing on movie soundtracks and albums. He has performed with Los Lobos, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton, Leonard Cohen, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, Rick Danko, Dixie Hummingbirds, Bob Dylan, Keith Emerson, Marianne Faithfull, Gipsy Kings, John Herald, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Jackie Lomax, Van Morrison, Scotty Moore & D.J. Fontana, Robert Palmer, Graham Parker and 100's of others. Garth has been involved musically in the films The Last Waltz, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, The Right Stuff and Man Outside. As a member of The Band, Garth was inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He continues as a very much-in-demand session player, just a few of the artists Garth performed with in 2006 alone are Ronnie Hawkins, The Sadies, Neko Case, Heavy Trash, John Hiatt, North Mississippi All-Stars, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, and Chris Zaloom. If you ever wondered who played that sax on The Band recordings, that was Garth Hudson too.
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GEORGIE FAME
Georgie Fame was born Clive Powell in Leigh, Lancashire, UK, he was inspired and influenced by American musicians especially Fats Domino, Mose Allison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Booker T & the MG's, and Louis Jordan. As a teenager he played with several groups around Manchester, before the family moved to London in 1959, were he was discovered by Lionel Bart. Talent manager Larry Parnes signed him up and changed his name. Georgie started his proffessional career by backing the likes of Vince Eager, Billy Fury and Marty Wilde, before becoming a full-time member of Billy Fury's backing band, The Blue Flames. Later Georgie took over the band, here, he could make his own music with a recognizable blend of R&B, jazz, pop, and ska. Over the years he has played with many artists including Alan Price, Van Morrison, and more recently bassist Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings. He is one of the few jazz artists left to take an interest in the vanishing art of setting words to established jazz instrumentals, which has earned him much respect & admiration from jazz critics on both sides of the Atlantic.
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BRIAN AUGER
Bandleader, session man, jazz pianist, Hammond B3 player, Brian Auger born in London, went on the road with Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll and Rod Stewart in 1965 as the group Steampacket. Then after a few years with with "This Wheel's on Fire" Driscoll & the band Trinity, he went on to form Brian Auger's Oblivion Express producing 8 chart hitting albums over the next decade. In 1989, Brian was Musical Director for the thirteen-part film retrospective series "Villa Fantastica", made for German TV. In 1990 the live recording of the series, "Super Jam", featured Brian Auger on piano. Throughout his career he has sessioned with too many legends to mention, toured with Tony Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Sonny Boy Williamson, Led Zeppelin, Eric Burdon and many more. Brian reformed Oblivion Express in the late 90's which today features his son Karma Auger on drums, his daughter Savannah Auger on vocals, and Derek Frank on bass.
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JERRY CORBETTA
Jerry Corbetta, founder, keyboardist, and former lead singer of the melodically and lyrically-oriented SUGARLOAF. Besides the often heard and much-praised "Green-Eyed Lady", the group found gold with "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You " in February 1975. Life after Sugarloaf was just as artistically lucrative for Jerry when he released a solo album for Warner Bros. In 1979, Jerry joined Fankie Vali & The Four Seasons and he still found time to write hit songs for Grace Jones, Belinda Carlisle and Roberto Flack / Peabo Bryson duo who recorded the love-song classic " You're Lookin' Like Love to Me" which went gold and climbed right to the top of the charts. Jerry has thrived as a performed/writer and record producer in the '80s,and since 1992 has performed world-wide with "The Rare Earth, Iron Butterfly, Sugarloaf All stars.
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DAVID PAICH
David Paich is a session musician from the 1980s, keyboard player, vocalist and main composer of the Los Angeles based rock/pop band Toto. David is one of the most prolific songwriters of the 1980's. He wrote "Rosanna," "99," "Hold the Line," and most of Toto's hits over the years, including several 70's hits by pop artists such as Cheryl Lynn's hit, "Got to be Real". David played on the Bryan Adams song "Please Forgive Me", just one of his many session works David co-wrote the 1982 hit, "Africa," along with Toto's drummer Jeff Porcaro. David also sung lead vocals on the song. He has co-writing credits with Boz Scaggs on the song "Lowdown," and occasionally still sits in on keyboards with Boz Scagg's band. He is still writing and performing with Toto, although he has opted to remain closer to the L.A. area and not tour extensively with the band. Session Keyboardist Greg Phillinganes joined Toto in 2005 as an additional keyboardist for both studio projects and tour dates.
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JOHN "JoJo" HERMANN
John Herman or JoJo, as he is known by the 1000's of Widespread Panic fans throughout the world, started his career in a Doors cover band at the age of 15, then moved on to Professor Longhair. Multi musician John joined Widespread Panic as keyboardist in 1992. The band plays as many as 250 shows a year, true road warriors, and have ranked among the top 50 grossing touring acts for eight years running, even without the multi-media attention of other bands. In 2003 John formed the Mojo Mardi Gras Band after his band, Widespread Panic, decided to take a year and a half off from their rigorous touring schedule, his band focuses on the sound of New Orleans . John released 3 solo albums in the 18 months break and recorded 16 of the 18 Widespread Panic CDs. Their latest to date being Widespread ~ Earth to America, 2006. (update Free Somehow - 2008)
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BRETT TUGGLE
Brett's career took off when invited to join Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, after which he moved to LA and joined up with Rick Springfield for 5 years. Next he joined David Lee Roth, Roth's band at the time was amazing, it included Steve Vai on guitar, Billy Sheehan on bass and Gregg Bissonette on drums. Bret wrote their top 10 hit with "Just Like Paradise" in 1988. The 80's till the present day has seen him with Belinda Carlisle, Fleetwood Mac, David Coverdale & Robert Plant, Whitesnake, Stevie Nicks, Chris Isaac. These are just a few this top keyboardist has worked with.
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TOMMY EYRE
Very versatile and prolific British keyboardist, he played with many top bands. His name should be included in any hall of fame for keyboardists, and although his musical contributions are very extensive, he'll always be remembered by two of his most famous works: The playing in Joe Cocker's original version of 'With a little help from my friends'. Tommy's organ arrangements gave the song such classy style. The playing in the famous 'Baker Street' by singer Gerry Rafferty. Another eternal song....
FULLER STORY
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CHRIS McVIE
Photo courtesy of Chris Walters
Chris was influenced at an early age by her grandfather who played the organ a Westminster Abbey. While at college she began playing in blues bands with other students, one being a young Spencer Davies. She was working as a window dresser when she met up and joined Andy Sylvester and Stan Webb as keyboards and sing backing vocals in their new band, Chicken Shack. 5 nightly gigs and 3 years later she joined Fleetwood Mac. She stayed with Fleetwood Mac writing much of their music till 1998 when she retired and returned her family in the UK.
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PAUL KALLESTAD
Paul Kallestad has toured exstensively in many countries around the world and recorded with many bands. Well repected in "the biz", he is best known for playing with Bubba and the Big Bad Blues Band, Chris and his 100% Blues Band, Ronnie "The Iceman" Shumake and with Walter Trout's different line ups.
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ROGER COTTON
Multi musician/songwriter/producer Roger Cotton has been playing Blues and Soul all his life, having played with the likes of Johnny Johnson, James Carr, Larry Garner, Eric Bibb, Dave Walker, Alan Glen and for the last 8 years has world toured and recorded with Peter Green & his Splinter Group, writing quite a number of Green's tracks. He also finds time to run the prestigious Roundel studios in, Kent with Kevin Pynes. Together, they have written and produced some award winning music and sound tracks for film, TV and theatre.
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GARY BROOKER M.B.E.
photo with courtesy of Hans Arne Nakrem
Pianist/keyboards/singer/songwriter, Gary Booker, career started with the Paramounts 1961, forming Procol Harum in April 67. playing until their breakup in May 1977. Brooker went on to play piano in Eric Clapton's band for a few years. David Gilmour, George Harrison, Rory Gallagher, Elton John, John Bonham, Katie Kissoon, Laurence Cottle, Allan Clarke, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Ringo Starr are just a few on the vast list of who Gary Brooker has played with in his ongoing career. For many years Brooker has combined his solo recordings, guesting with rock band and reformed Procol Harum life with extensive pioneering work mixing rock music with classical music, producing some outstanding works.
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MATTHEW FISHER
Matthew Fisher, keyboardist of the soulful progressive rock band Procol Harum, which originally formed in Essex, UK, 1967. Matthew co-wrote the music for their amazing debute hit "Whiter Shade Of Pale". He has contributed greatly over the last 4 decades in the world of music. He left, reformed Procol Harum in June 2004. His other work includes Matt and the Deputies (1963), The Society Five, David Bowie, David Lanz, National Anthem, David ('Screaming Lord') Sutch, more on Sutch, Downliners Sect, Joe Cocker, James McCarty, Tir na Nog, Hurricane, Pretty Things'n'Mates and producing Robin Trower, Prarie Madness, Roderick Falconer, James Dewar, Route 66, Carlo Little: recording history compiled by Joan
