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{{Short description|English keyboardist, songwriter, and composer (1944–2016)}} | |||
{{Unreferenced|article|date=July 2007}} | |||
{{Use British English|date=November 2012}} | |||
{{Infobox musical artist | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}} | |||
|Name = Keith Emerson | |||
|Img = Keith Emerson (1980s).jpg | |||
{{Infobox person | |||
|Img_capt = | |||
| name = Keith Emerson | |||
|Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | |||
| image = Keith Emerson StPetersburg Aug08.jpg | |||
|Birth_name = | |||
| caption = Emerson performing in ], Russia, September 2008 | |||
|Alias = | |||
| birth_name = Keith Noel Emerson | |||
|Born = {{birth date and age|1944|11|02}} <br/> ], ] | |||
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1944|11|2|df=y}} | |||
|Died = | |||
| birth_place = ], West Riding of Yorkshire, England | |||
|Origin = ] | |||
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|3|11|1944|11|2|df=y}} | |||
|Instrument = ] <br/> ] <br/> ]s <br/> ]s | |||
| death_place = ], U.S. | |||
|Genre = ] | |||
| resting_place = Lancing and Sompting Cemetery, ], England | |||
|Occupation = Musician | |||
| children = 2 | |||
|Years_active = ]–present | |||
| occupation = Musician, songwriter, composer | |||
|Label = | |||
| years_active = 1964–2016 | |||
|Associated_acts = ]<br/> ] | |||
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes | |||
|URL = | |||
|background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | |||
|instrument = ]<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument---> | |||
|genre = {{flatlist| | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
}} | |||
|label = ], ], ], ], ], ], J!MCO Records, ], ], Marquee Inc., ], Gunslinger Records, ] | |||
|associated_acts = ] & The T-Bones, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], Keith Emerson Band, ] | |||
}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Keith Noel Emerson''' (2 November 1944{{snd}}11 March 2016) was an English keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He played keyboards in a number of bands before finding his first commercial success with ] in the late 1960s.<ref name=vh1>{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/emerson_keith/artist.jhtml|title=VH1.com: Keith Emerson: Biography |website=VH1.com |publisher=] |access-date=23 February 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712190719/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/emerson_keith/artist.jhtml |archive-date=12 July 2011}}</ref> He became internationally famous for his work with the Nice, which included writing rock arrangements of classical music.<ref name=lupisp5>{{Cite thesis |type=D.M.A. |title=The Published Music of Keith Emerson: Expanding the Solo Piano Repertoire |pages=5 |url=http://athenaeum.libs.uga.edu/handle/10724/23179 |last=Lupis |first=Giuseppe |date=May 2006 |publisher=University of Georgia |access-date=7 January 2015 |oclc=223323019 }}</ref> After leaving the Nice in 1970, he was a founding member of ] (ELP), one of the early ] supergroups. | |||
'''Keith Noel Emerson''' (born ] ] in ], ]) is a ] ] and composer. Formerly a member of The T-Bones, V.I.P.s and as backing band to ] (which evolved into ]), he went on to start ] (ELP), one of the first ]s, in 1970. Following the first breakup of ELP circa 1979, Emerson went on to modest success with other bands including Emerson, Lake & Powell, ] and subsequent ELP reunions during the early 90's. He reunited ] in 2002 to go on ] and currently tours (through 2006) with The Keith Emerson Band. | |||
Emerson, Lake & Palmer were commercially successful through much of the 1970s, becoming one of the best-known progressive rock groups of the era.<ref name=vh1 /> Emerson wrote and arranged much of ELP's music on albums such as '']'' (1971) and '']'' (1973), combining his own original compositions with classical or traditional pieces adapted into a rock format.<ref>Lupis, pp. 6–8.</ref> Following ELP's break-up at the end of the 1970s, Emerson pursued a solo career, composed several film soundtracks, and formed the bands ]<ref name=vh1 /> and ] to carry on in the style of ELP.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-last=Hoffmann |editor-first=Frank W. |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound |title=Emerson, Lake and Palmer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9GGTAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT800 |access-date=20 March 2016 |edition=2nd |year=2005 |publisher=]|volume=1 |isbn=978-0-415-97120-1 |page=374 }}</ref> In the early 1990s, ELP reunited for two more albums and several tours before breaking up again in the late 1990s. Emerson also reunited The Nice in 2002 and 2003 for a tour.<ref name=varietyobit>{{cite magazine |last=Chagollan |first=Steve |date=11 March 2016 |title=Keith Emerson, Keyboardist for Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Dies at 71 |url=https://variety.com/2016/music/news/keith-emerson-dies-dead-emerson-lake-palmer-1201728226/ |magazine=] |location=] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312094012/http://variety.com/2016/music/news/keith-emerson-dies-dead-emerson-lake-palmer-1201728226/ |archive-date=12 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
==Biography== | |||
{{OR|section}} | |||
Emerson grew up in the seaside resort of ], ], ]. As a child, he learned ], from which he derived a lot of inspiration to create his own style, combining classical music, ], and ] themes. Emerson became intrigued with the ] after hearing jazz organist ] perform "Rock Candy" and it subsequently became his instrument of choice for performing in the late 60s. In 1969, Emerson incorporated the ] into his battery of keyboards. While other artists such as ] and ] had used the Moog in studio recordings, Emerson was the first artist to tour with one. | |||
During the 2000s, Emerson resumed his solo career, including touring with his own Keith Emerson Band featuring guitarist Dave Kilminster, then replaced by Marc Bonilla, and collaborating with several orchestras. He reunited with ELP bandmate ] in 2010 for a duo tour, culminating in a one-off ELP reunion show in London to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|last=Allen |first=Jim |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/keith-emerson-appreciation/ |title=How Keith Emerson Changed the World |publisher=Ultimateclassicrock.com |date=12 March 2016 |access-date=20 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313102617/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/keith-emerson-appreciation/ |archive-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> Emerson's last album, ''The Three Fates Project'', with Marc Bonilla and Terje Mikkelsen, was released in 2012.<ref name=varietyobit /> Emerson reportedly suffered from depression, and since 1993 developed nerve damage that hampered his playing, making him anxious about upcoming performances. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on 11 March 2016 at his home in Santa Monica, California.<ref name=savage>{{cite web|last1=Savage|first1=Mark|title=Keith Emerson's death ruled suicide|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35806414|website=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=15 March 2016 |access-date=15 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315142625/http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35806414 |archive-date=15 March 2016}}</ref><ref name=lynch>{{cite magazine |last=Lynch |first=Joe |date=11 March 2016 |title=Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer Dead at 71 of Suicide |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7127455/keith-emerson-dead-emerson-lake-palmer |magazine=] |location=] |access-date=9 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408154740/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7127455/keith-emerson-dead-emerson-lake-palmer |archive-date=8 April 2016}}</ref><ref name=grinberg>{{cite news|last1=Grinberg|first1=Emanuella|title=Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer Dead at 71|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/11/entertainment/keith-emerson-dies-feat/|website=CNN|date=12 March 2016 |access-date=9 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408151955/http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/11/entertainment/keith-emerson-dies-feat/ |archive-date=8 April 2016}}</ref> | |||
He is known for his technical skill and for his live antics, including using knives to wedge down specific keys of his ] during solos, playing the organ upside down while having it lie over him and backwards while standing behind it. He also employed a special rig to rotate his piano end-over-end while he's "playing" it (purely theatrical, since acoustic pianos cannot function when turned upside down in this manner). Along with contemporaries ] of ], ] of ], Billy Ritchie of ] and ] of ], Emerson is widely regarded as one of the top keyboard players of the ] era.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} The popular and well-regarded All Music Guide notes that Emerson may be the best most technically accomplished rock keyboardist in history. | |||
Emerson is widely regarded as one of the greatest keyboard players of the progressive rock era.<ref name=vh1 /><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Milano |first=Domenic |date=October 1977 |title=Keith Emerson |magazine=] |publisher=GPI Publications |location=] |pages=22–30, 32, 36, 38, 52 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Milano |first=Domenic |date=September 1980|title=Keith Emerson: Rock's Multi-Keyboard King — Then and Now |magazine=] | publisher=GPI Publications | location=]| pages=16–23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=25 Giants of Keyboard Music |date=January 2000 |magazine=]|publisher=CMP Entertainment Media |location=]| pages=32–42 |quote=No one else captured the hearts of fledgling rock keyboardists through the '70s and '80s the way he did.}}</ref> ] describes Emerson as "perhaps the greatest, most technically accomplished keyboardist in rock history".<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/keith-emerson-mn0000765900/biography |title=Keith Emerson: Artist Biography by Steve Huey |last=Huey |first=Steve |date=2016 |website=allmusic.com |publisher=] |access-date=19 March 2016 |quote=Throughout his career with the Nice, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and as a solo artist, Emerson proved himself perhaps the greatest, most technically accomplished keyboardist in rock history. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315043951/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/keith-emerson-mn0000765900/biography |archive-date=15 March 2016}}</ref> In 2019, readers of '']'' voted him the greatest keyboard player in progressive rock.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-top-ten-keyboard-players-in-prog |title=The top ten keyboard players in prog |first=Jerry |last=Ewing |website=loudersound.com |date=21 July 2019 |access-date=14 June 2023}}</ref> | |||
Central to much of Keith Emerson's music are rock arrangements of classical compositions, ranging from (lots of) ] via ] to 20th century composers like ], ], ] and ]. Occasionally Emerson has "borrowed" certain classical and jazz works without giving credit, particularly early in his career, from the late 1960s until 1972; the song "]" by The Nice is a ] interpretation of "Blue Rondo à la Turk" by the ], originally in 9/8 ]. The piece is introduced by an extensive quote from Bach's ], third movement. In fact, considering the Bach and Emerson's own improvisations, the Brubeck contribution is merely the anchoring theme. | |||
{{TOClimit|3}} | |||
==Early life== | |||
On ELP's ]ous first album, Emerson's classical quotes went largely uncredited. "The Barbarian" is heavily influenced by "Allegro barbaro" by Bartók, and "Knife Edge" is virtually a note-for-note restatement of "Sifonietta" by Janáček. Note-for-note extracts were taken from pieces by Bartók, Janáček and Bach, mixed in with some original material, and credited completely to Emerson, Lake, Palmer and roadie ]. By ], with the releases ''Pictures At An Exhibition'' and ''Trilogy'', Emerson began to fully credit classical composers, ] for the piano piece which inspired the first album, and ] for "Hoedown" on the second. Emerson was adamant that he did not use ]'s orchestration of ] in developing the his own version. | |||
Emerson was born on 2 November 1944 in ], West Riding of Yorkshire. The family had been evacuated from southern England during World War II, after which they returned south and settled in ], West Sussex.<ref name="hanson">{{cite book|last=Hanson|first=Martyn|title=Hang on to a Dream: The Story of The Nice|date=2002 | publisher=]|location=] |isbn=978-1-900924-43-6}}</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2016}} Emerson attended West Tarring School (now ]) in ].<ref name=WorthingDaily>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=21 July 2013 |title=Worthing's Got Talent |url=http://worthingdaily.co.uk/your-comment/worthings-got-talent/ |newspaper=Worthing Daily |location=], ] |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313033714/http://worthingdaily.co.uk/your-comment/worthings-got-talent/ |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref> His mother Dorothy was not musical, but his father Noel was an amateur pianist and taught Emerson basic piano. When Emerson was eight, his parents arranged formal tuition, learning to play and read music with "local little old ladies" until he was around thirteen, with whom he studied to ] Grade 7.<ref name=EMM83>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/keith-emerson/5998|title=Keith Emerson|first=Keith|last=Emerson|magazine=Electronics & Music Maker|date=May 1983|via=Muzines|access-date=28 June 2021}}</ref><ref name=hollyq /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Emerson |first1=Keith |title=Pictures of an Exhibitionist |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xS8UAQAAIAAJ |date=2004 |publisher=John Blake |location=London |isbn=1844540537 |page=21}}</ref><ref name=milano>{{cite book |last=Milano |first=Domenic |editor-last=Rideout |editor-first=Ernie |title=Keyboard Presents Classic Rock |publisher=] |location=] |date=2010 |pages= |chapter=Keith Emerson: It's Good to Be the King of Prog Rock |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hVTa5OhJvBgC&pg=PA173 |isbn=978-0-87930-952-7 |url=https://archive.org/details/keyboardpresents0000unse/page/173 }}</ref> Emerson's teacher put him in competitions at the Worthing Music Festival and suggested he finish studying music in London, but Emerson had little interest in classical music at the time and chose jazz piano.<ref name=EMM83/> His studies in ] largely inspired his own style in his professional career which often incorporated jazz and rock elements.<ref name=varietyobit /> | |||
Although Emerson did not own a record player, he enjoyed listening to music on the radio, particularly ]'s 1961 ] "]" and the work of ]. He used jazz sheet music from ] and ] and learned about jazz piano from books and ]'s version of '']''.<ref name=EMM83/> He also listened to ], and to ] pianists including ], ] and ]. Emerson later described himself: "I was a very serious child. I used to walk around with ] under my arm. However, I was very good at avoiding being beaten up by the bullies. That was because I could also play ] and ] songs. So, they thought I was kind of cool and left me alone."<ref name=hollyq /> | |||
In ] Emerson published his critically acclaimed autobiography entitled "Pictures of an Exhibitionist", which deals with his entire career, particularly focusing on his early days with ], and his nearly career-ending nerve-graft surgery in ]. | |||
Emerson became interested in the ] after hearing jazz organist ] perform "Rock Candy", and the Hammond became his instrument of choice in the late 1960s. Emerson acquired his first Hammond organ, an L-100 model, at the age of 15 or 16, on ] and a loan from his father.<ref>{{Citation|last=Fortner|first=Stephen|title=Keith Emerson Interviewed by You|magazine=]|date=December 2010}}</ref><ref name=OTT84>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/emerson/8455|title=Emerson|first=Paul|last=Colbert|magazine=One Two Testing|date=July 1984|via=Muzines|access-date=28 June 2021}}</ref> He had saved money to buy a Bird electric organ with built-in speakers on each side, but then spotted a Hammond in the shop and thought it was a better purchase.<ref name=EMM83/> Emerson's initial plan was for a non-musical career while playing the piano on the side. Upon leaving school he worked at ] where he played the piano in the bar at lunch times and local pubs at nights. He was ultimately fired from the bank.<ref name=P72/><ref name=WorthingDaily/> Emerson played in a local 20-piece swing band run by ], performing ] and ] tunes. This led to the formation of the Keith Emerson Trio, with the group's drummer and bassist.<ref name=EMM83/> | |||
Emerson has provided music for a number of films since ], including ]'s '']'' and '']'', the ] thriller '']'' and, more recently, '']''. He was also the composer for the short-lived ] animated television series '']''. | |||
==Career== | |||
==Instrumentation and playing style== | |||
===1965–1970: Early groups and The Nice=== | |||
On stage Emerson started out on Hammond organ, with a grand piano toward the back of the stage. By the end of his time with The Nice, the standard arrangement was two Hammond organs, a C-3 and an L-100, placed facing each other with the C-3 to the left from the audience point of view. The L-100 took plenty of abuse during the stage act and was usually reinforced, to the point where it weighed so much that, on at least one occasion, Emerson became trapped beneath it and had to be rescued by a roadie. At any given time Emerson is said to have owned several L-100 models, in various stages of repair, to support his act. The C-3, in contrast, seems to have lasted for years. | |||
While performing in the Worthing and Brighton area, Emerson played in John Brown's Bodies where members of The T-Bones, the backing band of blues singer ], offered him a place in their group.<ref name=EMM83/><ref name=P72/> After a subsequent UK and European tour with the T-Bones, the band split. Emerson then joined ], | |||
which he described as a "purist blues band";<ref name=EMM83/> his noted flamboyance began when a fight broke out during a performance in France. Instructed by the band to keep playing, he produced some explosion and machine gun sounds with the Hammond organ, which stopped the fight. His band members told him to repeat the stunt at the next concert,<ref name=P72>{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/emerson-lake-and-palmer-super-group-of-the-seventies|title=Emerson Lake and Palmer: Super-Group of the Seventies!|first=Keith|last=Altham|magazine=Petticoat|date=4 November 1972|via=]|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="Analog Days">{{cite book|title=Analog Days, The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer|url=https://archive.org/details/analogdaysinvent00pinc|url-access=registration|first1=Trevor |last1=Pinch |first2=Frank |last2=Trocco|publisher=]|year=2002|isbn=9780674008892}}</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2016}} where Emerson played the organ back to front.<ref name=EMM83/> | |||
In 1967, Emerson formed ] with ], also of the T-Bones, ], and Ian Hague, after soul singer ] asked him to form a backing band.<ref name=TG16/> After replacing Hague with ], the group set out on its own, quickly developing a strong live following. The group's sound was centred on Emerson's ] showmanship and theatrical abuse of the instrument, and their radical rearrangements of classical music themes as "symphonic rock".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fowles |first1=Paul |date=2009 |title=A Concise History of Rock Music |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nW2-7BrEUOEC&pg=PA126 |location=] |publisher=] |pages=126–127 |isbn=978-1-61911-016-8}}</ref><ref name=macanrtc65>{{cite book |last=Macan |first=Edward |date=1997 |title=Rocking the Classics: English Progressive Rock and the Counterculture |url=https://archive.org/details/rockingclassicse0000maca |url-access=registration |location=] |publisher=] |page= |isbn=0-19-509887-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Greene |first=Doyle |date=2016 |title=Rock, Counterculture and the Avant-Garde, 1966–1970: How the Beatles, Frank Zappa, and the Velvet Underground Defined an Era |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VLWaCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA183 |location=] |publisher=] |page=183 |isbn=978-1-4766-6214-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Weigel |first=David |date=14 August 2012 |title=Prog Spring: Before It Was a Joke, Prog Was the Future of Rock 'n' Roll. |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/prog_spring/features/2012/prog_rock/history_of_prog_the_nice_emerson_lake_palmer_and_other_bands_of_the_1970s_.html |magazine=] |location=] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831011009/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/prog_spring/features/2012/prog_rock/history_of_prog_the_nice_emerson_lake_palmer_and_other_bands_of_the_1970s_.html |archive-date=31 August 2012 }}</ref> To increase the visual interest of his show, Emerson abused his Hammond L-100 organ by, among other things, hitting it, beating it with a whip, pushing it over, riding it across the stage like a horse, playing with it lying on top of him, and wedging knives into the keyboard.<ref name=milano /><ref name=cateforis>{{cite book |last=Cateforis |first=Theo |date=2011 |title=Are We Not New Wave? Modern Pop at the Turn of the 1980s |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-MVrM3zKrHQC&pg=PA158 |location=] |publisher=] |page=158 |isbn=978-0-472-03470-3}}</ref> Some of these actions also produced musical sound effects: hitting the organ caused it to make explosion-like sounds,<ref name=romano>{{cite book |last=Romano |first=Will |date=2014 |title=Prog Rock FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Rock's Most Progressive Music |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UIqkCAAAQBAJ&pg=PT30 |location=] |publisher=] |page=PT30 |isbn=978-1-61713-620-7}}</ref> turning it over made it ], and the knives held down keys, thus sustaining notes. Emerson's show with The Nice has been cited as having a strong influence on ] musicians.<ref name=macanrtc65 /> | |||
With ELP Emerson added the Moog synthesizer behind the C-3 with the keyboard and ] stacked on the top of the organ. The ribbon controller allowed Emerson to vary pitch, tone or timbre of the output from the Moog by moving his finger up and down the length of a touch-sensitive strip. It also could be used as a phallic symbol, which quickly became a feature of the act. When the Minimoog entered the act it was placed where needed, such as on top of the grand piano. The same location was also used for an electric ] keyboard, used almost exclusively for the encore piece ]. | |||
Away from The Nice, Emerson was involved in the 1969 '']'' "supersession" project that included ] and ]. For the session, Emerson performed with drummer ] and bassist ] covering, among other tunes, the ] instrumental "Freedom Jazz Dance".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sutherland |first=Sam |date=27 January 1973 |title=Studio Track |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FkUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT27 |magazine=] |location=] |page=28 |access-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
Occasionally Emerson used a ], when available. In particular, at the ] he used the ] pipe organ for the introductory section of ''Pictures at an Exhibition''. The organ is located at the rear above the stage, at the top of a series of steps where choirs can stand. The end of the introductory passage is followed by a drum roll, covering the time while Emerson descended the steps. While all went well for the recording used to produce the album, the debut tour performance at the same venue ground to a halt as the power failed, just as Emerson arrived at the Hammond organ to open the next part of the piece. After a lengthy delay the performance continued with only the Hammond L-100 functioning. | |||
Emerson first heard a ] when a record shop owner played him '']'' (1968) by ], and thought the instrument looked like "an electronic ]".<ref name="Analog Days" /> He got into contact with keyboardist ], who had paid £4,000 to have one shipped from the US, and organised to play it at an upcoming The Nice concert at the ] with the ], in February and March 1970.<ref name=OTT84/> Vickers helped ] the Moog, and the concert saw Emerson perform "]" by ] with Vickers behind the machine to swap patches.<ref name=OTT84/><ref name="Analog Days" /> | |||
Emerson also used the organ at the ] for the recording of the debut album by the group. It is not known if he also used it in a live context. | |||
===1970–1979: Emerson, Lake & Palmer=== | |||
Amplifiers and speakers behind Emerson became more elaborate, including a Leslie unit. There was also a board attached to the front of the stack, intended as a target for his knife-throwing. | |||
] | |||
After The Nice split in March 1970, Emerson formed a new band, ] (ELP), with bassist ] from ] and drummer ] from ]. After four months of rehearsal, the band played its first shows and recorded its first album, having quickly obtained a record deal with ]. ELP became popular immediately after their ] performance, and continued to tour regularly throughout the 1970s. Not all were impressed, with ] DJ ] describing their Isle of Wight set as a "tragic waste of talent and electricity".<ref name=glancey/> Their set, with a half-million onlookers, involved "annihilating their instruments in a classical-rock blitz" and firing cannons from the stage,<ref>{{cite web|last=Reed |first=Ryan |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/emerson-lake-and-palmer-stage-debut/ |title=45 Years Ago: Emerson, Lake and Palmer Make Their Stage Debut |publisher=Ultimateclassicrock.com |date=13 August 2013 |access-date=20 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314065059/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/emerson-lake-and-palmer-stage-debut/ |archive-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> which had been tested out on a field near ].<ref name=glancey>{{cite news |last=Glancey |first=Jonathan |date=31 May 2002 |title=Keith Emerson – The Hendrix of the Hammond |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/may/31/shopping.artsfeatures1 |newspaper=] |location=] |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304222413/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/may/31/shopping.artsfeatures1 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
As the technology of electronic keyboard instruments became more sophisticated, Emerson was quick to adopt new instruments such as polyphonic synthesizers, one of which can be seen on the video promoting ]. Other more elaborate innovations have been previously described in this article. | |||
====Use of synthesizers==== | |||
Even on the grand piano, Emerson refused to limit his technique to hitting the keys. He would sometimes reach into the interior and hit, pluck or strum the strings with his hand. The introduction to ''Take a Pebble'' includes chords and arpeggios played by pressing down on keys, to raise the dampers from the strings, and playing the strings inside the piano as one might play the ]. In the live performance of ''Hang on to a Dream'' with the Nice, recorded for the post-breakup album ''Elegy'', he performed a '']'' of sorts hitting the piano strings with a small hammer, followed by a lengthy wind-down returning to the song in which he alternated keyboard arpeggios with blows directly on the bass strings. The standard finale to the song has him reaching into the piano with fingers spread on both hands to pluck the final chord, presumably depressing the sustain pedal at the same time to lift all the string dampers. This can be clearly seen on a performance filmed for the television show ]. | |||
{{multiple image |align=left |direction=vertical |width=220 | |||
|image1=Keith Emerson's Customized R.A.Moog Modular Synthesizer with keyboard, ribbon controllers (1968), Customized Hammond "Tarkus" C3 with chrome stand (ca.1968) - Play It Loud. MET (2019-05-13 19.02.27 by Eden, Janine and Jim).jpg | |||
|caption1=Keith Emerson's customized | |||
* "Monster ]" ] | |||
* "Tarkus" ] C3 organ | |||
}} | |||
ELP's record deal provided funds for Emerson to buy his own ] from the US, which was a preset model that had fewer leads and punch cards to call up certain patches.<ref name=OTT84/> He used the patch that Vickers provided, which contained six distinctive Moog sounds and became the foundation of ELP's sound.<ref name="Analog Days" /> It was a temperamental device, with the oscillators often going out of tune with temperature change.<ref name="Analog Days" /> Emerson was the first artist to tour with a Moog synthesiser. His "Monster Moog", built from numerous modules, weighed {{convert|550|lbs|kg}}, stood {{convert|10|ft|m|0}} tall and took four roadies to move. Even with its unpredictability, it became an indispensable component of not only ELP's concerts, but also Emerson's own.<ref>{{citation|last=Bernstein|first=David|newspaper=The New York Times|title=A Comeback for Another Classic Rocker: The Moog Synthesizer|date=29 September 2004}} "Mr. Emerson's towering, 10-foot-tall, 550-pound ''Monster Moog,'' as he called it, was an indispensable part of the group's concerts, even though it was often unreliable and difficult to play."</ref> His use of the Moog was so critical to the development of new Moog models that he was given prototypes, such as the Constellation, which he took on one tour,<ref name="Analog Days" /> and the Apollo, which had its début on "]" on '']'' (1973).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/elp-brain-salad-surgery/ |title=40 Years Ago: Emerson, Lake & Palmer Release 'Brain Salad Surgery'|last1=DeRiso |first1=Nick |date=19 November 2013 |website=ultimateclassicrock.com |publisher=] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123080410/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/elp-brain-salad-surgery |archive-date=23 January 2015 }}</ref> As synthesiser technology evolved, Emerson went on to use a variety of other synthesisers, including the ], ], and several models by ]. | |||
====As composer and arranger==== | |||
Emerson performed several notable rock arrangements of classical compositions, ranging from ] and ] to 20th-century composers such as ], ], ] and ]. Occasionally Emerson quoted from classical and jazz works without giving credit, particularly early in his career.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tsioulcas |first=Anastasia |date=11 March 2016 |title=Remembering Keith Emerson, A Prog-Rock Legend |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2016/03/11/470119610/remembering-keith-emerson-a-prog-rock-legend |publisher=] |location=] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312094648/http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2016/03/11/470119610/remembering-keith-emerson-a-prog-rock-legend |archive-date=12 March 2016}}</ref><ref>Romano, p. .</ref> An early example of Emerson's arranging was the song "Rondo" by The Nice, which is a ] interpretation of ]'s 9/8 composition "]".<ref name=MrBrubeck>{{cite web|last=Emerson|first=Keith|title=Meeting Mr. Brubeck Again|url=http://www.keithemerson.com/MiscPages/2009/20090924-DaveBrubeck.html|work=Official Keith Emerson Website|access-date=10 February 2013|archive-date=5 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605091756/http://www.keithemerson.com/MiscPages/2009/20090924-DaveBrubeck.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> During live performances the piece is introduced by an extensive excerpt from the 3rd movement of Bach's '']''.<ref name=hollyq>{{cite web |url=https://www.ramblingonmusic.com/single-post/2015/11/09/would-you-like-a-knife-with-that-keith-emerson-the-leatherdonned-daredevil-how-emerson-ch |title=Would You Like A Knife With That? Keith Emerson: The Leather-Donned Daredevil. How Emerson Changed The Role Of The Keyboardist Through Explicit Stage Presence and Performance |last1=Q. |first1=Holly |date=10 September 2015 |website=Rambingonmusic.com |publisher=Rambling On Music |access-date=13 March 2016 |archive-date=3 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203191104/https://www.ramblingonmusic.com/single-post/2015/11/09/would-you-like-a-knife-with-that-keith-emerson-the-leatherdonned-daredevil-how-emerson-ch |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
On ELP's ], Emerson's classical quotes went largely uncredited. In the 1973 reissue on the group's personal label, Manticore Records, the songs are credited correctly. By 1971, with the releases '' ]'' and ''Trilogy'', ELP began to fully credit classical composers, including ] for the piano piece which inspired the ''Pictures'' album, and Aaron Copland for "Hoedown" on the ''Trilogy'' album. Emerson indicated in an interview that he based his version of ''Pictures at an Exhibition'' on Mussorgsky's original piano composition, rather than on ]'s later orchestration of the work.<ref name=prasademerson>{{cite web |url=http://www.innerviews.org/inner/emerson.html |title=Keith Emerson: Meshing Sonorities |last1=Prasad |first1=Anil |author-link=Anil Prasad |date=2015 |website=innerviews.org |publisher=Innerviews |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150905113757/http://www.innerviews.org/inner/emerson.html |archive-date=5 September 2015 }}</ref> | |||
Following ELP's 1974 tour, the members agreed to put the band on temporary hiatus and pursue individual solo projects. During this time, Emerson composed his "]" and recorded it with the ].<ref name=welcomeback>{{cite AV media |people=Keith Emerson (interviewee) |year=1997 |title=Welcome Back ... The ELP Story |medium=Audio documentary |url=http://ladiesofthelake.com/audiofiles/elpstory.html |access-date=16 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007105430/http://ladiesofthelake.com/audiofiles/elpstory.html |archive-date=7 October 2015 |format=Audio CD |publisher=] (CD); Ladies of the Lake - A Greg Lake Tribute Site (transcription) |id=a55656 (M-CD102 PRO) }}</ref> According to Emerson, he was motivated by critical comments suggesting that he relied upon adapting classical works because he was unable to write his own music, and further motivated by the London Philharmonic "who weren't that helpful to begin with" and "had the attitude of 'What's a rock musician doing writing a piano concerto?'"<ref name=prasademerson /> Emerson said, "I wanted people to say, look, I'm a composer, I do write my own music, and what greater challenge than to write a piano concerto."<ref name=welcomeback /> The recording later appeared on ELP's album '']''. Emerson's concerto has since been performed by classical pianists, most notably Jeffrey Biegel, who has performed it several times and recorded it with Emerson's permission.<ref name=prasademerson /><ref>{{cite news |last=Glenn |first=Gamboa | url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/keith-emerson-dead-keyboardist-of-rock-band-emerson-lake-and-palmer-was-71-1.11564608 | title=Keith Emerson dead; Emerson, Lake and Palmer keyboardist was 71 | newspaper=] | location=] | date=11 March 2016 | access-date=26 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312095943/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/keith-emerson-dead-keyboardist-of-rock-band-emerson-lake-and-palmer-was-71-1.11564608 |archive-date=12 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
In 1976, while still in ELP, Emerson also released his first solo record, the single "Honky Tonk Train Blues" b/w "Barrelhouse Shake-Down". "Honky Tonk Train Blues", Emerson's cover of a 1927 ] piano song by ], reached {{Numero|21}} on the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/keith-emerson-songs/ |title=Top 10 Keith Emerson Songs|last1=DeRiso |first1=Nick |website=ultimateclassicrock.com |date=11 March 2016 |publisher=] |access-date=17 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313112552/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/keith-emerson-songs/ |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name=honkytonkchart>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/honky%20tonk%20train%20blues/ |title=Official Singles Chart Results Matching: Honky Tonk Train Blues |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=10 April 1976 |website=officialcharts.com |access-date=17 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
====Theatrics==== | |||
] | |||
In addition to his technical skills at playing and composing, Emerson was a theatrical performer.<ref name="nytobit">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/12/arts/music/keith-emerson-70s-rock-showman-with-a-taste-for-spectacle-dies-at-71.html |title=Keith Emerson, '70s Rock Showman With a Taste for Spectacle, Dies at 71 |first=Ben |last=Ratliff |newspaper=] |page=B7 |date=11 March 2016}}</ref> He cited guitarist ] and organist ] as his chief theatrical influences. While in ELP, Emerson continued to some degree the physical abuse of his Hammond organ that he had developed with The Nice, including playing the organ upside down while having it lie over him and using knives to wedge down specific keys and sustain notes during solos. He also engaged in knife throwing using a target fastened in front of his Leslie speakers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Macan |first=Edward |date=2006 |title=Endless Enigma: A Musical Biography of Emerson, Lake and Palmer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tXoIAQAAMAAJ |location=] |publisher=] |pages=24–26 |isbn=978-0-8126-9596-0}}</ref> He was given his trademark knife, an authentic Nazi dagger, by ], who was a roadie for The Nice in his earlier days.<ref name="Cider">{{cite book| first= Stuart| last= Maconie| year= 2004| title= Cider With Roadies| edition= 1st| publisher= ]| location= ]| isbn= 0-09-189115-9| page= 53}}</ref> | |||
Emerson toned down his theatrics with the organ when ELP used more stage props for their shows. While touring ''Brain Salad Surgery'' from 1973 to 1974, at the end of the show, a sequencer in Emerson's Moog Modular synthesiser was set running at an increasing rate, with the synthesiser pivoting to face the audience while emitting smoke and deploying a large pair of silver bat wings from its back.<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 332.</ref> The same tour featured one of Emerson's memorable live show stunts with ELP, which involved playing a piano suspended as high as 20 feet in mid-air and then rotated end-over-end with Emerson sitting at it. This was purely for visual effect, as the piano was fake and had no works inside, leaving Emerson to mime playing.<ref name=greglakepiano>{{cite web |url=http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/05/18/keith-actually-hurt-himself-doing-it-inside-emerson-lake-and-palmers-amazing-rotating-piano-stunt/ |title=Inside Emerson Lake and Palmer's Amazing Rotating Piano Stunt: 'Keith Actually Hurt Himself Doing It' |author=Something Else! |date=18 May 2013 |website=somethingelsereviews.com |publisher=Something Else! |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815185726/http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/05/18/keith-actually-hurt-himself-doing-it-inside-emerson-lake-and-palmers-amazing-rotating-piano-stunt/ |archive-date=15 August 2014 }}</ref> Emerson was introduced to Bob McCarthy, former circus employee on Long Island, New York who demonstrated the stunt piano for him at his home. It was used for shows at ] in December 1973 and the ] in April 1974, which was filmed. Emerson said: "After that every TV show I did came the question ... Keith, how do you spin around on that piano? I'd say what about my music?{{'"}}<ref name=shasho>{{cite web |url=http://www.classicrockmusicwriter.com/2014/09/keith-emerson-interview-master-of.html |title=Keith Emerson Interview: 'Master of the Keyboards & Moog Synthesizer' – New 'Live CD' with Greg Lake |last1=Shasho |first1=Ray |date=26 September 2014 |website=classicrockmusicwriter.com |publisher=The Classic Rock Music Reporter (Ray Shasho) |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203015734/http://www.classicrockmusicwriter.com/2014/09/keith-emerson-interview-master-of.html |archive-date=3 December 2015 }}</ref> The stunt caused Emerson to suffer multiple finger injuries and a broken nose.<ref name=greglakepiano /> He wished to use it at the band's reunion concert in 2010, but was forbidden by the ] who said that the plans did not meet health and safety standards.<ref name=shasho /> | |||
===1979–1991: Solo and group projects=== | |||
After ELP disbanded in 1979, Emerson pursued a variety of projects during the 1980s and 1990s, including solo releases, soundtrack work and other bands, including supergroup ]. In the early 1990s, Emerson rejoined the reunited ELP, but the group broke up again by the end of that decade.<ref name=classicbands>{{cite web |url=http://www.classicbands.com/elp.html |title=Emerson, Lake and Palmer |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=ClassicBands.com |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817063505/http://www.classicbands.com/elp.html |archive-date=17 August 2015 }}</ref> | |||
====Solo career==== | |||
In 1981, Emerson released his debut solo album, ''Honky''. Recorded in ] with local musicians, it departed from Emerson's usual style in featuring ] and ] songs, and was generally not well received,<ref name=perryhonky>{{cite web |last=Perry |first=Shawn |title=Honky: At the Movies: Off the Shelf |url=http://www.vintagerock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=355 |publisher=Vintage Rock |website=Vintagerock.com |access-date=18 March 2016 }}</ref> except in Italy where it was a hit.<ref name=classicbands /> Emerson's subsequent solo releases were sporadic, including a Christmas album in 1988, and the album ''Changing States'' (also known as ''Cream of Emerson Soup'') recorded in 1989 but not released until 1995, after several of its songs had already been re-recorded and released in different versions on ELP's 1992 comeback album ''Black Moon''. ''Changing States'' also contained an orchestral remake of the ELP song "Abaddon's Bolero" with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and "The Church", which Emerson composed for the 1989 ] horror film of the same name.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.backgroundmagazine.nl/CDreviews/KeithEmersonChangingStates.html |title=Keith Emerson — Changing States |last=Strik |first=Henri |editor-last=Ladiges |editor-first=Esther |location=], ] |magazine=Background Magazine |publisher=backgroundmagazine.nl |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319022137/http://www.backgroundmagazine.nl/CDreviews/KeithEmersonChangingStates.html |archive-date=19 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
====Soundtrack work==== | |||
In the 1980s, Emerson began to write and perform music for films, as his orchestral and classical style was more suited for film work than for the ]-dominated pop/ rock market.<ref name=perryhonky /> He was given the script for '']'', but turned down the offer to score it.<ref name=EMM83/> Films for which Emerson contributed soundtrack music include ]'s '']'' (1980), the action thriller '']'' (1981) starring ], (1984 film) Best Revenge, notable because he collaborated with ] from the rock band ] and ] from ] both on vocals, and ] also from The Band on accordion, that also featured an instrumental piece called "Dream Runner" that became a standard solo performance piece for Emerson during at ELP shows throughout the next decade, ]'s '']'' (1984), and Michele Soavi's '']'' (also known as ''La chiesa'') (1989).<ref name=martin>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Jeffery X |date=6 February 2015 |title=Music Review: Keith Emerson, "At the Movies" |url=http://popshifter.com/2015-02-06/music-review-keith-emerson-movies/ |publisher=Popshifter |website=Popshifter.com |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312222504/http://popshifter.com/2015-02-06/music-review-keith-emerson-movies/ |archive-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref> He was also the composer for the short-lived 1994 US animated television series '']''.<ref name=hammondhof /><ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 699.</ref> | |||
====1980s and 1990s bands==== | |||
Starting in the mid-1980s, Emerson formed several short-lived ]s. The first two, ] (with Lake and ex-] drummer ])<ref name=harrison>{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Thomas |date=2011 |title=Music of the 1980s |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MBEZBL7Dr7YC&pg=PA85 |location=] |publisher=] |page=85 |isbn=978-0-313-36599-7}}</ref> and ] (with Palmer and American multi-instrumentalist ]), were intended to carry on in the general style of ELP in the absence of one of the original members.<ref name=larkin>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-last=Larkin |editor-first=Colin |editor-link= Colin Larkin (writer) |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Popular Music |title=Emerson, Lake and Palmer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA2006-IA2068V |access-date=18 March 2016 |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |publisher=] |location=United Kingdom |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8 |pages=PA2006-IA2068 – PA2006-IA2069 }}</ref> Emerson, Lake & Powell had some success,<ref name=harrison /> and their sole album is considered one of the best of both Emerson's and Lake's careers. Stylistically, it was a departure from their 1980s progressive rock peers, Genesis and Asia.<ref name=classicbands /> Progressive rock analyst Edward Macan wrote that Emerson, Lake & Powell were closer to the "classic ELP sound" than ELP's own late-1970s output.<ref name=macanrockin366>Macan, ''Rocking the Classics'', p. and .</ref> By contrast, 3's only album sold poorly<ref name=classicbands /><ref name=larkin /> and drew comparisons to "the worst moments of ''Love Beach''"<ref name=macanrockin366 /> (which had been a commercial disaster for ELP<ref>{{cite book |last=Stump |first=Paul |date=2005 |title=Gentle Giant: Acquiring the Taste |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vrF7IklgSU8C&pg=PA140 |location=] |publisher=SAF Publishing |page=140 |isbn=978-0-946719-61-7}}</ref>). | |||
] | |||
Emerson also toured briefly in 1990 with ], a supergroup including ] of ], ] of the ], ] of ] and ], and ]. This project focused on covering songs from each of the members' past bands.<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 520.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bbchron.blogspot.com/2011/01/best-kemerson-j-walsh-j-entwhistle.html |title=The Best (K.Emerson, J. Walsh, J. Entwhistle, J.Baxter, S.Phillips) - 1990-09-26 - Yokahama, Japan |author=BBKron |date=25 January 2011 |website=bbchron.blogspot.com |publisher=BB Chronicles |access-date=18 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010200722/http://bbchron.blogspot.com/2011/01/best-kemerson-j-walsh-j-entwhistle.html |archive-date=10 October 2011 }}</ref> | |||
In the early 1990s, Emerson formed the short-lived group Aliens of Extraordinary Ability with ], Richie Onori, Marvin Sperling and Robbie Wyckoff. The group's name came from the application process for a US ], and the members included several British musicians who, like Emerson, had come to ] to further their careers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rogers |first=John |date=1 February 2008 |title=Star Power Helps With Green Card: Hollywood Loves Its Foreign-Born Actors, But They Still Have Immigration Hurdles.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-feb-01-et-expatriate1-story.html |newspaper=] |location=] |access-date=18 March 2016 |agency=]|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105231547/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/feb/01/entertainment/et-expatriate1 |archive-date=5 November 2011}}</ref> The group turned down a record deal with ] because of Emerson's commitment to an ELP reunion and Smith's involvement with a possible reformation of ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockmusicstar.com/heavenearth/2013/3/24/heaven-earth-stuart-smith.html |title=Heaven & Earth - Stuart Smith |last1=Orwat |first1=Thomas S. Jr. |date=24 March 2013 |website=rockmusicstar.com |publisher=Rock Music Star (Thomas S. Orwat, Jr.) |access-date=18 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313033021/http://www.rockmusicstar.com/heavenearth/2013/3/24/heaven-earth-stuart-smith.html |archive-date=13 March 2016 |quote=... I was playing in a band called, Aliens of Extraordinary Ability, with Keith Emerson. We were offered a record deal with Samsung, but Keith decided to go back to Emerson, Lake and Palmer. I then got involved in the reformation of the band Sweet, which ended up not happening. }}</ref> | |||
===1991–1998: Reunion with ELP=== | |||
In 1991, ELP reformed for two more albums ('']'' (1992) and '']'' (1994)) and world tours in 1992–1993. After the 1993 tour, Emerson was forced to take a year off from playing due to a nerve condition affecting his right hand (see ]). Following his recovery, ELP resumed touring in 1996, including a successful US tour with ], but broke up again in August 1998.<ref name=classicbands /> | |||
===1998–2016=== | |||
] | |||
Emerson participated in The Nice's reunion tour and a 40th anniversary show for ELP, preceded by a short duo tour with Greg Lake. Apart from these reunions, he continued his solo career, releasing solo and soundtrack albums, touring with his own Keith Emerson Band, and making occasional guest appearances. Starting in 2010, he increasingly focused on orchestral collaborations. A documentary film based on his autobiography was reportedly in production at the time of his death in 2016. | |||
====Reunion shows==== | |||
In 2002 Emerson reformed and toured with The Nice, though performing a longer set of ELP music using a backing band including guitarist/vocalist ].<ref name=anderson>{{cite web |url=http://s159645853.websitehome.co.uk/rockreviews/elp/R02oct06crs.htm |title=Keith Emerson & The Nice: London Royal Festival Hall: 6 Oct 2002 |last1=Anderson |first1=Doug |date=November 2002 |website=s159645853.websitehome.co.uk/ |publisher=Rock Reviews (RockReviews.co.uk) |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005220747/http://s159645853.websitehome.co.uk/rockreviews/elp/R02oct06crs.htm |archive-date=5 October 2008 }}</ref> During the spring of 2010, he toured with Greg Lake in the United States and Canada, doing a series of "Intimate Evening" duo shows in which they performed newly arranged versions of the music of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Nice, and ] as well as Emerson's new original composition.<ref name=prasadlake>{{cite web |url=http://www.innerviews.org/inner/lake.html |title=Greg Lake: New Perspectives |last1=Prasad |first1=Anil |author-link=Anil Prasad |date=2011 |website=innerviews.org |publisher=Innerviews |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150501201431/http://www.innerviews.org/inner/lake.html |archive-date=1 May 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2010/20100211-EmersonLakeTourInfo.html |title=An Intimate Evening With Keith Emerson & Greg Lake |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=4 April 2010 |website=KeithEmerson.com |publisher=Keith Emerson |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414184905/http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2010/20100211-EmersonLakeTourInfo.html |archive-date=14 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2010/20100211-EmersonLake-Tour-dates.html |title=An Intimate Evening With Keith Emerson & Greg Lake (USA Tour Dates 2010) |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=18 April 2010 |website=KeithEmerson.com |publisher=Keith Emerson |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722171353/http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2010/20100211-EmersonLake-Tour-dates.html |archive-date=22 July 2015 }}</ref> On 25 July 2010, a one-off Emerson, Lake & Palmer reunion concert closed the ] as the main act in ], to commemorate the band's 40th anniversary.<ref name=prasadlake /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/x2rj | title=Emerson, Lake & Palmer High Voltage Review | publisher=BBC | access-date=12 March 2016 | author=Diver, Mike}}</ref> | |||
====Solo career and Keith Emerson Band==== | |||
Emerson continued his solo and soundtrack work into the 2000s. His solo releases included the all-piano album ''Emerson Plays Emerson'' (2002),<ref name=glancey /> several compilations, and contributions to ] and ] tribute albums (see ]). He was also one of three composers who contributed to the soundtrack for the Japanese '']'' film '']'' (2004).<ref name=martin /> | |||
Following the August 2008 release of the album ''Keith Emerson Band Featuring Marc Bonilla'', Emerson also toured with his own self-named band in ], the ] and ] between August and October 2008. The tour band members were ], Travis Davis and Tony Pia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2008/2008EEuroBalticTour.html |title=Eastern Europe and Baltic Tour 2008: Keith Emerson Band Featuring Marc Bonilla |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=25 August 2008 |website=KeithEmerson.com |publisher=Keith Emerson |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629154648/http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2008/2008EEuroBalticTour.html |archive-date=29 June 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2008/2008JapanTourInfo.html |title=Keith Emerson Band Featuring Marc Bonilla: Japan Tour Schedule and Ticket Information |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=1 September 2008 |website=KeithEmerson.com |publisher=Keith Emerson |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907033114/http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2008/2008JapanTourInfo.html |archive-date=7 September 2011 }}</ref> | |||
====Orchestral collaborations==== | |||
Japanese composer ] worked with Emerson to create an arrangement of ELP's song "]", which premiered on 14 March 2010, performed by the ].<ref name=shasho /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/keith-emerson/tarkus-by-tokyo-philharmonic-to-be-aired-in-japan-on-66/398630526751/ |title='Tarkus' by Tokyo Philharmonic to be Aired in Japan on 6/6 |last=Emerson |first=Keith |date=1 June 2010 |website=Facebook.com |publisher=Keith Emerson (official Facebook page) |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316062716/https://www.facebook.com/notes/keith-emerson/tarkus-by-tokyo-philharmonic-to-be-aired-in-japan-on-66/398630526751/ |archive-date=16 March 2016}}</ref> Yoshimatsu's arrangement has been featured in multiple live performances and two live recordings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.evmelia-festival.org/en/artists/composers/273-takashi-yoshimatsu-composer-in-residence-evmelia-v-2015-.html |title=Takashi Yoshimatsu: Composer-in-Residence (Evmelia V) 2016 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2016 |website=evmelia-festival.org |publisher=International Music Festival Evmelia |access-date=16 March 2016 |quote=He worked on the orchestration of Emerson Lake and Palmer's Work 'Tarkus' with much success leading to multiple Live Performances and 2 Live Recordings. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218144515/http://evmelia-festival.org/en/artists/composers/273-takashi-yoshimatsu-composer-in-residence-evmelia-v-2015-.html |archive-date=18 February 2016 }}</ref> | |||
In September 2011, Emerson began working with Norwegian conductor ], along with the Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla and the ], on new orchestral renditions of ELP classics and their new compositions. The project "The Three Fates" was premiered in ] in early September 2012, supervised by Norwegian professor and musician ] for the Norwegian ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.backgroundmagazine.nl/Gigreviews/20120903ThreeFatesProjElephant9.html |title=BACKGROUND MAGAZINE Concert Review: Three Fates Project & Elephant 9 Oslo |publisher=Backgroundmagazine.nl |date=3 September 2012 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Hägar |url=http://jurassic-rock.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/three-fates-project-elephant-9-live.html |title=File Under Jurassic Rock: Three Fates Project & Elephant 9 Live |publisher=Jurassic-rock.blogspot.co.uk |date=4 September 2012 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> The work received its UK live premiere on 10 July 2015 at London's ], with the ], as part of the celebration of the life and work of Robert Moog.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://moogsoundlab.uk/events.html |title=moogsoundlab.uk |publisher=moogsoundlab.uk |access-date=2016-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322171233/http://moogsoundlab.uk/events.html |archive-date=22 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
Emerson made his conducting debut with Orchestra Kentucky of ] in September 2013. In October 2014, Emerson conducted the South Shore Symphony at his 70th birthday tribute concert at ] in ], ]. The concert also featured the premiere of his ''Three String Quartets'',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Danish |first1=Peter |title=BWW Reviews: Keith Emerson With the South Shore Symphony |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwclassical/article/BWW-Reviews-Keith-Emerson-With-the-South-Shore-Symphony-20141015 |access-date=11 April 2016 |agency=BWW Hub |date=14 October 2015}}</ref> and a performance of Emerson's "Piano Concerto No. 1" by Jeffrey Biegel.<ref name=malloyp1>{{cite news |last=Malloy |first=Mary |date=1 October 2014 |title='The Classical Legacy of a Rock Star': Keith Emerson's 70th Birthday Tribute Concert at Madison Theatre |url=http://liherald.com/baldwin/stories/The-Classical-Legacy-of-a-Rock-Star,59125?page=1&content_source= |newspaper=Baldwin Herald |location=] |page=1 |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316073545/http://liherald.com/baldwin/stories/The-Classical-Legacy-of-a-Rock-Star%2C59125?page=1&content_source= |archive-date=16 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name=malloyp2>{{cite news |last=Malloy |first=Mary |date=1 October 2014 |title='The Classical Legacy of a Rock Star': Keith Emerson's 70th Birthday Tribute Concert at Madison Theatre |url=http://liherald.com/baldwin/stories/The-Classical-Legacy-of-a-Rock-Star,59125?page=2&content_source= |newspaper=Baldwin Herald |location=] |page=2 |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316073812/http://liherald.com/baldwin/stories/The-Classical-Legacy-of-a-Rock-Star%2C59125?page=2&content_source= |archive-date=16 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name=malloyp3>{{cite news |last=Malloy |first=Mary |date=1 October 2014 |title='The Classical Legacy of a Rock Star': Keith Emerson's 70th Birthday Tribute Concert at Madison Theatre |url=http://liherald.com/baldwin/stories/The-Classical-Legacy-of-a-Rock-Star,59125?page=3&content_source= |newspaper=Baldwin Herald |location=] |page=3 |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316074127/http://liherald.com/baldwin/stories/The-Classical-Legacy-of-a-Rock-Star%2C59125?page=3&content_source= |archive-date=16 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
====Other appearances and activities==== | |||
In 2000, Emerson was a featured panelist and performer at "The Keyboard Meets Modern Technology", an event honouring Moog presented by the ] in ], in conjunction with a gallery exhibition celebrating the 300th anniversary of the piano.<ref>{{cite news |last=Porter |first=Christopher |date=14 April 2000 |title=The Keyboard Meets Modern Technology |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/19445/the-keyboard-meets-modern-technology |newspaper=] |location=] |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930164443/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/19445/the-keyboard-meets-modern-technology |archive-date=30 September 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Crawford |first=Franklin |date=23 August 2005 |title=Robert Moog, Ph.D. '64, Inventor of the Music Synthesizer, Dies of Brain Cancer |url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2005/08/robert-moog-dies-71|newspaper=] |location=] |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130045134/http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2005/08/robert-moog-dies-71 |archive-date=30 January 2016}}</ref> Emerson later headlined both the first and third ], a festival held in honour of ], at the ] at ] in New York City, in 2004 and 2006 respectively.<ref>{{cite web |last=Emerson |first=Keith |author-link=Keith Emerson |url=http://www.keithemerson.com/Gallery/2004Appearances/18MayMoogFest/2004May18.html |title=Photos – 18 May 2004 – MoogFest |publisher=Official Website |date=18 May 2004 |access-date=10 November 2011 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312073544/http://www.keithemerson.com/Gallery/2004Appearances/18MayMoogFest/2004May18.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Mick |title=An Electrifying Journey: Origin of a Music Festival Celebrating Innovator Bob Moog |url=http://www.thetunedinn.com/article/electrifying-journey-origin-music-festival-celebrating-innovator-bob-moog |publisher=The Tuned Inn |location=Brooklyn, NY |date=29 September 2011 |access-date=10 November 2011 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312215658/http://thetunedinn.com/article/electrifying-journey-origin-music-festival-celebrating-innovator-bob-moog |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
Emerson opened the ] reunion/] at the ] in London on 10 December 2007,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/dec/16/popandrock.ledzeppelin | title=One Step Closer to Heaven | work=The Guardian | date=16 December 2007 | access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref> along with ] and ] (]) and ] (]/]). The supergroup played a new arrangement of "]".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Tim |date=February 2008 |title=Ahmet Ertegun Tribute: London Greenwich 02 Arena: 10th December, 2007 |url=http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/ahmet-ertegun-tribute |magazine=] |location=United Kingdom |publisher=] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313214654/http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/ahmet-ertegun-tribute |archive-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> Emerson also made a guest appearance in 2009 on ]'s album '']'',<ref name="blabbermouth">{{cite web |title=SPINAL TAP: Entire New Album Available For Streaming |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=121958 |date=15 June 2009 |publisher=] |access-date=15 June 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090618073503/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=121958| archive-date= 18 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> and played on several songs at Spinal Tap's "One Night Only World Tour" at ] on 30 June 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last=McDermott |first=Lucy |date=1 July 2009 |title=Spinal Tap World Tour: For One Night Only |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/comedy/2009/07/spinal-tap-world-tour-for-one-night-only.shtml |work=BBC News |access-date=13 March 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313232047/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/comedy/2009/07/spinal-tap-world-tour-for-one-night-only.shtml |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=info@keith-emerson.com |url=http://www.keithemerson.com/MiscPages/2009/20090628-SpinalTap.html |title=Official Keith Emerson Website - Spinal Tap @ Wembley Arena |publisher=Keithemerson.com |access-date=13 March 2016 |archive-date=28 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228044648/http://www.keithemerson.com/MiscPages/2009/20090628-SpinalTap.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/spinal-tap/2009/wembley-arena-london-england-63d14a4f.html |title=Spinal Tap Concert Setlist at Wembley Arena, London on June 30, 2009 |publisher=setlist.fm |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
In 2004 Emerson published his autobiography entitled ''Pictures of an Exhibitionist'', which dealt with his life up to his nearly career-ending nerve-graft surgery in 1993.<ref name=keautobio>{{cite book |last=Emerson |first=Keith |date=2004 |title=Pictures of an Exhibitionist |location=] |publisher=] |isbn=1-84454-053-7}}</ref><ref name=wakeman>{{cite news |last=Wakeman |first=Rick |author-link=Rick Wakeman |date=19 December 2003 |title=Naughty But Nice |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/dec/20/highereducation.biography |newspaper=] |location=] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912175705/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/dec/20/highereducation.biography |archive-date=12 September 2014}}</ref> In 2007, Emerson began working with Canadian independent filmmaker Jason Woodford to make a documentary film based on his autobiography.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=28 August 2013 |title=West Kelowna Filmmaker to Tell Story of Keith Emerson |url=http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/221542171.html |newspaper=Kelowna Capital News |location=], ] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313222931/http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/221542171.html |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=18 August 2013 |title=Emerson: Pictures of an Exhibitionist from Canada |url=http://worthingdaily.co.uk/entertainment/emerson-pictures-of-an-exhibitionist-from-canada/ |newspaper=Worthing Daily |location=], ] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819014519/http://worthingdaily.co.uk/entertainment/emerson-pictures-of-an-exhibitionist-from-canada/ |archive-date=19 August 2013 }}</ref> As of March 2016, production was still ongoing and the filmmakers were seeking funding to finish the film, according to the webpage of an artists' management company representing Emerson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/143631545730732/QEDG+Management |title=Emerson, Lake & Palmer |date=March 2016 |website=artisttrove.com |publisher=QEDG Management |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313224207/http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/143631545730732/QEDG%2BManagement |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
==Personal life== | |||
Around the Christmas of 1969, Emerson married his Danish girlfriend Elinor Lund.<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 42.</ref> They had two sons, Aaron and Damon,<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 355.</ref> before they divorced in 1994. Emerson said it was his fault, as he had "fallen in love with someone else."<ref name=glancey/><ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 571.</ref> Emerson then had a long-term relationship with Mari Kawaguchi.<ref name=jablon>{{cite news |last=Jablon |first=Robert |date=12 March 2016 |title=Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer Dies at 71 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/keith-emerson-emerson-lake-palmer-dies-71-37587541 |publisher=] |website=ABC News |access-date=12 March 2016 |agency=] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312065051/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/keith-emerson-emerson-lake-palmer-dies-71-37587541 |archive-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
In April 1975, Emerson's Sussex house burned down and he relocated to London.<ref name=IMRW75>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/emerson-moog/5014|title=Emerson/Moog|first=Ray|last=Hammond|magazine=International Musician and Recording World|date=June 1975|via=Muzines|access-date=28 June 2021}}</ref> | |||
Emerson enjoyed flying as a hobby, and he obtained his pilot's licence in 1972. When Emerson moved to ] in the mid-1990s, ], who had openly and harshly criticised ELP during the 1970s when Lydon was a member of the punk band ], was Emerson's neighbour.<ref name=glancey /> The two became friends, with Lydon saying in a 2007 interview, "He's a great bloke".<ref name=jablon /> In 2002, Emerson was in the process of returning to live in England.<ref name=glancey /> | |||
===Health issues=== | |||
In 1993, Emerson was forced to take a year off from playing after he developed a nerve-related condition affecting his right hand that he likened to "writer's cramp", and that was also reported as a form of arthritis.<ref name=glancey /><ref>{{cite web |last=Perry |first=Shawn |date=October 1997 |title=Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Humphrey's By The Sea: San Diego, CA: September 30, 1997 |url=http://www.vintagerock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=262 |publisher=Vintage Rock |website=Vintagerock.com |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507132611/http://www.vintagerock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=262 |archive-date=7 May 2013 }}</ref> It marked a low period for Emerson, who was going through a divorce and having financial difficulties. He turned to alcohol, before a course of psychotherapy led to his move to Santa Monica. During his time off, he ran marathons, customised a ] motorcycle, and wrote film scores and his autobiography, ''Pictures of an Exhibitionist'', which opens and closes with an account of his illness and subsequent arm operation.<ref name=keautobio /><ref name=wakeman /> | |||
In 2002, Emerson had regained the full use of his hands and could play to his usual strength.<ref name=glancey /> In 2016, he was corresponding with a carpal-tunnel syndrome expert about his struggle with ], who said "Musicians can't talk about it because they won't get another gig if word gets out that they're in pain so they keep quiet."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-03-17|title=Keith Emerson Kept Secret Debilitating Physical Pain That Affects Millions, Expert Says|url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/03/17/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-may-have-played-part-in-keith-emersons-suicide-expert-says/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321062753/https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/03/17/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-may-have-played-part-in-keith-emersons-suicide-expert-says/|archive-date=2016-03-21|access-date=2021-04-04|website=CBSLA.com|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
In September 2010, Emerson underwent immediate surgery after a routine colonoscopy had revealed a "rather dangerous" polyp in his lower colon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greglake.com/Tour/2010_updates.html|website=greglake.com|title=Tour 2010|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082843/http://www.greglake.com/Tour/2010_updates.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
==Death== | |||
]]] | |||
Emerson died on 11 March 2016 in Santa Monica, California, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.<ref name=savage /><ref name=lynch /><ref name=grinberg /> His body was found at his Santa Monica home.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/11/keith-emerson-of-emerson-lake-and-palmer-dies-at-71|title=Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer found dead aged 71|last1=Rawlinson|first1=Kevin |date=11 March 2016 |newspaper=]|location=]|access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319055916/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/11/keith-emerson-of-emerson-lake-and-palmer-dies-at-71 |archive-date=19 March 2016}}</ref> Following a ], the medical examiner ruled Emerson's death a suicide, and concluded that he had also had ] and ] associated with alcohol.<ref name=savage /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/keith-emerson-s-death-ruled-a-suicide-l-a-coroner-says-1.11581198 |title=Keith Emerson's death ruled a suicide, L.A. coroner says |newspaper=] |location=], ] |date=16 March 2016 |access-date=16 March 2016 |agency=] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316161952/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/keith-emerson-s-death-ruled-a-suicide-l-a-coroner-says-1.11581198 |archive-date=16 March 2016 }}</ref> According to Emerson's girlfriend Mari Kawaguchi, Emerson had become "depressed, nervous, and anxious" because nerve damage had hampered his playing, and he was worried that he would perform poorly at upcoming concerts in Japan and disappoint his fans.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lawler |first=David |date=13 March 2016 |title=Keith Emerson's Girlfriend Says He Killed Himself Because He Feared Disappointing His Fans |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/12192653/Keith-Emersons-girlfriend-says-he-killed-himself-because-he-feared-disappointing-his-fans.html |newspaper=] |location=] |access-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313172140/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/12192653/Keith-Emersons-girlfriend-says-he-killed-himself-because-he-feared-disappointing-his-fans.html |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Oppenheim |first=Maya |date=13 March 2016 |title=Keith Emerson's Girlfriend Says He Was a 'Perfectionist' and 'Sensitive Soul'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/keith-emersons-girlfriend-says-the-thought-he-wouldnt-play-perfectly-made-him-depressed-nervous-and-a6928506.html |newspaper=] |location=] |access-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314045114/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/keith-emersons-girlfriend-says-the-thought-he-wouldnt-play-perfectly-made-him-depressed-nervous-and-a6928506.html |archive-date=14 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
Emerson was buried on 1 April 2016 at Lancing and Sompting Cemetery, ].<ref name=kielty>{{cite magazine |last=Kielty |first=Martin|url=http://teamrock.com/news/2016-04-04/keith-emerson-lake-palmer-death-laid-to-rest |title=Keith Emerson laid to rest |magazine=TeamRock.com |date=4 April 2016 |access-date=4 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404182842/http://teamrock.com/news/2016-04-04/keith-emerson-lake-palmer-death-laid-to-rest|archive-date=4 April 2016}}</ref> Although his death had been reported by news sources and an official Emerson, Lake and Palmer ] page as having occurred on the night of 10 March,<ref name=lynch /><ref name=grinberg /> his grave memorial gives his date of death as 11 March 2016.<ref name=kielty />{{efn|Emerson's death occurred on 10 March local time, which was 11 March in the UK}} | |||
His former ELP bandmates, ] and ], both issued statements on his death. Palmer said, "Keith was a gentle soul whose love for music and passion for his performance as a keyboard player will remain unmatched for many years to come."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=11 March 2016 |title=Keith Emerson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer Keyboardist, Dead at 71 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/keith-emerson-emerson-lake-and-palmer-keyboardist-dead-at-71-20160311 |magazine=] |location=New York City |access-date=20 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312093601/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/keith-emerson-emerson-lake-and-palmer-keyboardist-dead-at-71-20160311 |archive-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref> Lake said, "As sad and tragic as Keith's death is, I would not want this to be the lasting memory people take away with them. What I will always remember about Keith Emerson was his remarkable talent as a musician and composer and his gift and passion to entertain. Music was his life and despite some of the difficulties he encountered I am sure that the music he created will live on forever."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Greg-Lake-Releases-Statement-on-Passing-of-Keith-Emerson-20160312 |title=Greg Lake Releases Statement on Passing of Keith Emerson |last1=Brady |first1=Louisa |date=12 March 2016 |website=Broadway World |access-date=13 March 2016 | url-status=live |archive-date=13 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313033606/http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Greg-Lake-Releases-Statement-on-Passing-of-Keith-Emerson-20160312}}</ref> Lake died later that same year of pancreatic cancer.<ref name="nytobit2">{{cite news |last=Grimes |first=William |author-link=William Grimes (journalist) |date=8 December 2016 |title=Greg Lake, of King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Dies at 69 |newspaper=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/08/arts/music/greg-lake-dies.html}}</ref> | |||
A tribute concert featuring ], ], ], Aaron Emerson, ], ], ], and ] took place at the ]. Proceeds from sales of the DVD go to the ] Medical Research Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ewing|first=Jerry|date=2020-01-14|title=Keith Emerson Tribute Concert DVD screening announced|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/keith-emerson-tribute-concert-dvd-screening-announced|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Prog Magazine|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wiggins|first=Kevin|date=2020-11-03|title=Keith Emerson Tribute Concert Coming As 3-Disc Set|url=https://www.antimusic.com/news/20/November/03Keith_Emerson_Tribute_Concert_Coming_As_3-Disc_Set.shtml|access-date=2021-04-04|website=antiMusic|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
==Playing style== | |||
Emerson sometimes reached into the interior of his piano and hit, plucked, or strummed the strings with his hand. He said that as a keyboard player, he hated the idea of being "static" and that to avoid it, he "wanted to get inside the piano, brush the strings, stick Ping-Pong balls inside".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Milano |first1=Domenic |last2=Doerschuk |first2=Robert L. |editor-last=Doerschuk |editor-first=Robert L. |date=2002 |title=Playing From the Heart: Great Musicians Talk About Their Craft |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qJF3h2Qe4sUC&pg=PA95 |chapter=Keith Emerson: Star Power |location=] |publisher=] |page= |isbn=978-0-87930-704-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/playingfromheart00doer/page/95 }}</ref> "Take a Pebble" included Emerson strumming the strings of his piano, a technique pioneered by ] composer ], referred to as ].<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 114.</ref> In the Nice's 1968 live performance of "Hang on to a Dream" on the German television program '']'' (later released on DVD in 1997), Emerson can be seen and heard reaching inside his grand piano at one point and plucking its strings.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=] (musical performers) |year=1997 |title=Beat-Club - The Best Of '68 |medium=Music video (playlist available via Discogs.com)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Beat-Club-The-Best-Of-68/release/3956800 |access-date=13 March 2016 |format=DVD |location=Germany |publisher=Studio Hamburg }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.totalmusicgeek.com/2009/12/nice-hang-on-to-dream-1969.html |title=The Nice – "Hang on to a Dream" (1969) |last1=Kerr |first1=Drew |date=29 December 2009 |website=totalmusicgeek.com |publisher=Total Music Geek (Drew Kerr) |access-date=13 March 2016 |quote=Emerson was clearly in charge ... even plucking the piano strings at one point. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413053123/http://www.totalmusicgeek.com/2009/12/nice-hang-on-to-dream-1969.html |archive-date=13 April 2011 }}</ref> | |||
In addition to such experimentation, Emerson also incorporated unique musical stylization into his work. Emerson is recognized for having integrated different sounds into his writing, utilizing methods of both horizontal and vertical contrast. Horizontal contrast is the use of distinct styles in a piece of music, combined by alternating between two different segments (in Emerson's case, most frequently alternating classical and non-classical); this technique can be seen in numerous works, such as "Rondo", "Tantalising Maggie", "]" and others. Vertical contrast is the combination of multiple styles simultaneously; Emerson frequently played a given style with one hand and a contrasting one with the other. This structure can be seen in works such as "Intermezzo from the Karelia Suite", "Rondo", and others. Emerson's love of modern music such as Copland and Bartok was evident in his open voicings and use of fifths and fourths, "Fanfare" emulated guitar power chords. He also used dissonance, atonality, sonata and fugue forms, exposing rock and roll audiences to myriad classical styles from Bach to Stravinsky.<ref name="style">{{cite journal | |||
| first1= Akitsugu| last1= Kawamoto| year= 2005| title= 'Can You Still Keep Your Balance?': Keith Emerson's anxiety of influence, style change, and the road to prog superstardom| journal= Popular Music| volume= 24| issue= 2| edition= 5th| publisher= ]| location= London| doi=10.1017/S0261143005000425| pages= 227–230| s2cid= 145724563}}</ref> | |||
==Instrumentation== | |||
Emerson used a variety of electronic keyboard instruments during his career, including several ]s and synthesisers by ], ], and ]. From time to time he also used other instruments such as ], a ], a ], and very briefly, a ].<ref name=reid>{{cite magazine |last=Reid |first=Gordon |date=May 1995 |title=Keith Emerson's Keyboard Clearout: Exploration |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/keith-emersons-keyboard-clearout |magazine=] |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |publisher=soundonsound.com |access-date=12 March 2016 | url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606070855/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_articles/may95/keithemerson.html |archive-date=6 June 2015}}</ref> During his ELP years, Emerson toured with a large amount of gear, taking thirteen keyboard units to a December 1973 show at ],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Weigel |first=David |date=15 August 2012 |title=Prog Spring: Prog Comes Alive! Emerson, Lake and Palmer at Madison Square Garden, 1973 |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/prog_spring/features/2012/prog_rock/prog_comes_alive_emerson_lake_palmer_at_madison_square_garden_1973_promo_ill_cast_comedy_for_fools_the_birth_of_prog.html |magazine=] |location=] |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831105331/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/prog_spring/features/2012/prog_rock/prog_comes_alive_emerson_lake_palmer_at_madison_square_garden_1973_promo_ill_cast_comedy_for_fools_the_birth_of_prog.html |archive-date=31 August 2012 }}</ref> and later travelling with a large ] that required eight roadies to move it.<ref name=reid /> Michael "Supe" Granda of ] recalled Emerson's organ rig as being "as large as entire stage plot".<ref>{{cite book |last=Granda |first=Michael Supe |date=2008 |title=It Shined: The Saga of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VGrDqgm9TC8C&pg=PA231 |location=] |publisher=] |page=231 |isbn=978-1-4343-9165-0}}</ref> | |||
===Pre-ELP equipment and Hammond organs=== | |||
Initially a piano player, Emerson obtained his first ], an L-100, after hearing jazz organist ] and becoming frustrated with broken ] inside pianos.<ref name=milano /> Around 1968, during his time with the Nice, he added a second Hammond organ, the more expensive C-3, and placed the two organs sideways and facing each other so he could stand between the two keyboards and play both with his unobstructed body facing the audience.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://geb.uni-giessen.de/geb/volltexte/2000/319/pdf/p000002.pdf |title=Hidden Behind His Instruments or Acting as Entertaining Frontman: Where Is the Keyboarder? |last1=Einbrodt |first1=Ulrich Dieter, Dr. |website=geb.uni-giessen.de/ |publisher=] |location=], ], ] |access-date=14 March 2016 |quote=Strikingly, he (Emerson) was often using two Hammonds, as can be seen at a Beat-Club performance in 1970/71. Both set up in right angle to stage and facing their keys, with Emerson standing in the middle, playing both of them simultaneously and in this way usually facing the audience. That was his favourite position, no matter if his equipment was left, right, or center of the stage and he continues to act this way in the 90s. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611010546/http://geb.uni-giessen.de/geb/volltexte/2000/319/pdf/p000002.pdf |archive-date=11 June 2007 }}</ref> Emerson preferred the sound of the C-3 as being "far superior" to the cheaper L-100, and used the L-100 to "throw around and make it feed back".<ref name=milano /><ref name=vail>{{cite book |last=Vail|first=Mark |title=The Hammond Organ: Beauty in the B|publisher=] |location=] |date=2002 |edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SbxJAgAAQBAJ&q=l100+emerson&pg=PT125 |isbn=978-0-87930-705-9}}</ref> Emerson got the L-100 to feed back by placing it close to the onstage speakers and using a ].<ref name=milano /> He continued to perform physical abuse stunts with the L-100 to some degree throughout his years with ELP.<ref name=kegear>{{cite web |url=http://www.brain-salad-surgery.de/keith_emersons_gear.html |title=Keith Emerson's Gear |author=Lothar |date=31 January 2016 |website=brain-salad-surgery.de |publisher=Brain Salad Surgery |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310125305/http://www.brain-salad-surgery.de/keith_emersons_gear.html |archive-date=10 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
Throughout his career, Emerson owned a number of L-100 models in various states of repair to support his act. These organs were also specially reinforced and modified to enhance their sound and help prevent damage while on tour, and were reported to weigh 300 to 350 pounds.<ref name=frost>{{cite magazine |last=Frost |first=Matt |date=April 2009 |title=Tech That: Keith Wechsler: On the Road With Keith Emerson |url=http://www.performing-musician.com/pm/apr09/articles/techthat.htm |magazine=Performing Musician |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |publisher=performing-musician.com |access-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120916230042/http://www.performing-musician.com/pm/apr09/articles/techthat.htm |archive-date=16 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> By contrast, his C-3 organ was not used for stunts and Emerson continued to play his original C-3 for many years, using it on all the ELP albums and tours throughout the 1970s.<ref name=kegear /> He also owned several other Hammond organ models in addition to the L-100s and the C-3.<ref name=vail /> When Emerson sold much of his gear in the mid-1990s, his Hammond organs were among the items he kept as being "too personal to let go".<ref name=reid /> The remains of one L-100 that failed and burned during a 1990s ELP show in Boston were donated to the ].<ref name=frost /> | |||
===ELP equipment and Moog synthesisers=== | |||
] (c.1977)]] | |||
With ELP, Emerson added the Moog synthesiser behind the C-3 with the keyboard and ] stacked on the top of the organ.<ref name=kegear /> The ribbon controller allowed Emerson to vary pitch, volume or timbre of the output from the Moog by moving his finger up and down the length of a touch-sensitive strip. It also could be used as a phallic symbol, and outfitted with a small rocket launcher, it quickly became a feature of the act.<ref name=cateforis /> He continued to divide his keyboard setup into two banks so that he could play between them with his body in view.<ref name=cateforis /> When the ultra-compact Moog ] first appeared it was placed where needed, such as on top of the grand piano. A ] ] L, with reversed black and white keys, was also part of Emerson's keyboard rig. Although it could be heard on numerous album pieces, according to Emerson, it was only used for one song, "]" in concert.<ref name=reid /> | |||
During the ''Brain Salad Surgery'' tour of 1974, Emerson's keyboard setup included the Hammond C-3 organ, run through multiple ]s driven by HiWatt guitar amplifiers, the Moog 3C modular synthesiser (modified by addition of various modules and an ]) with ribbon controller, a ] concert grand piano with a Minimoog synthesiser on top of it, an upright acoustic-electric piano that was used for honky-tonk piano sounds, a Hohner Clavinet and another Minimoog synthesiser. Emerson also used a prototype polyphonic synthesiser produced by Moog, which was the test bed for the Moog ] polyphonic synthesiser. The original synthesiser setup as envisioned by Moog was called the Constellation, and consisted of three instruments – the polyphonic synthesiser, called the Apollo, a monophonic lead synthesiser called the Lyra, and a bass-pedal synthesiser, called the ], but Emerson never used the Taurus.<ref name=kegear /> | |||
===Pipe organs=== | |||
Occasionally Emerson used a ], when available, in live performances and on recordings. He played the ] at a show with The Nice on 26 June 1968, where the band controversially burned a painting of an ] onstage to protest against the ].<ref>Emerson, ''Pictures'', p. 102–103.</ref> The stunt caused a storm of objections in the US and The Nice received a lifetime ban from the venue.<ref name=TG16>{{cite news|last=Sweeting |first=Adam |author-link=Adam Sweeting |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/13/keith-emerson-obituary |title=Keith Emerson obituary |newspaper=] |location=London |date=13 March 2016 |access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saskatoontalenteducation.com/great-music-the-nice-elegy.html |title=Great Music The Nice - Elegy |publisher=Saskatoontalenteducation.com |access-date=25 March 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | |||
With ELP, Emerson used the ] for the "Clotho" segment of "The Three Fates" on the 1970 ] by ELP.<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 119.</ref> He played this organ again in 2002 to open The Nice reunion tour show, but according to a reviewer, the organ failed to operate at the expected volume.<ref name=anderson /> | |||
The ] was used for the introductory section of ''Pictures at an Exhibition'', recorded there live on 26 March 1971.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Holland |first=Roger |date=11 September 2007 |title=Emerson Lake and Palmer: Pictures at an Exhibition |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/emerson-lake-and-palmer-pictures-at-an-exhibition/ |magazine=] |publisher=Sarah Zupko |access-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314073912/http://www.popmatters.com/review/emerson-lake-and-palmer-pictures-at-an-exhibition/ |archive-date=14 March 2016 }}</ref> Emerson was recorded playing the organ at St. Mark's Church in London for "The Only Way (Hymn)" on the 1971 ELP album '']''.<ref>Romano, p. </ref> | |||
===Yamaha Electone GX-1 synthesiser=== | |||
After founder Robert Moog left Moog Music in the late 1970s, Emerson began to consider using synthesisers made by other companies.<ref name=reid /> Emerson became one of the few buyers of the ] polyphonic synthesiser, which reportedly cost almost $50,000. The GX-1 was subsequently used on the ELP album '']'', particularly on the song "]", and on tour.<ref name=reidCS80>{{cite web |url=http://www.gordonreid.co.uk/vintage/cs80.html |title=The Yamaha CS80 |last1=Reid |first1=Gordon |date=18 May 2013 |website=gordonreid.co.uk |publisher=Gordon Reid |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917022815/http://www.gordonreid.co.uk/vintage/cs80.html |archive-date=17 September 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> It can be seen in ELP's ''Works Orchestral Tour'' video<ref name=reidCS80 /> and in promotional photos and videos from 1977 featuring the band playing "Fanfare" outdoors during a snowstorm in ]'s ].<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 385.</ref> Emerson later bought a second GX-1 from ] of ], and used parts from it to repair his original GX-1, which was damaged by a tractor crashing into Emerson's home studio.<ref name=reid /><ref name=achilles>{{cite web |url=http://led-zeppelin.org/current-news/1901-that-one-time-that-keith-emerson-bough-john-paul-jones-yamaha-gx-1-synth |title=That One Time That Keith Emerson Bought John Paul Jones' Yamaha GX-1 Synth |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=12 March 2016 |website=led-zeppelin.org |publisher=Achilles Last Stand |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312162138/http://led-zeppelin.org/current-news/1901-that-one-time-that-keith-emerson-bough-john-paul-jones-yamaha-gx-1-synth |archive-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
Emerson sold much of his keyboard equipment in the 1990s when he relocated from England to ].<ref name=reid /> The John Paul Jones GX-1 was sold to film composer ], while Emerson's original GX-1 was sold to Italian keyboardist Riccardo Grotto.<ref name=achilles /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.matrixsynth.com/2011/06/john-paul-jones-yamaha-gx-1-with.html |title=John Paul Jones Yamaha GX-1 with Programmer Up for Auction? |author=Matrix, via John |date=13 June 2011 |website=Matrixsynth.com |publisher=Matrixsynth: Everything Synth |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312161708/http://www.matrixsynth.com/2011/06/john-paul-jones-yamaha-gx-1-with.html |archive-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
===Korg synthesisers=== | |||
In the late 1970s, Emerson also began to use the ] and PS-3100, which at the time were among the world's first fully polyphonic synthesizers. These Korgs appeared on the ELP album '']'', and Emerson continued to use them into the 1980s for his solo album ''Honky'' and his soundtrack work. He also became an official endorser for the PS-3300 and PS-3100 in the early 1980s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emersonlakepalmer.de%2Fcontent%2Felp_equipment.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl= |title=Emerson, Lake & Palmer – ELP Equipment: Part 1: The Korg PS 3000 Series or Emerson's Fateful Decision |last1=Franco |first1=Bernd Hoffmann |website=emersonlakepalmer.de |publisher=Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Die ELP-History-Website (original site in German) |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218135904/http://emersonlakepalmer.de/content/elp_equipment.htm |archive-date=18 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Mark |date=2007 |title=Analog Synthesizers: Understanding, Performing, Buying: From the Legacy of Moog to Software Synthesis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iI77AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA83 |location=] |publisher=] |page=83 |isbn=978-0-240-52072-8}}</ref> | |||
By the late 2000s, Emerson was employing "a host of Korg gear" including the ] and ] Extreme ] synthesisers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://i.korg.com/Artist.aspx?artist=85 |title=Keith Emerson: The Orchestration of a Legend |last1=Whitmore |first1=Laura B. |date=January 2009 |website=i.korg.com |publisher=] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313204708/http://i.korg.com/Artist.aspx?artist=85 |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref> A review of the DVD release of ELP's 2010 one-off reunion show said that the Korg OASYS "appear to be Emerson's go-to instrument", although he also used a Hammond C-3 and a Moog with a ribbon controller onstage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theclevelandsound.com/?p=9073 |title=ELP Reunites For 40th Anniversary DVD |last1=Roche |first1=Pete |date=26 September 2011 |website=theclevelandsound.com |publisher=The Cleveland Sound |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016092223/http://www.theclevelandsound.com/?p=9073 |archive-date=16 October 2011 }}</ref> | |||
==Honours and awards== | |||
In December 1980 ''Contemporary Keyboard'' magazine announced, in their Fifth Annual Readers' Poll, that Emerson had—for the fifth time in a row—captured first place in two categories - '"Overall Best Keyboardist" and "Best Multi-Keyboardist". The five-time wins put Emerson in their "Gallery Of The Greats" for both categories. The same poll also saw Emerson take "Best Rock Organist" for the fourth time and "Best Lead Synthesist".<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=December 1980|title=Fifth Annual Poll Results|magazine=] | publisher=GPI Publications | location=]| page=11}}</ref> | |||
In March 2010 Emerson received the annual ] for his achievements, awarded in ] on the eve of the annual ] fair.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bae |first=David |date=19 March 2010 |title=The Frankfurt Music Prize 2010 Goes to Keith Emerson |url=http://us.aving.net/news/view.php?articleId=150480 |publisher=Aving Global Network |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313233539/http://us.aving.net/news/view.php?articleId=150480 |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
In September 2013 Orchestra Kentucky of ] gave Emerson their Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts and Humanities "for his role in bringing classical music to the masses".<ref name=malloyp2 /><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=29 September 2013 |title=Worthing's Keith Emerson Receives Lifetime Achievement Award |url=http://worthingdaily.co.uk/news/keith-emerson-receives-lifetime-achievement-award/ |newspaper=Worthing Daily |location=], ] |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930015936/http://worthingdaily.co.uk/news/keith-emerson-receives-lifetime-achievement-award/ |archive-date=30 September 2013 }}</ref> | |||
In 2014 Emerson was inducted into the Hammond Hall of Fame by the Hammond Organ Company.<ref name=hammondhof>{{cite web |url=http://hammondorganco.com/artists/organ-and-leslie-artists/keith-emerson/ |title=Keith Emerson: Hammond Hall Of Fame-2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2014 |publisher=Hammond Organ Company |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905084041/http://hammondorganco.com/artists/organ-and-leslie-artists/keith-emerson/ |archive-date=5 September 2015 }}</ref> | |||
==Discography== | |||
===Solo works=== | |||
====Studio albums==== | |||
* ''Honky'' (1981) (digitally re-mastered 2013)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shop.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4390 |title=Cherry Red Records – Honky – Keith Emerson |publisher=Shop.cherryred.co.uk |date=28 October 2013 |access-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331152004/http://shop.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4390 |archive-date=31 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
* ''The Christmas Album'' (1988) | |||
* ''Changing States'' (1995) | |||
* ''Emerson Plays Emerson'' (2002) | |||
* ''Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla'' (2008) | |||
* ''The Three Fates Project'' (with ], ]) (2012)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grappa.no/en/simax-classics/cd-dvd-three-fates-project-keith-emerson-band-in-symphony/ |title=Grappa musikkforlag CD+DVD: Three Fates Project. Keith Emerson Band in Symphony |publisher=Grappa.no |date=23 September 2015 |access-date=13 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323024806/http://www.grappa.no/en/simax-classics/cd-dvd-three-fates-project-keith-emerson-band-in-symphony/ |archive-date=23 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
====Live albums==== | |||
* ''Boys Club – Live from California'' (with ], Marc Bonilla) (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/boys-club-live-from-california-mw0001737718 |title=Boys Club: Live from California - Marc Bonilla, Keith Emerson, Glenn Hughes |website=AllMusic |date=30 January 2009 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
* ''Moscow'' (with Keith Emerson Band Featuring Marc Bonilla) CD & DVD (2010)<ref>{{cite web|first=Thom |last=Jurek |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/moscow-mw0002055757 |title=Moscow - Keith Emerson Band, Keith Emerson |website=AllMusic |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
* ''Live from Manticore Hall'' (with ]) (2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-from-manticore-hall-mw0002684021 |title=Live From Manticore Hall - Keith Emerson, Greg Lake |website=AllMusic |date=28 May 2010 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
====Soundtrack albums==== | |||
* '']'' (1980)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/r511516 |title=Emerson: Inferno [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - Keith Emerson | AllMusic |first=K. |last=Dryden |work=allmusic.com |year=2011 |access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> | |||
* '']'' (1981)<ref>{{cite web|first=Ken |last=Dryden |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/nighthawks-mw0000837391 |title=Nighthawks - Keith Emerson |website=AllMusic |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
* '']'' (1984)<ref>{{cite web|first=Victor W. |last=Valdivia |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/murderock-mw0000529431 |title=Murderock - Keith Emerson |website=AllMusic |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
* ''Best Revenge'' (1985)<ref>{{cite web|first=Victor W. |last=Valdivia |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/best-revenge-original-soundtrack-mw0000840298 |title=Best Revenge [Original Soundtrack] - Keith Emerson |website=AllMusic |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
* '']''/''China Free Fall'' (1987) — Split album with Derek Austin. Emerson did the ''Harmageddon'' soundtrack while Austin did the ''China Free Fall'' soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ken |last=Dryden |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/harmageddon-china-free-fall-mw0000838048 |title=Harmageddon/China Free Fall - Keith Emerson |website=AllMusic |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
* ''Iron Man Vol. 1'' (2001) | |||
* '']'' (2002) — Music from the 1989 horror film ''The Church'', also known as ''La chiesa''. Also contains material by ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/la-chiesa-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000524491 |title=La Chiesa (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |website=AllMusic |access-date=17 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
* '']'' (2004)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-the-final-tribute-album-for-godzilla-mw0000471035 |title=This Is the Final Tribute Album for Godzilla - Original Soundtrack |website=AllMusic |date=4 January 2005 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
====Compilations==== | |||
* ''Chord Sampler'' (1984) | |||
* ''The Emerson Collection'' (1986)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.proggnosis.com/Release_Detail.aspx?RID=28125 |title=The Emerson Collection by KEITH EMERSON songs, tracks list, members, credits, reviews, information, discography on ProGGnosis |publisher=Proggnosis.com |date=1 February 2009 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
* ''At the Movies'' (2005)<ref>{{cite web|author=AllMusic Review |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/at-the-movies-mw0000377375 |title=At the Movies - Keith Emerson |website=AllMusic |date=22 November 2005 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
* ''Hammer It Out – The Anthology'' (2005)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/hammer-it-out-the-anthology-mw0000530972 |title=Hammer It Out: The Anthology - Keith Emerson |website=AllMusic |date=19 July 2005 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
* ''Off the Shelf'' (2006)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/off-the-shelf-mw0000533344/releases | website = AllMusic | title = Keith Emerson – Off the Shelf | access-date = 13 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
====Singles==== | |||
* "Honky Tonk Train Blues" (]) b/w "Barrelhouse Shake-Down" (1976)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010jsrm |title=BBC One – Top of the Pops, 22/04/1976 |publisher=BBC|date=23 April 2011 |access-date=11 March 2016}}</ref> — <small> </small><ref name=honkytonkchart /> | |||
===Contributions=== | |||
* "]" (2 versions) and "]" on ] tribute album '']'' (2005)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Back-Against-The-Wall-A-Tribute-To-Pink-Floyd/release/4985225 |title=Various – Back Against The Wall (A Tribute to Pink Floyd) |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2016 |website=Discogs.com |publisher=] |access-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212023325/http://www.discogs.com/Various-Back-Against-The-Wall-A-Tribute-To-Pink-Floyd/release/4985225 |archive-date=12 February 2015}}</ref> | |||
* "]" on ] tribute album ''Led Box: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute'' (2008)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/led-box-the-ultimate-led-zeppelin-tribute-mw0000582795 |title=Various Artists: Led Box: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2016 |website=Allmusic.com |publisher=] |access-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227234942/http://www.allmusic.com/album/led-box-the-ultimate-led-zeppelin-tribute-mw0000582795 |archive-date=27 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
* ] - "Progressive Waves" on '']'' (2013)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/a_2/ayreon-the-theory-of.htm|title=Ayreon - The Theory Of Everything (Review by Andrija "TheIslander" Petrovic)|last=Steinmetal|access-date=24 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826095931/http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/a_2/ayreon-the-theory-of.htm|archive-date=26 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
* ] - "Heavy Duty" on '']'' | |||
===As part of a group=== | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] A band including ], ], ] and ], they recorded a DVD of a live concert in Yokohama Japan, on the 26 September 1990 which was published in 2010. | |||
==Pieces based on other works== | |||
Emerson occasionally ] or ] other musical works in his compositions. Permission to use pieces was sometimes denied by the composer or his family; for example ]'s daughter refused to grant official permission for rock bands to perform her late father's composition ''Mars, the Bringer of War''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/artists/gustav-holst/biography/ |title=About Gustav Holst |last1=Eder |first1=Bruce |date=2016 |website=MTV.com |publisher=MTV |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314025608/http://www.mtv.com/artists/gustav-holst/biography/ |archive-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> However, a number of composers did grant permission for their works to be used. ] said that there was "something that attracted " about ELP's version of "Fanfare for the Common Man", and so approved its use, although he said, "What they do in the middle (i.e., the modal section between repeats of Copland's theme), I'm not sure exactly how they connect that with my music".<ref name=copland>{{cite AV media |people=] (Interviewee) |year=2007 |title=From The Beginning (Disc 4, Track 1) |medium=CD Audio recording |language=en |time=CD |publisher=Castle Music UK }}</ref> ], on the other hand, enthusiastically approved Emerson's electronic realisation of the fourth movement of his first piano concerto, which appeared on their album ''Brain Salad Surgery'' under the title "Toccata". Ginastera said, "You have captured the essence of my music, and no one's ever done that before."<ref name=bachcantatas>{{cite web |url=http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Ginastera-Alberto.htm |title=Alberto Ginastera (Composer) |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=16 May 2013 |website=bach-cantatas.com |publisher=Bach Cantatas Website |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327172734/http://bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Ginastera-Alberto.htm |archive-date=27 March 2014 }}</ref><ref>, at YouTube</ref> | |||
Despite his training, Emerson's finger technique was highly idiosyncratic. He tended to curl up his ring finger and little finger while playing, which a true classical musician would never do. | |||
==Partial list of pieces based on other composers' works== | |||
Note that lack of credit does not imply plagiarism. It is certain that, where required, royalties were paid to composers or their estates. Permission to use pieces was sometimes denied by the composer's family or estate, as for instance with ]'s ''Mars, the Bringer of War''. | |||
===With The Nice=== | ===With The Nice=== | ||
* |
* "America, 2nd Amendment", from '']''{{'s}} "]", by ], credited, quoting ]'s Symphony No. 9, '']'', uncredited.<ref name=hollyq /><ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 22.</ref> | ||
* |
* "Rondo", derived from ]'s "Blue Rondo à la Turk", uncredited, quoting Bach, '']'' third movement, uncredited.<ref name=hollyq /> | ||
* |
* "Diary of an Empty Day", from '']'' by ], credited.<ref name=hollyq /> | ||
* |
* "Azrael Revisited", quoting ]'s ''Prelude in C-sharp minor'', credited.<ref name=hollyq /> | ||
* |
* "]" – Bach, the third '']'', Allegro, credited.<ref name=hollyq /> | ||
* |
* "]" – ], credited.<ref name=hollyq /> | ||
* |
* "Pathetique", third movement from ]'s Symphony No. 6, credited.<ref name=hollyq /> | ||
* |
* "]", by ], credited, quoting Bach, uncredited,<ref>Duxbury, p. .</ref> and fragments of the theme from '']'', by ], uncredited.<ref name=hollyq /> | ||
* |
* "]", by ], credited, lyrics partly set to Bach, the sixth ], credited.<ref name=hollyq /> | ||
* ''Country Pie'', by ], credited, lyrics partly set to Bach, the sixth ], credited. | |||
===With ELP=== | ===With ELP=== | ||
* "The Barbarian", based on '']'', Sz. 49, BB 63 by ], uncredited on US release of '']'' (credited on the British Manticore re-pressing of the original LP).<ref name="Donohoe">{{cite news |last=Donohoe |first=Peter |date=12 March 2016 |title=How Keith Emerson's Inventiveness Influenced My Musical Career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/12/how-keith-emersons-inventiveness-influenced-my-musical-career |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312173344/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/12/how-keith-emersons-inventiveness-influenced-my-musical-career |archive-date=12 March 2016 |access-date=27 March 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> | |||
* ''The Barbarian'', based on Allegro barbaro, Sz. 49, BB 63 by ], uncredited. | |||
* |
* "]", based on the ] by ], uncredited on US release (credited on the British Manticore re-pressing of the original LP); middle section based on the Allemande from '']'' No. 1 in D minor, by ], uncredited.<ref name="Donohoe"/> | ||
* "The Only Way (Hymn)", incorporating (in the song's introduction and bridge) J. S. Bach's '] and Prelude VI from Book I of the ]', credited on '']''.<ref>Duxbury, p. .</ref> | |||
* ], by ], credited. | |||
* "Are You Ready Eddy?", based on the tune of ]'s song "]" and including a quote from the ] ], both uncredited (on ''Tarkus'').<ref>Emerson, ''Pictures'', p. 205.</ref> | |||
* ''Hoedown'', from '']'' by ], credited, quoting '']'', Traditional. | |||
* '']'', by ], credited.<ref name=hollyq /> | |||
* ''Toccata'', from a piano concerto by ], endorsed by the composer, credited. | |||
* "Blues Variation" from '']'' also contains an uncredited quote of the 'head' of ]' minor blues piece "]" (1:52), and ]' "Weirdo"(]), (aka ]) (2:45).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brain-salad.com/Emerson/quote-list.txt |title=Keith Emerson Musical Quote List Sorted By Composer |last1=Plotcyk |first1=Steven |last2=Smith |first2=Jim |date=31 May 2006 |website=brain-salad.com |publisher=ELP Digest (fan website) |access-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151028133256/http://www.brain-salad.com/Emerson/quote-list.txt |archive-date=28 October 2015 }}</ref> | |||
* '']'', by ], credited. | |||
* "]", adapted by ], credited, from ]'s "March of the Wooden Soldiers", uncredited.<ref name=hollyq /> | |||
* "Hoedown", from '']'' by ], credited, quoting "]" and "]", both traditional.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Epstein |first1=Dan |last2=Gehr |first2=Richard |last3=Heller |first3=Jason | date=11 March 2016 |title=Emerson, Lake and Palmer: 10 Essential Songs |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/emerson-lake-and-palmer-10-essential-songs-20160311 |magazine=Rolling Stone |location=] |access-date=14 March 2016 |quote=... East European elements find their way into his rollicking organ and Moog arrangement alongside American folk tunes like 'Shortnin' Bread' and 'Turkey in the Straw.' |url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312094711/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/emerson-lake-and-palmer-10-essential-songs-20160311 |archive-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
* "Abaddon's Bolero", quoting "]", traditional.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thebigpictureandthecloseup.com/blog/?p=3309 |title=Someone Must Have Sent That To Kemp, Or, Not Enough Friends |last1=Gohn |first1=Jack L. B. |date=26 August 2012 |website=thebigpictureandthecloseup.com |publisher=Jack L.B. Gohn |access-date=14 March 2016 |quote=Once you hear (Abaddon), you know that it's mostly true to classical form, in that the triplet-heavy melody keeps repeating itself, but every time louder and with more bells and whistles, even cranking in a phrase from the folksong The Girl I Left Behind Me before it's all over |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314051411/http://www.thebigpictureandthecloseup.com/blog/?p=3309 |archive-date=14 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
* "]", by ], credited.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ladiesofthelake.com/cabinet/bssliner.html |last=McCulley |first=Jerry |title=Liner Notes from the DVD-A of Brain Salad Surgery |website=ladiesofthelake.com |publisher=Ladies of the Lake - A Greg Lake Tribute Site |access-date=2 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820025400/http://www.ladiesofthelake.com/cabinet/bssliner.html |archive-date=20 August 2015 }}</ref> | |||
* "]", by ] (in '']''), credited.<ref name=hollyq /> | |||
* "Toccata", from a piano concerto by ], endorsed by the composer, credited.<ref name=bachcantatas /> | |||
* "Karn Evil 9, 2nd Impression", quoting "]", a ] melody sometimes attributed to ], uncredited.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brain-salad-surgery.de/karn_evil_9.html |title=Karn Evil 9: Songs: 2nd Impression |last1=Emerson |first1=Keith |date=2016 |website=brain-salad-surgery.de |publisher=Brain Salad Surgery |access-date=14 March 2016 |quote=The 'Caribbean solo' of the 2nd Impression was played on a Minimoog (an interpolation of the song 'St. Thomas' by Sonny Rollins). |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310113115/http://www.brain-salad-surgery.de/karn_evil_9.html |archive-date=10 March 2016 }}</ref> | |||
* "]", by ], credited.<ref name=copland /> | |||
* '']'', by ], quoted in an extended solo in live recordings from Poland.<ref>Duxbury, p. 75.</ref> | |||
* With Emerson, Lake & Powell, the main theme to "Touch & Go" is identical to the English folk song "]", better known as the counterpoint tune in ]' ''Fantasia on Greensleeves''. Not credited.<ref>Vaughan Williams: Greensleeves/Tallis Fantasia. The New Queen's Hall Orchestra/Wordsworth. Argo 440 116–2 (1994)</ref><ref>Duxbury, p. 76.</ref> | |||
* With Emerson, Lake & Powell, "Mars" is based on the equivalent movement from the suite '']'', by ]. Credited.<ref name=duxbury359>Duxbury, p. .</ref> | |||
* "Romeo & Juliet" from the '']'' suite by ], credited.<ref name=duxbury359 /> | |||
* "Love at First Sight" intro, ], by ], uncredited.<ref>Duxbury, p. 73.</ref> | |||
== Songs composed by Emerson (alone or with contributions from others) == | |||
Besides his "Piano Concerto", there are several examples of Emerson creativity in original composition. Since the late Sixties he wrote a wide typology of pieces in different musical styles ranging from pop rock songs such as "Flower King of Flies", "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack", "Happy Freuds" to complex pieces including transversal influences from baroque to contemporary and jazz, anticipating the progressive genre ("For Example", "Five Bridges Suite"). During the seventies alongside arrangements of classic tracks and Lake's ballads, a decisive element of EL&P's albums are the compositions featuring music entirely written by Emerson. His trademark is a very varied range of musical approach: songs with a hard rock impact with a jazz flavour such as "Bitches Crystal", "A Time and a Place", "Living Sin", examples of country or stride piano such as "Jeremy Bender" or "Benny the Bouncer", and adventurous instrumentals difficult to classify in one genre, such as "The Three Fates", "Tank" and "Abaddon's Bolero". The more structured and complex epic tracks such as "Tarkus", "Trilogy", "The Endless Enigma", "]", "Pirates", "Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentleman" are all Emerson’s compositions. As a soloist, after his "Piano Concerto" a period of compositions recorded with the orchestra opened during the early Eighties ("Inferno", "Nighthawks", "Orchestral Suite to Best Revenge"). In the following decades Emerson composed many pieces for piano, such as "The Dreamer", "And Then January", "Outgoing Tide", "Broken Bough" and "Soulscapes", displaying an intimate and crepuscular inspiration, also reiterated in orchestral pieces such as "Glorietta Pass" and "After All of This". Funky and dance rhythms can be found in several songs present in the ''Murderock'' and ''Nighthawks'' soundtracks, whereas in some tracks of ''Godzilla Final Wars'' the sound are those of the 2000s. A return to the visionary and tumultuous style of progressive music is represented by the album recorded under the name of the Keith Emerson Band, which includes the long suite "The House Of Ocean Born Mary" co-written with Marc Bonilla. | |||
See the section below for a list of songs composed or co-composed by Emerson. | |||
=== With Keith Emerson Trio === | |||
* "Winkle Picker Stamp" (Emerson) | |||
* "56 Blues" (Emerson) | |||
=== With The Nice === | |||
* "Flower King" of Flies (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson) | |||
* "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" (O'List, Emerson) | |||
* "Tantalising Maggie" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson) | |||
* "Dawn" (Davison, Emerson, Jackson) | |||
* "The Cry of Eugene" (O'List, Emerson, Jackson) | |||
* "The Diamond Hard Blue Apples Of The Moon" (Emerson, O'List, Davison, Jackson) | |||
* "Daddy Where Did I Come From?" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson) | |||
* "Little Arabella" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson) | |||
* "Happy Freuds" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson) | |||
* "Ars Longa Vita Brevis: Prelude, 2nd Movement", "4th Movement e Coda" (Emerson, O'List, Davison, Jackson) | |||
* "For Example" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson) | |||
* "The Five Bridges Suite: Fantasia, Chorale, High Level Fugue, Finale" | |||
* "One of Those People" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson) | |||
=== With Emerson Lake & Palmer/Emerson Lake & Powell/Three === | |||
* "The Three Fates: Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos" (Emerson) | |||
* "Tank" (Emerson, Palmer) | |||
* "Rave Up" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer) | |||
* "Tarkus: Eruption, Stones of Years, Iconoclast, Mass, Manticore, Aquatarkus" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "Jeremy Bender" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "Bitches Crystal" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "The Only Way/Infinite Space" (Emerson, Bach; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "A Time and a Place" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer) | |||
* "The Old Castle" (Emerson, Mussorgsky) | |||
* "Blues Variation" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer) | |||
* "The Curse Of Baba Yaga" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer) | |||
* "The Endless Enigma" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "The Sheriff" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "Trilogy" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "Living Sin" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer) | |||
* "Abaddon's Bolero" (Emerson) | |||
* "Benny the Bouncer" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "Karn Evil 9 1st, 2nd, 3rd Impression" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake, Sinfield) | |||
* "Piano Concerto n.1: Allegro Giojoso, Andante Molto Cantabile, Toccata con Fuoco" (Emerson) | |||
* "L.A.Nights" (Emerson, Palmer) | |||
* "Pirates" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake, Sinfield) | |||
* "]" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer, Sinfield) | |||
* "When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer) | |||
* "Brain Salad Surgery" (Emerson, Lake, Sinfield) | |||
* "Barrelhouse Shake-Down" (Emerson) | |||
* "So Far To Fall" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake, Sinfield) | |||
* "The Gambler" (Emerson, Lake, Sinfield) | |||
* "Memoirs Of An Officer And A Gentleman: Prologue / The Education Of A Gentleman, Love At First Sight, Letters From The Front, Honourable Company (A March)" (Emerson; lyrics: Sinfield) | |||
* "Introductory Fanfare" (Emerson) | |||
* "The Score" (Emerson) | |||
* "Learning To Fly" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "The Miracle" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "Touch And Go" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "Love Blind" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "Step Aside" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "Lay Down Your Guns" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake, Gould) | |||
* "Vacant Possession" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "Lover to Lover" (Emerson, Berry, Palmer) | |||
* "Desde la Vida" (Emerson, Berry, Palmer) | |||
* "On My Way Home" (Emerson) | |||
* "Black Moon" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer) | |||
* "Paper Blood" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer) | |||
* "Farewell To Arms" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "Changing States" (Emerson) | |||
* "Close To Home" (Emerson) | |||
* "Better Days" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "A Blade of Grass" (Emerson) | |||
* "Hand of Truth" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "One By One" (Emerson, Lake, Olsen) | |||
* "Thin Line" (Emerson, Wray, Olsen) | |||
* "Change" (Emerson, Wray, Olsen) | |||
* "Street War" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake) | |||
* "A Cajun Alley" (Emerson) | |||
=== Solo === | |||
* ''Inferno'' (soundtrack): 15 tracks (Emerson; lyrics on "Mater Tenebrarum": Emerson/Salmon) | |||
* ''Nighthawks'' (soundtrack): 10 tracks (Emerson; lyrics on "Nighthawking": Mark Mueller) | |||
* "Salt Cay" (Emerson) | |||
* "Green Ice" (Emerson) | |||
* "Rum-a-ting (Emerson)" | |||
* "Jesus Loves Me (Emerson)" | |||
* ''Harmagedon'' (soundtrack): 6 tracks (Emerson; lyrics on Children of the Light: Tony Allen) | |||
* ''Murderock'' (soundtrack): 11 tracks (Emerson; lyrics on 3 tracks: Doreen Chanter) | |||
* ''Best Revenge'' (soundtrack): 5 tracks and 1 orchestral suite | |||
* "My Name is Rain" (Emerson; lyrics: Lorna Wright) | |||
* "Snowman's Land" (Emerson) | |||
* "Captain Starship Christmas" (Emerson; lyrics: Lorna Wright) | |||
* "]" (Emerson; lyrics: ]) | |||
* "Empire of Delight" (Emerson; lyrics: ]) | |||
* "Airport Of Silence" (Emerson, Tate; lyrics: ]) | |||
* "Last Ride Into The Sun" (Emerson, Berry, Palmer) | |||
* ''La Chiesa'' (soundtrack): 3 tracks (Emerson) | |||
* "Shelter from the Rain" (Emerson, Bonilla, Gilbert) | |||
* "Another Frontier" (Emerson) | |||
* "Ballade" (Emerson) | |||
* "The Band Keeps Playing" (Emerson, Bonilla, Gilbert) | |||
* "Interlude" (Emerson) | |||
* "Vagrant" (Emerson) | |||
* "Solitudinous" (Emerson) | |||
* "Broken Bough" (Emerson) | |||
* "Outgoing Tide" (Emerson) | |||
* "Roll'n Jelly" (Emerson) | |||
* "B & W Blues" (Emerson) | |||
* "For Kevin" (Emerson) | |||
* "Hammer It Out" (Emerson) | |||
* "Ballad For A Common Man" (Emerson) | |||
* "Nilu's Dream" (Emerson) | |||
* "Lament For Tony Stratton Smith" (Emerson) | |||
* "And Then January" (Emerson) | |||
* "Rio" (Emerson) | |||
* "Soulscapes" (Emerson) | |||
* "Asian Pear" (Emerson) | |||
* "Motor Bikin'" (Emerson) | |||
* "Katoh-San" (Emerson) | |||
* "Star Strike Theme" (Emerson) | |||
* ''Iron Man'' (soundtrack): 1 track and 5 suites (Emerson) | |||
* ''Godzilla Final Wars'' (soundtrack): 13 tracks (Emerson) | |||
* "Land of the Rising Sun" (Emerson) | |||
* "New Orleans" (Emerson) | |||
* "Middle of a Dream" (Emerson, Bonilla, Hughes) | |||
* "The House Of Ocean Born Mary: Ignition, 1st Presence, Last Horizon, Crusaders Cross, Fugue, 2nd Presence, Blue Inferno, 3rd Presence, Prelude To A Hope" (Emerson; 3 tracks: Emerson, Bonilla) | |||
* "The Art of Falling Down" (Emerson, Bonilla) | |||
* "Gametime" (Emerson, Bonilla) | |||
* "One By One" (Emerson, Berry) | |||
* "What You're Dreaming Now" (Emerson, Berry) | |||
* "Somebody's Watching" (Emerson, Berry) | |||
* "Your Mark On The World" (Emerson, Berry) | |||
* "Sailors Horn Pipe" (Emerson, Berry) | |||
* "Never" (Emerson, Berry) | |||
* "Beyond The Stars" (Emerson) | |||
* "Glorietta Pass" (Emerson) | |||
* "After All Of This" (Emerson) | |||
==Literature== | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last =Ford | |||
| first =Peter T. | |||
| title =The compositional style of Keith Emerson in Tarkus (1971) for the rock music trio Emerson, Lake and Palmer | |||
| publisher =Indiana State University | |||
| date =1994 | |||
| location =Terre Haute | |||
| url = | |||
| doi = | |||
| id = | |||
| isbn = | |||
| mr = | |||
| zbl = | |||
| jfm = }} (Thesis M.A.) | |||
==In popular culture== | |||
On the UK surreal television comedy series '']'', ] portrayed Emerson as a ] fighting his enemies with ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boingboing.net/2011/12/19/keith-emerson-fights-with-the.html |title=Keith Emerson Fights With the Power of Prog Rock |last1=Pescovitz |first1=David |date=19 December 2011 |website=boingboing.net |publisher=] |access-date=21 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222180857/http://boingboing.net/2011/12/19/keith-emerson-fights-with-the.html |archive-date=22 December 2011 }}</ref> | |||
The long-running comic-strip character ''Keef da Blade'' in the ], student newspaper ''Lachesis'' (1970s)<ref>Brooke, C., ''A History of Gonville and Caius College'' — Boydell Press (1996). {{ISBN|978-0-85115-423-7}}.</ref> is based largely on Emerson, the character's name being presumably a reference to his trademark stage antics with knives. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
== |
==Footnotes== | ||
{{notelist}} | |||
The surreal comedy series ] featured Keith Emerson, played by ], as a Roman slave, fighting his enemies with ]. | |||
He was given his trademark knife by ] who was a roadie for The Nice in his earlier days. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist|25em}} | |||
* http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/emerson_keith/bio.jhtml | |||
*Forrester, George, Martyn Hanson and Frank Askew. ''Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Show That Never Ends, A Musical Biography''. (2001) Helter Skelter Publishing ISBN 1-900924-17-X. | |||
==Further reading== | |||
== External links == | |||
* Emerson, Keith (2003), ''Pictures of an Exhibitionist: From the Nice to Emerson, Lake and Palmer - The True Story of the Man Who Changed the Sound of Rock'', ], {{ISBN|1-84454-053-7}} | |||
* http://www.keithemerson.com/ | |||
* Forrester, George, Martyn Hanson and Frank Askew. ''Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Show That Never Ends, A Musical Biography''. (2001) Helter Skelter Publishing {{ISBN|1-900924-17-X}}. | |||
* | |||
* {{Cite thesis |type=D.M.A. |title=The Published Music of Keith Emerson: Expanding the Solo Piano Repertoire |url=http://athenaeum.libs.uga.edu/handle/10724/23179 |last=Lupis |first=Giuseppe |date=May 2006 |publisher=University of Georgia |access-date=7 January 2015 |oclc=223323019 }} | |||
* http://www.brain-salad.com/Emerson/emerson.html | |||
* Macan, Edward (2006), ''Endless Enigma: A Musical Biography of Emerson, Lake and Palmer'', Feedback Series in Contemporary Music, Vol. 4, Open Court, {{ISBN|978-0-8126-9596-0}} | |||
*http://www.interstellar9.com/emerson/interview.htm Extremely candid interview where Keith Emerson explains the real reason behind the break-up of ELP, raising children, and the Columbine School massacre. | |||
* {{Cite thesis |type=D.M.A. |title=Keith Emerson: The Emergence and Growth of Style: A Study of Selected Works |url=https://catalog.library.jhu.edu/catalog/bib_281881 |last=Pethel |first=Blair |date=1988 |publisher=Peabody Conservatory of Music |oclc=37599731 |access-date=7 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108010520/https://catalog.library.jhu.edu/catalog/bib_281881 |archive-date=8 January 2015 |url-status=dead }} | |||
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{{ELP}} | |||
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|NAME = Emerson, Keith | |||
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p17314}} | |||
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|SHORT DESCRIPTION = British ] and composer | |||
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Latest revision as of 03:27, 21 December 2024
English keyboardist, songwriter, and composer (1944–2016)
Keith Emerson | |
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Emerson performing in Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 2008 | |
Born | Keith Noel Emerson (1944-11-02)2 November 1944 Todmorden, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
Died | 11 March 2016(2016-03-11) (aged 71) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
Resting place | Lancing and Sompting Cemetery, Lancing, West Sussex, England |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, composer |
Years active | 1964–2016 |
Children | 2 |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instrument | Keyboards |
Labels | Edel, Victor, Shout! Factory, Varèse Sarabande, Rhino, Manticore, J!MCO Records, Sanctuary, EMI, Marquee Inc., Charly, Gunslinger Records, Cinevox |
Musical artist |
Keith Noel Emerson (2 November 1944 – 11 March 2016) was an English keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He played keyboards in a number of bands before finding his first commercial success with the Nice in the late 1960s. He became internationally famous for his work with the Nice, which included writing rock arrangements of classical music. After leaving the Nice in 1970, he was a founding member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP), one of the early progressive rock supergroups.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer were commercially successful through much of the 1970s, becoming one of the best-known progressive rock groups of the era. Emerson wrote and arranged much of ELP's music on albums such as Tarkus (1971) and Brain Salad Surgery (1973), combining his own original compositions with classical or traditional pieces adapted into a rock format. Following ELP's break-up at the end of the 1970s, Emerson pursued a solo career, composed several film soundtracks, and formed the bands Emerson, Lake & Powell and 3 to carry on in the style of ELP. In the early 1990s, ELP reunited for two more albums and several tours before breaking up again in the late 1990s. Emerson also reunited The Nice in 2002 and 2003 for a tour.
During the 2000s, Emerson resumed his solo career, including touring with his own Keith Emerson Band featuring guitarist Dave Kilminster, then replaced by Marc Bonilla, and collaborating with several orchestras. He reunited with ELP bandmate Greg Lake in 2010 for a duo tour, culminating in a one-off ELP reunion show in London to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary. Emerson's last album, The Three Fates Project, with Marc Bonilla and Terje Mikkelsen, was released in 2012. Emerson reportedly suffered from depression, and since 1993 developed nerve damage that hampered his playing, making him anxious about upcoming performances. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on 11 March 2016 at his home in Santa Monica, California.
Emerson is widely regarded as one of the greatest keyboard players of the progressive rock era. AllMusic describes Emerson as "perhaps the greatest, most technically accomplished keyboardist in rock history". In 2019, readers of Prog voted him the greatest keyboard player in progressive rock.
Early life
Emerson was born on 2 November 1944 in Todmorden, West Riding of Yorkshire. The family had been evacuated from southern England during World War II, after which they returned south and settled in Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex. Emerson attended West Tarring School (now Worthing High School) in Tarring. His mother Dorothy was not musical, but his father Noel was an amateur pianist and taught Emerson basic piano. When Emerson was eight, his parents arranged formal tuition, learning to play and read music with "local little old ladies" until he was around thirteen, with whom he studied to ABRSM Grade 7. Emerson's teacher put him in competitions at the Worthing Music Festival and suggested he finish studying music in London, but Emerson had little interest in classical music at the time and chose jazz piano. His studies in Western classical music largely inspired his own style in his professional career which often incorporated jazz and rock elements.
Although Emerson did not own a record player, he enjoyed listening to music on the radio, particularly Floyd Cramer's 1961 slip note-style "On the Rebound" and the work of Dudley Moore. He used jazz sheet music from Dave Brubeck and George Shearing and learned about jazz piano from books and Andre Previn's version of My Fair Lady. He also listened to boogie-woogie, and to country-style pianists including Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson, Russ Conway and Winifred Atwell. Emerson later described himself: "I was a very serious child. I used to walk around with Beethoven sonatas under my arm. However, I was very good at avoiding being beaten up by the bullies. That was because I could also play Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard songs. So, they thought I was kind of cool and left me alone."
Emerson became interested in the Hammond organ after hearing jazz organist Jack McDuff perform "Rock Candy", and the Hammond became his instrument of choice in the late 1960s. Emerson acquired his first Hammond organ, an L-100 model, at the age of 15 or 16, on hire purchase and a loan from his father. He had saved money to buy a Bird electric organ with built-in speakers on each side, but then spotted a Hammond in the shop and thought it was a better purchase. Emerson's initial plan was for a non-musical career while playing the piano on the side. Upon leaving school he worked at Lloyds Bank Registrars where he played the piano in the bar at lunch times and local pubs at nights. He was ultimately fired from the bank. Emerson played in a local 20-piece swing band run by Worthing Council, performing Count Basie and Duke Ellington tunes. This led to the formation of the Keith Emerson Trio, with the group's drummer and bassist.
Career
1965–1970: Early groups and The Nice
While performing in the Worthing and Brighton area, Emerson played in John Brown's Bodies where members of The T-Bones, the backing band of blues singer Gary Farr, offered him a place in their group. After a subsequent UK and European tour with the T-Bones, the band split. Emerson then joined The V.I.P.'s, which he described as a "purist blues band"; his noted flamboyance began when a fight broke out during a performance in France. Instructed by the band to keep playing, he produced some explosion and machine gun sounds with the Hammond organ, which stopped the fight. His band members told him to repeat the stunt at the next concert, where Emerson played the organ back to front.
In 1967, Emerson formed The Nice with Lee Jackson, also of the T-Bones, David O'List, and Ian Hague, after soul singer P. P. Arnold asked him to form a backing band. After replacing Hague with Brian Davison, the group set out on its own, quickly developing a strong live following. The group's sound was centred on Emerson's Hammond organ showmanship and theatrical abuse of the instrument, and their radical rearrangements of classical music themes as "symphonic rock". To increase the visual interest of his show, Emerson abused his Hammond L-100 organ by, among other things, hitting it, beating it with a whip, pushing it over, riding it across the stage like a horse, playing with it lying on top of him, and wedging knives into the keyboard. Some of these actions also produced musical sound effects: hitting the organ caused it to make explosion-like sounds, turning it over made it feed back, and the knives held down keys, thus sustaining notes. Emerson's show with The Nice has been cited as having a strong influence on heavy metal musicians.
Away from The Nice, Emerson was involved in the 1969 Music from Free Creek "supersession" project that included Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. For the session, Emerson performed with drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Chuck Rainey covering, among other tunes, the Eddie Harris instrumental "Freedom Jazz Dance".
Emerson first heard a Moog synthesizer when a record shop owner played him Switched-On Bach (1968) by Wendy Carlos, and thought the instrument looked like "an electronic skiffle". He got into contact with keyboardist Mike Vickers, who had paid £4,000 to have one shipped from the US, and organised to play it at an upcoming The Nice concert at the Royal Festival Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, in February and March 1970. Vickers helped patch the Moog, and the concert saw Emerson perform "Also sprach Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss with Vickers behind the machine to swap patches.
1970–1979: Emerson, Lake & Palmer
After The Nice split in March 1970, Emerson formed a new band, Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP), with bassist Greg Lake from King Crimson and drummer Carl Palmer from Atomic Rooster. After four months of rehearsal, the band played its first shows and recorded its first album, having quickly obtained a record deal with Atlantic Records. ELP became popular immediately after their 1970 Isle of Wight Festival performance, and continued to tour regularly throughout the 1970s. Not all were impressed, with BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel describing their Isle of Wight set as a "tragic waste of talent and electricity". Their set, with a half-million onlookers, involved "annihilating their instruments in a classical-rock blitz" and firing cannons from the stage, which had been tested out on a field near Heathrow Airport.
Use of synthesizers
Keith Emerson's customized- "Monster Moog" modular synth
- "Tarkus" Hammond C3 organ
ELP's record deal provided funds for Emerson to buy his own Moog modular synthesiser from the US, which was a preset model that had fewer leads and punch cards to call up certain patches. He used the patch that Vickers provided, which contained six distinctive Moog sounds and became the foundation of ELP's sound. It was a temperamental device, with the oscillators often going out of tune with temperature change. Emerson was the first artist to tour with a Moog synthesiser. His "Monster Moog", built from numerous modules, weighed 550 pounds (250 kg), stood 10 feet (3 m) tall and took four roadies to move. Even with its unpredictability, it became an indispensable component of not only ELP's concerts, but also Emerson's own. His use of the Moog was so critical to the development of new Moog models that he was given prototypes, such as the Constellation, which he took on one tour, and the Apollo, which had its début on "Jerusalem" on Brain Salad Surgery (1973). As synthesiser technology evolved, Emerson went on to use a variety of other synthesisers, including the Minimoog, Yamaha GX-1, and several models by Korg.
As composer and arranger
Emerson performed several notable rock arrangements of classical compositions, ranging from J. S. Bach and Modest Mussorgsky to 20th-century composers such as Béla Bartók, Aaron Copland, Leoš Janáček and Alberto Ginastera. Occasionally Emerson quoted from classical and jazz works without giving credit, particularly early in his career. An early example of Emerson's arranging was the song "Rondo" by The Nice, which is a 4/4 interpretation of Dave Brubeck's 9/8 composition "Blue Rondo à la Turk". During live performances the piece is introduced by an extensive excerpt from the 3rd movement of Bach's Italian Concerto.
On ELP's eponymous first album, Emerson's classical quotes went largely uncredited. In the 1973 reissue on the group's personal label, Manticore Records, the songs are credited correctly. By 1971, with the releases Pictures at an Exhibition and Trilogy, ELP began to fully credit classical composers, including Modest Mussorgsky for the piano piece which inspired the Pictures album, and Aaron Copland for "Hoedown" on the Trilogy album. Emerson indicated in an interview that he based his version of Pictures at an Exhibition on Mussorgsky's original piano composition, rather than on Maurice Ravel's later orchestration of the work.
Following ELP's 1974 tour, the members agreed to put the band on temporary hiatus and pursue individual solo projects. During this time, Emerson composed his "Piano Concerto No. 1" and recorded it with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. According to Emerson, he was motivated by critical comments suggesting that he relied upon adapting classical works because he was unable to write his own music, and further motivated by the London Philharmonic "who weren't that helpful to begin with" and "had the attitude of 'What's a rock musician doing writing a piano concerto?'" Emerson said, "I wanted people to say, look, I'm a composer, I do write my own music, and what greater challenge than to write a piano concerto." The recording later appeared on ELP's album Works Volume 1. Emerson's concerto has since been performed by classical pianists, most notably Jeffrey Biegel, who has performed it several times and recorded it with Emerson's permission.
In 1976, while still in ELP, Emerson also released his first solo record, the single "Honky Tonk Train Blues" b/w "Barrelhouse Shake-Down". "Honky Tonk Train Blues", Emerson's cover of a 1927 boogie-woogie piano song by Meade Lux Lewis, reached No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart.
Theatrics
In addition to his technical skills at playing and composing, Emerson was a theatrical performer. He cited guitarist Jimi Hendrix and organist Don Shinn as his chief theatrical influences. While in ELP, Emerson continued to some degree the physical abuse of his Hammond organ that he had developed with The Nice, including playing the organ upside down while having it lie over him and using knives to wedge down specific keys and sustain notes during solos. He also engaged in knife throwing using a target fastened in front of his Leslie speakers. He was given his trademark knife, an authentic Nazi dagger, by Lemmy Kilmister, who was a roadie for The Nice in his earlier days.
Emerson toned down his theatrics with the organ when ELP used more stage props for their shows. While touring Brain Salad Surgery from 1973 to 1974, at the end of the show, a sequencer in Emerson's Moog Modular synthesiser was set running at an increasing rate, with the synthesiser pivoting to face the audience while emitting smoke and deploying a large pair of silver bat wings from its back. The same tour featured one of Emerson's memorable live show stunts with ELP, which involved playing a piano suspended as high as 20 feet in mid-air and then rotated end-over-end with Emerson sitting at it. This was purely for visual effect, as the piano was fake and had no works inside, leaving Emerson to mime playing. Emerson was introduced to Bob McCarthy, former circus employee on Long Island, New York who demonstrated the stunt piano for him at his home. It was used for shows at Madison Square Garden in December 1973 and the California Jam in April 1974, which was filmed. Emerson said: "After that every TV show I did came the question ... Keith, how do you spin around on that piano? I'd say what about my music?'" The stunt caused Emerson to suffer multiple finger injuries and a broken nose. He wished to use it at the band's reunion concert in 2010, but was forbidden by the local authority who said that the plans did not meet health and safety standards.
1979–1991: Solo and group projects
After ELP disbanded in 1979, Emerson pursued a variety of projects during the 1980s and 1990s, including solo releases, soundtrack work and other bands, including supergroup the Best. In the early 1990s, Emerson rejoined the reunited ELP, but the group broke up again by the end of that decade.
Solo career
In 1981, Emerson released his debut solo album, Honky. Recorded in the Bahamas with local musicians, it departed from Emerson's usual style in featuring calypso and reggae songs, and was generally not well received, except in Italy where it was a hit. Emerson's subsequent solo releases were sporadic, including a Christmas album in 1988, and the album Changing States (also known as Cream of Emerson Soup) recorded in 1989 but not released until 1995, after several of its songs had already been re-recorded and released in different versions on ELP's 1992 comeback album Black Moon. Changing States also contained an orchestral remake of the ELP song "Abaddon's Bolero" with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and "The Church", which Emerson composed for the 1989 Michele Soavi horror film of the same name.
Soundtrack work
In the 1980s, Emerson began to write and perform music for films, as his orchestral and classical style was more suited for film work than for the new wave-dominated pop/ rock market. He was given the script for Chariots of Fire, but turned down the offer to score it. Films for which Emerson contributed soundtrack music include Dario Argento's Inferno (1980), the action thriller Nighthawks (1981) starring Sylvester Stallone, (1984 film) Best Revenge, notable because he collaborated with Brad Delp from the rock band Boston and Levon Helm from The Band both on vocals, and Garth Hudson also from The Band on accordion, that also featured an instrumental piece called "Dream Runner" that became a standard solo performance piece for Emerson during at ELP shows throughout the next decade, Lucio Fulci's Murder Rock (1984), and Michele Soavi's The Church (also known as La chiesa) (1989). He was also the composer for the short-lived 1994 US animated television series Iron Man.
1980s and 1990s bands
Starting in the mid-1980s, Emerson formed several short-lived supergroups. The first two, Emerson, Lake & Powell (with Lake and ex-Rainbow drummer Cozy Powell) and 3 (with Palmer and American multi-instrumentalist Robert Berry), were intended to carry on in the general style of ELP in the absence of one of the original members. Emerson, Lake & Powell had some success, and their sole album is considered one of the best of both Emerson's and Lake's careers. Stylistically, it was a departure from their 1980s progressive rock peers, Genesis and Asia. Progressive rock analyst Edward Macan wrote that Emerson, Lake & Powell were closer to the "classic ELP sound" than ELP's own late-1970s output. By contrast, 3's only album sold poorly and drew comparisons to "the worst moments of Love Beach" (which had been a commercial disaster for ELP).
Emerson also toured briefly in 1990 with The Best, a supergroup including John Entwistle of The Who, Joe Walsh of the Eagles, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers, and Simon Phillips. This project focused on covering songs from each of the members' past bands.
In the early 1990s, Emerson formed the short-lived group Aliens of Extraordinary Ability with Stuart Smith, Richie Onori, Marvin Sperling and Robbie Wyckoff. The group's name came from the application process for a US work visa, and the members included several British musicians who, like Emerson, had come to Los Angeles to further their careers. The group turned down a record deal with Samsung because of Emerson's commitment to an ELP reunion and Smith's involvement with a possible reformation of The Sweet.
1991–1998: Reunion with ELP
In 1991, ELP reformed for two more albums (Black Moon (1992) and In the Hot Seat (1994)) and world tours in 1992–1993. After the 1993 tour, Emerson was forced to take a year off from playing due to a nerve condition affecting his right hand (see Health issues). Following his recovery, ELP resumed touring in 1996, including a successful US tour with Jethro Tull, but broke up again in August 1998.
1998–2016
Emerson participated in The Nice's reunion tour and a 40th anniversary show for ELP, preceded by a short duo tour with Greg Lake. Apart from these reunions, he continued his solo career, releasing solo and soundtrack albums, touring with his own Keith Emerson Band, and making occasional guest appearances. Starting in 2010, he increasingly focused on orchestral collaborations. A documentary film based on his autobiography was reportedly in production at the time of his death in 2016.
Reunion shows
In 2002 Emerson reformed and toured with The Nice, though performing a longer set of ELP music using a backing band including guitarist/vocalist Dave Kilminster. During the spring of 2010, he toured with Greg Lake in the United States and Canada, doing a series of "Intimate Evening" duo shows in which they performed newly arranged versions of the music of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Nice, and King Crimson as well as Emerson's new original composition. On 25 July 2010, a one-off Emerson, Lake & Palmer reunion concert closed the High Voltage Festival as the main act in Victoria Park, East London, to commemorate the band's 40th anniversary.
Solo career and Keith Emerson Band
Emerson continued his solo and soundtrack work into the 2000s. His solo releases included the all-piano album Emerson Plays Emerson (2002), several compilations, and contributions to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin tribute albums (see Discography). He was also one of three composers who contributed to the soundtrack for the Japanese kaiju film Godzilla: Final Wars (2004).
Following the August 2008 release of the album Keith Emerson Band Featuring Marc Bonilla, Emerson also toured with his own self-named band in Russia, the Baltic States and Japan between August and October 2008. The tour band members were Marc Bonilla, Travis Davis and Tony Pia.
Orchestral collaborations
Japanese composer Takashi Yoshimatsu worked with Emerson to create an arrangement of ELP's song "Tarkus", which premiered on 14 March 2010, performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Yoshimatsu's arrangement has been featured in multiple live performances and two live recordings.
In September 2011, Emerson began working with Norwegian conductor Terje Mikkelsen, along with the Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla and the Munich Radio Orchestra, on new orchestral renditions of ELP classics and their new compositions. The project "The Three Fates" was premiered in Norway in early September 2012, supervised by Norwegian professor and musician Bjørn Ole Rasch for the Norwegian Simax label. The work received its UK live premiere on 10 July 2015 at London's Barbican Centre, with the BBC Concert Orchestra, as part of the celebration of the life and work of Robert Moog.
Emerson made his conducting debut with Orchestra Kentucky of Bowling Green, Kentucky in September 2013. In October 2014, Emerson conducted the South Shore Symphony at his 70th birthday tribute concert at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, New York. The concert also featured the premiere of his Three String Quartets, and a performance of Emerson's "Piano Concerto No. 1" by Jeffrey Biegel.
Other appearances and activities
In 2000, Emerson was a featured panelist and performer at "The Keyboard Meets Modern Technology", an event honouring Moog presented by the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with a gallery exhibition celebrating the 300th anniversary of the piano. Emerson later headlined both the first and third Moogfest, a festival held in honour of Robert Moog, at the B. B. King Blues Club & Grill at Times Square in New York City, in 2004 and 2006 respectively.
Emerson opened the Led Zeppelin reunion/Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at the O2 Arena in London on 10 December 2007, along with Chris Squire and Alan White (Yes) and Simon Kirke (Bad Company/Free). The supergroup played a new arrangement of "Fanfare for the Common Man". Emerson also made a guest appearance in 2009 on Spinal Tap's album Back from the Dead, and played on several songs at Spinal Tap's "One Night Only World Tour" at Wembley Arena on 30 June 2009.
In 2004 Emerson published his autobiography entitled Pictures of an Exhibitionist, which dealt with his life up to his nearly career-ending nerve-graft surgery in 1993. In 2007, Emerson began working with Canadian independent filmmaker Jason Woodford to make a documentary film based on his autobiography. As of March 2016, production was still ongoing and the filmmakers were seeking funding to finish the film, according to the webpage of an artists' management company representing Emerson.
Personal life
Around the Christmas of 1969, Emerson married his Danish girlfriend Elinor Lund. They had two sons, Aaron and Damon, before they divorced in 1994. Emerson said it was his fault, as he had "fallen in love with someone else." Emerson then had a long-term relationship with Mari Kawaguchi.
In April 1975, Emerson's Sussex house burned down and he relocated to London.
Emerson enjoyed flying as a hobby, and he obtained his pilot's licence in 1972. When Emerson moved to Santa Monica, California in the mid-1990s, John Lydon, who had openly and harshly criticised ELP during the 1970s when Lydon was a member of the punk band Sex Pistols, was Emerson's neighbour. The two became friends, with Lydon saying in a 2007 interview, "He's a great bloke". In 2002, Emerson was in the process of returning to live in England.
Health issues
In 1993, Emerson was forced to take a year off from playing after he developed a nerve-related condition affecting his right hand that he likened to "writer's cramp", and that was also reported as a form of arthritis. It marked a low period for Emerson, who was going through a divorce and having financial difficulties. He turned to alcohol, before a course of psychotherapy led to his move to Santa Monica. During his time off, he ran marathons, customised a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and wrote film scores and his autobiography, Pictures of an Exhibitionist, which opens and closes with an account of his illness and subsequent arm operation.
In 2002, Emerson had regained the full use of his hands and could play to his usual strength. In 2016, he was corresponding with a carpal-tunnel syndrome expert about his struggle with focal dystonia, who said "Musicians can't talk about it because they won't get another gig if word gets out that they're in pain so they keep quiet."
In September 2010, Emerson underwent immediate surgery after a routine colonoscopy had revealed a "rather dangerous" polyp in his lower colon.
Death
Emerson died on 11 March 2016 in Santa Monica, California, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His body was found at his Santa Monica home. Following a post-mortem, the medical examiner ruled Emerson's death a suicide, and concluded that he had also had heart disease and depression associated with alcohol. According to Emerson's girlfriend Mari Kawaguchi, Emerson had become "depressed, nervous, and anxious" because nerve damage had hampered his playing, and he was worried that he would perform poorly at upcoming concerts in Japan and disappoint his fans.
Emerson was buried on 1 April 2016 at Lancing and Sompting Cemetery, Lancing, West Sussex. Although his death had been reported by news sources and an official Emerson, Lake and Palmer social media page as having occurred on the night of 10 March, his grave memorial gives his date of death as 11 March 2016.
His former ELP bandmates, Carl Palmer and Greg Lake, both issued statements on his death. Palmer said, "Keith was a gentle soul whose love for music and passion for his performance as a keyboard player will remain unmatched for many years to come." Lake said, "As sad and tragic as Keith's death is, I would not want this to be the lasting memory people take away with them. What I will always remember about Keith Emerson was his remarkable talent as a musician and composer and his gift and passion to entertain. Music was his life and despite some of the difficulties he encountered I am sure that the music he created will live on forever." Lake died later that same year of pancreatic cancer.
A tribute concert featuring Brian Auger, Jordan Rudess, Eddie Jobson, Aaron Emerson, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Marc Bonilla, and Rachel Flowers took place at the El Rey Theatre. Proceeds from sales of the DVD go to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation.
Playing style
Emerson sometimes reached into the interior of his piano and hit, plucked, or strummed the strings with his hand. He said that as a keyboard player, he hated the idea of being "static" and that to avoid it, he "wanted to get inside the piano, brush the strings, stick Ping-Pong balls inside". "Take a Pebble" included Emerson strumming the strings of his piano, a technique pioneered by avant-garde composer Henry Cowell, referred to as string piano. In the Nice's 1968 live performance of "Hang on to a Dream" on the German television program Beat-Club (later released on DVD in 1997), Emerson can be seen and heard reaching inside his grand piano at one point and plucking its strings.
In addition to such experimentation, Emerson also incorporated unique musical stylization into his work. Emerson is recognized for having integrated different sounds into his writing, utilizing methods of both horizontal and vertical contrast. Horizontal contrast is the use of distinct styles in a piece of music, combined by alternating between two different segments (in Emerson's case, most frequently alternating classical and non-classical); this technique can be seen in numerous works, such as "Rondo", "Tantalising Maggie", "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" and others. Vertical contrast is the combination of multiple styles simultaneously; Emerson frequently played a given style with one hand and a contrasting one with the other. This structure can be seen in works such as "Intermezzo from the Karelia Suite", "Rondo", and others. Emerson's love of modern music such as Copland and Bartok was evident in his open voicings and use of fifths and fourths, "Fanfare" emulated guitar power chords. He also used dissonance, atonality, sonata and fugue forms, exposing rock and roll audiences to myriad classical styles from Bach to Stravinsky.
Instrumentation
Emerson used a variety of electronic keyboard instruments during his career, including several Hammond organs and synthesisers by Moog Music, Yamaha, and Korg. From time to time he also used other instruments such as pipe organs, a grand piano, a clavinet, and very briefly, a Mellotron. During his ELP years, Emerson toured with a large amount of gear, taking thirteen keyboard units to a December 1973 show at Madison Square Garden, and later travelling with a large Yamaha GX-1 that required eight roadies to move it. Michael "Supe" Granda of The Ozark Mountain Daredevils recalled Emerson's organ rig as being "as large as entire stage plot".
Pre-ELP equipment and Hammond organs
Initially a piano player, Emerson obtained his first Hammond organ, an L-100, after hearing jazz organist Jack McDuff and becoming frustrated with broken hammers inside pianos. Around 1968, during his time with the Nice, he added a second Hammond organ, the more expensive C-3, and placed the two organs sideways and facing each other so he could stand between the two keyboards and play both with his unobstructed body facing the audience. Emerson preferred the sound of the C-3 as being "far superior" to the cheaper L-100, and used the L-100 to "throw around and make it feed back". Emerson got the L-100 to feed back by placing it close to the onstage speakers and using a fuzzbox. He continued to perform physical abuse stunts with the L-100 to some degree throughout his years with ELP.
Throughout his career, Emerson owned a number of L-100 models in various states of repair to support his act. These organs were also specially reinforced and modified to enhance their sound and help prevent damage while on tour, and were reported to weigh 300 to 350 pounds. By contrast, his C-3 organ was not used for stunts and Emerson continued to play his original C-3 for many years, using it on all the ELP albums and tours throughout the 1970s. He also owned several other Hammond organ models in addition to the L-100s and the C-3. When Emerson sold much of his gear in the mid-1990s, his Hammond organs were among the items he kept as being "too personal to let go". The remains of one L-100 that failed and burned during a 1990s ELP show in Boston were donated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
ELP equipment and Moog synthesisers
With ELP, Emerson added the Moog synthesiser behind the C-3 with the keyboard and ribbon controller stacked on the top of the organ. The ribbon controller allowed Emerson to vary pitch, volume or timbre of the output from the Moog by moving his finger up and down the length of a touch-sensitive strip. It also could be used as a phallic symbol, and outfitted with a small rocket launcher, it quickly became a feature of the act. He continued to divide his keyboard setup into two banks so that he could play between them with his body in view. When the ultra-compact Moog Minimoog first appeared it was placed where needed, such as on top of the grand piano. A Hohner clavinet L, with reversed black and white keys, was also part of Emerson's keyboard rig. Although it could be heard on numerous album pieces, according to Emerson, it was only used for one song, "Nut Rocker" in concert.
During the Brain Salad Surgery tour of 1974, Emerson's keyboard setup included the Hammond C-3 organ, run through multiple Leslie speakers driven by HiWatt guitar amplifiers, the Moog 3C modular synthesiser (modified by addition of various modules and an oscilloscope) with ribbon controller, a Steinway concert grand piano with a Minimoog synthesiser on top of it, an upright acoustic-electric piano that was used for honky-tonk piano sounds, a Hohner Clavinet and another Minimoog synthesiser. Emerson also used a prototype polyphonic synthesiser produced by Moog, which was the test bed for the Moog Polymoog polyphonic synthesiser. The original synthesiser setup as envisioned by Moog was called the Constellation, and consisted of three instruments – the polyphonic synthesiser, called the Apollo, a monophonic lead synthesiser called the Lyra, and a bass-pedal synthesiser, called the Taurus, but Emerson never used the Taurus.
Pipe organs
Occasionally Emerson used a pipe organ, when available, in live performances and on recordings. He played the Royal Albert Hall Organ at a show with The Nice on 26 June 1968, where the band controversially burned a painting of an American flag onstage to protest against the Vietnam War. The stunt caused a storm of objections in the US and The Nice received a lifetime ban from the venue.
With ELP, Emerson used the Royal Festival Hall organ for the "Clotho" segment of "The Three Fates" on the 1970 eponymous debut album by ELP. He played this organ again in 2002 to open The Nice reunion tour show, but according to a reviewer, the organ failed to operate at the expected volume.
The Newcastle City Hall organ was used for the introductory section of Pictures at an Exhibition, recorded there live on 26 March 1971. Emerson was recorded playing the organ at St. Mark's Church in London for "The Only Way (Hymn)" on the 1971 ELP album Tarkus.
Yamaha Electone GX-1 synthesiser
After founder Robert Moog left Moog Music in the late 1970s, Emerson began to consider using synthesisers made by other companies. Emerson became one of the few buyers of the Yamaha GX-1 polyphonic synthesiser, which reportedly cost almost $50,000. The GX-1 was subsequently used on the ELP album Works Volume 1, particularly on the song "Fanfare for the Common Man", and on tour. It can be seen in ELP's Works Orchestral Tour video and in promotional photos and videos from 1977 featuring the band playing "Fanfare" outdoors during a snowstorm in Montreal's Olympic Stadium. Emerson later bought a second GX-1 from John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, and used parts from it to repair his original GX-1, which was damaged by a tractor crashing into Emerson's home studio.
Emerson sold much of his keyboard equipment in the 1990s when he relocated from England to Santa Monica, California. The John Paul Jones GX-1 was sold to film composer Hans Zimmer, while Emerson's original GX-1 was sold to Italian keyboardist Riccardo Grotto.
Korg synthesisers
In the late 1970s, Emerson also began to use the Korg PS-3300 and PS-3100, which at the time were among the world's first fully polyphonic synthesizers. These Korgs appeared on the ELP album Love Beach, and Emerson continued to use them into the 1980s for his solo album Honky and his soundtrack work. He also became an official endorser for the PS-3300 and PS-3100 in the early 1980s.
By the late 2000s, Emerson was employing "a host of Korg gear" including the Korg OASYS and Korg Triton Extreme music workstation synthesisers. A review of the DVD release of ELP's 2010 one-off reunion show said that the Korg OASYS "appear to be Emerson's go-to instrument", although he also used a Hammond C-3 and a Moog with a ribbon controller onstage.
Honours and awards
In December 1980 Contemporary Keyboard magazine announced, in their Fifth Annual Readers' Poll, that Emerson had—for the fifth time in a row—captured first place in two categories - '"Overall Best Keyboardist" and "Best Multi-Keyboardist". The five-time wins put Emerson in their "Gallery Of The Greats" for both categories. The same poll also saw Emerson take "Best Rock Organist" for the fourth time and "Best Lead Synthesist".
In March 2010 Emerson received the annual Frankfurt Music Prize for his achievements, awarded in Frankfurt on the eve of the annual Musikmesse fair.
In September 2013 Orchestra Kentucky of Bowling Green gave Emerson their Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts and Humanities "for his role in bringing classical music to the masses".
In 2014 Emerson was inducted into the Hammond Hall of Fame by the Hammond Organ Company.
Discography
Solo works
Studio albums
- Honky (1981) (digitally re-mastered 2013)
- The Christmas Album (1988)
- Changing States (1995)
- Emerson Plays Emerson (2002)
- Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla (2008)
- The Three Fates Project (with Marc Bonilla, Terje Mikkelsen) (2012)
Live albums
- Boys Club – Live from California (with Glenn Hughes, Marc Bonilla) (2009)
- Moscow (with Keith Emerson Band Featuring Marc Bonilla) CD & DVD (2010)
- Live from Manticore Hall (with Greg Lake) (2010)
Soundtrack albums
- Inferno (1980)
- Nighthawks (1981)
- Murderock (1984)
- Best Revenge (1985)
- Harmageddon/China Free Fall (1987) — Split album with Derek Austin. Emerson did the Harmageddon soundtrack while Austin did the China Free Fall soundtrack.
- Iron Man Vol. 1 (2001)
- La Chiesa (2002) — Music from the 1989 horror film The Church, also known as La chiesa. Also contains material by Fabio Pignatelli and Goblin.
- Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
Compilations
- Chord Sampler (1984)
- The Emerson Collection (1986)
- At the Movies (2005)
- Hammer It Out – The Anthology (2005)
- Off the Shelf (2006)
Singles
- "Honky Tonk Train Blues" (Lewis) b/w "Barrelhouse Shake-Down" (1976) —
Contributions
- "In the Flesh?" (2 versions) and "Waiting for the Worms" on Pink Floyd tribute album Back Against the Wall (2005)
- "Black Dog" on Led Zeppelin tribute album Led Box: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute (2008)
- Ayreon - "Progressive Waves" on The Theory of Everything (2013)
- Spinal Tap - "Heavy Duty" on Back from the Dead
As part of a group
- The Nice discography
- Emerson, Lake & Palmer discography
- Emerson, Lake & Powell discography
- 3 discography
- The Best A band including Joe Walsh, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, John Entwistle and Simon Phillips, they recorded a DVD of a live concert in Yokohama Japan, on the 26 September 1990 which was published in 2010.
Pieces based on other works
Emerson occasionally covered or sampled other musical works in his compositions. Permission to use pieces was sometimes denied by the composer or his family; for example Gustav Holst's daughter refused to grant official permission for rock bands to perform her late father's composition Mars, the Bringer of War. However, a number of composers did grant permission for their works to be used. Aaron Copland said that there was "something that attracted " about ELP's version of "Fanfare for the Common Man", and so approved its use, although he said, "What they do in the middle (i.e., the modal section between repeats of Copland's theme), I'm not sure exactly how they connect that with my music". Alberto Ginastera, on the other hand, enthusiastically approved Emerson's electronic realisation of the fourth movement of his first piano concerto, which appeared on their album Brain Salad Surgery under the title "Toccata". Ginastera said, "You have captured the essence of my music, and no one's ever done that before."
With The Nice
- "America, 2nd Amendment", from West Side Story's "America", by Leonard Bernstein, credited, quoting Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, From the New World, uncredited.
- "Rondo", derived from Dave Brubeck's "Blue Rondo à la Turk", uncredited, quoting Bach, Italian Concerto third movement, uncredited.
- "Diary of an Empty Day", from Symphonie Espagnole by Édouard Lalo, credited.
- "Azrael Revisited", quoting Sergei Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C-sharp minor, credited.
- "Ars Longa Vita Brevis" – Bach, the third Brandenburg Concerto, Allegro, credited.
- "Intermezzo from the Karelia Suite" – Sibelius, credited.
- "Pathetique", third movement from Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, credited.
- "She Belongs to Me", by Bob Dylan, credited, quoting Bach, uncredited, and fragments of the theme from The Magnificent Seven, by Elmer Bernstein, uncredited.
- "Country Pie", by Bob Dylan, credited, lyrics partly set to Bach, the sixth Brandenburg Concerto, credited.
With ELP
- "The Barbarian", based on Allegro barbaro, Sz. 49, BB 63 by Béla Bartók, uncredited on US release of Emerson Lake & Palmer (credited on the British Manticore re-pressing of the original LP).
- "Knife-Edge", based on the Sinfonietta by Leoš Janáček, uncredited on US release (credited on the British Manticore re-pressing of the original LP); middle section based on the Allemande from French Suites No. 1 in D minor, by J. S. Bach, uncredited.
- "The Only Way (Hymn)", incorporating (in the song's introduction and bridge) J. S. Bach's 'Organ Toccata in F and Prelude VI from Book I of the Well-Tempered Clavier', credited on Tarkus.
- "Are You Ready Eddy?", based on the tune of Bobby Troup's song "The Girl Can't Help It" and including a quote from the Assembly bugle call, both uncredited (on Tarkus).
- Pictures at an Exhibition, by Modest Mussorgsky, credited.
- "Blues Variation" from Pictures at an Exhibition also contains an uncredited quote of the 'head' of Bill Evans' minor blues piece "Interplay" (1:52), and Miles Davis' "Weirdo"(Ballads and Blues (Miles Davis album)), (aka Walkin') (2:45).
- "Nut Rocker", adapted by Kim Fowley, credited, from Tchaikovsky's "March of the Wooden Soldiers", uncredited.
- "Hoedown", from Rodeo by Aaron Copland, credited, quoting "Shortnin' Bread" and "Turkey in the Straw", both traditional.
- "Abaddon's Bolero", quoting "The Girl I Left Behind", traditional.
- "Jerusalem", by C. Hubert H. Parry, credited.
- "Maple Leaf Rag", by Scott Joplin (in Works Volume 2), credited.
- "Toccata", from a piano concerto by Alberto Ginastera, endorsed by the composer, credited.
- "Karn Evil 9, 2nd Impression", quoting "St. Thomas", a Caribbean melody sometimes attributed to Sonny Rollins, uncredited.
- "Fanfare for the Common Man", by Aaron Copland, credited.
- Carmina Burana, by Carl Orff, quoted in an extended solo in live recordings from Poland.
- With Emerson, Lake & Powell, the main theme to "Touch & Go" is identical to the English folk song "Lovely Joan", better known as the counterpoint tune in Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Greensleeves. Not credited.
- With Emerson, Lake & Powell, "Mars" is based on the equivalent movement from the suite The Planets, by Gustav Holst. Credited.
- "Romeo & Juliet" from the Romeo and Juliet suite by Sergei Prokofiev, credited.
- "Love at First Sight" intro, Étude Op. 10, No. 1, by Frédéric Chopin, uncredited.
Songs composed by Emerson (alone or with contributions from others)
Besides his "Piano Concerto", there are several examples of Emerson creativity in original composition. Since the late Sixties he wrote a wide typology of pieces in different musical styles ranging from pop rock songs such as "Flower King of Flies", "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack", "Happy Freuds" to complex pieces including transversal influences from baroque to contemporary and jazz, anticipating the progressive genre ("For Example", "Five Bridges Suite"). During the seventies alongside arrangements of classic tracks and Lake's ballads, a decisive element of EL&P's albums are the compositions featuring music entirely written by Emerson. His trademark is a very varied range of musical approach: songs with a hard rock impact with a jazz flavour such as "Bitches Crystal", "A Time and a Place", "Living Sin", examples of country or stride piano such as "Jeremy Bender" or "Benny the Bouncer", and adventurous instrumentals difficult to classify in one genre, such as "The Three Fates", "Tank" and "Abaddon's Bolero". The more structured and complex epic tracks such as "Tarkus", "Trilogy", "The Endless Enigma", "Karn Evil 9", "Pirates", "Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentleman" are all Emerson’s compositions. As a soloist, after his "Piano Concerto" a period of compositions recorded with the orchestra opened during the early Eighties ("Inferno", "Nighthawks", "Orchestral Suite to Best Revenge"). In the following decades Emerson composed many pieces for piano, such as "The Dreamer", "And Then January", "Outgoing Tide", "Broken Bough" and "Soulscapes", displaying an intimate and crepuscular inspiration, also reiterated in orchestral pieces such as "Glorietta Pass" and "After All of This". Funky and dance rhythms can be found in several songs present in the Murderock and Nighthawks soundtracks, whereas in some tracks of Godzilla Final Wars the sound are those of the 2000s. A return to the visionary and tumultuous style of progressive music is represented by the album recorded under the name of the Keith Emerson Band, which includes the long suite "The House Of Ocean Born Mary" co-written with Marc Bonilla.
See the section below for a list of songs composed or co-composed by Emerson.
With Keith Emerson Trio
- "Winkle Picker Stamp" (Emerson)
- "56 Blues" (Emerson)
With The Nice
- "Flower King" of Flies (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
- "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" (O'List, Emerson)
- "Tantalising Maggie" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
- "Dawn" (Davison, Emerson, Jackson)
- "The Cry of Eugene" (O'List, Emerson, Jackson)
- "The Diamond Hard Blue Apples Of The Moon" (Emerson, O'List, Davison, Jackson)
- "Daddy Where Did I Come From?" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
- "Little Arabella" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
- "Happy Freuds" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
- "Ars Longa Vita Brevis: Prelude, 2nd Movement", "4th Movement e Coda" (Emerson, O'List, Davison, Jackson)
- "For Example" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
- "The Five Bridges Suite: Fantasia, Chorale, High Level Fugue, Finale"
- "One of Those People" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
With Emerson Lake & Palmer/Emerson Lake & Powell/Three
- "The Three Fates: Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos" (Emerson)
- "Tank" (Emerson, Palmer)
- "Rave Up" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
- "Tarkus: Eruption, Stones of Years, Iconoclast, Mass, Manticore, Aquatarkus" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "Jeremy Bender" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "Bitches Crystal" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "The Only Way/Infinite Space" (Emerson, Bach; lyrics: Lake)
- "A Time and a Place" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
- "The Old Castle" (Emerson, Mussorgsky)
- "Blues Variation" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
- "The Curse Of Baba Yaga" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
- "The Endless Enigma" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "The Sheriff" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "Trilogy" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "Living Sin" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
- "Abaddon's Bolero" (Emerson)
- "Benny the Bouncer" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "Karn Evil 9 1st, 2nd, 3rd Impression" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake, Sinfield)
- "Piano Concerto n.1: Allegro Giojoso, Andante Molto Cantabile, Toccata con Fuoco" (Emerson)
- "L.A.Nights" (Emerson, Palmer)
- "Pirates" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake, Sinfield)
- "Tiger in a Spotlight" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer, Sinfield)
- "When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
- "Brain Salad Surgery" (Emerson, Lake, Sinfield)
- "Barrelhouse Shake-Down" (Emerson)
- "So Far To Fall" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake, Sinfield)
- "The Gambler" (Emerson, Lake, Sinfield)
- "Memoirs Of An Officer And A Gentleman: Prologue / The Education Of A Gentleman, Love At First Sight, Letters From The Front, Honourable Company (A March)" (Emerson; lyrics: Sinfield)
- "Introductory Fanfare" (Emerson)
- "The Score" (Emerson)
- "Learning To Fly" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "The Miracle" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "Touch And Go" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "Love Blind" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "Step Aside" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "Lay Down Your Guns" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake, Gould)
- "Vacant Possession" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "Lover to Lover" (Emerson, Berry, Palmer)
- "Desde la Vida" (Emerson, Berry, Palmer)
- "On My Way Home" (Emerson)
- "Black Moon" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
- "Paper Blood" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
- "Farewell To Arms" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "Changing States" (Emerson)
- "Close To Home" (Emerson)
- "Better Days" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "A Blade of Grass" (Emerson)
- "Hand of Truth" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "One By One" (Emerson, Lake, Olsen)
- "Thin Line" (Emerson, Wray, Olsen)
- "Change" (Emerson, Wray, Olsen)
- "Street War" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
- "A Cajun Alley" (Emerson)
Solo
- Inferno (soundtrack): 15 tracks (Emerson; lyrics on "Mater Tenebrarum": Emerson/Salmon)
- Nighthawks (soundtrack): 10 tracks (Emerson; lyrics on "Nighthawking": Mark Mueller)
- "Salt Cay" (Emerson)
- "Green Ice" (Emerson)
- "Rum-a-ting (Emerson)"
- "Jesus Loves Me (Emerson)"
- Harmagedon (soundtrack): 6 tracks (Emerson; lyrics on Children of the Light: Tony Allen)
- Murderock (soundtrack): 11 tracks (Emerson; lyrics on 3 tracks: Doreen Chanter)
- Best Revenge (soundtrack): 5 tracks and 1 orchestral suite
- "My Name is Rain" (Emerson; lyrics: Lorna Wright)
- "Snowman's Land" (Emerson)
- "Captain Starship Christmas" (Emerson; lyrics: Lorna Wright)
- "Up the Elephant and Round the Castle" (Emerson; lyrics: Jim Davidson)
- "Empire of Delight" (Emerson; lyrics: Peter Hammill)
- "Airport Of Silence" (Emerson, Tate; lyrics: Troy Tate)
- "Last Ride Into The Sun" (Emerson, Berry, Palmer)
- La Chiesa (soundtrack): 3 tracks (Emerson)
- "Shelter from the Rain" (Emerson, Bonilla, Gilbert)
- "Another Frontier" (Emerson)
- "Ballade" (Emerson)
- "The Band Keeps Playing" (Emerson, Bonilla, Gilbert)
- "Interlude" (Emerson)
- "Vagrant" (Emerson)
- "Solitudinous" (Emerson)
- "Broken Bough" (Emerson)
- "Outgoing Tide" (Emerson)
- "Roll'n Jelly" (Emerson)
- "B & W Blues" (Emerson)
- "For Kevin" (Emerson)
- "Hammer It Out" (Emerson)
- "Ballad For A Common Man" (Emerson)
- "Nilu's Dream" (Emerson)
- "Lament For Tony Stratton Smith" (Emerson)
- "And Then January" (Emerson)
- "Rio" (Emerson)
- "Soulscapes" (Emerson)
- "Asian Pear" (Emerson)
- "Motor Bikin'" (Emerson)
- "Katoh-San" (Emerson)
- "Star Strike Theme" (Emerson)
- Iron Man (soundtrack): 1 track and 5 suites (Emerson)
- Godzilla Final Wars (soundtrack): 13 tracks (Emerson)
- "Land of the Rising Sun" (Emerson)
- "New Orleans" (Emerson)
- "Middle of a Dream" (Emerson, Bonilla, Hughes)
- "The House Of Ocean Born Mary: Ignition, 1st Presence, Last Horizon, Crusaders Cross, Fugue, 2nd Presence, Blue Inferno, 3rd Presence, Prelude To A Hope" (Emerson; 3 tracks: Emerson, Bonilla)
- "The Art of Falling Down" (Emerson, Bonilla)
- "Gametime" (Emerson, Bonilla)
- "One By One" (Emerson, Berry)
- "What You're Dreaming Now" (Emerson, Berry)
- "Somebody's Watching" (Emerson, Berry)
- "Your Mark On The World" (Emerson, Berry)
- "Sailors Horn Pipe" (Emerson, Berry)
- "Never" (Emerson, Berry)
- "Beyond The Stars" (Emerson)
- "Glorietta Pass" (Emerson)
- "After All Of This" (Emerson)
Literature
- Ford, Peter T. (1994). The compositional style of Keith Emerson in Tarkus (1971) for the rock music trio Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Terre Haute: Indiana State University. (Thesis M.A.)
In popular culture
On the UK surreal television comedy series Big Train, Kevin Eldon portrayed Emerson as a Roman slave fighting his enemies with progressive rock.
The long-running comic-strip character Keef da Blade in the Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, student newspaper Lachesis (1970s) is based largely on Emerson, the character's name being presumably a reference to his trademark stage antics with knives.
See also
Footnotes
- Emerson's death occurred on 10 March local time, which was 11 March in the UK
References
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- Lupis, pp. 6–8.
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No one else captured the hearts of fledgling rock keyboardists through the '70s and '80s the way he did.
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Throughout his career with the Nice, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and as a solo artist, Emerson proved himself perhaps the greatest, most technically accomplished keyboardist in rock history.
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- Bernstein, David (29 September 2004), "A Comeback for Another Classic Rocker: The Moog Synthesizer", The New York Times "Mr. Emerson's towering, 10-foot-tall, 550-pound Monster Moog, as he called it, was an indispensable part of the group's concerts, even though it was often unreliable and difficult to play."
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... I was playing in a band called, Aliens of Extraordinary Ability, with Keith Emerson. We were offered a record deal with Samsung, but Keith decided to go back to Emerson, Lake and Palmer. I then got involved in the reformation of the band Sweet, which ended up not happening.
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Emerson was clearly in charge ... even plucking the piano strings at one point.
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Strikingly, he (Emerson) was often using two Hammonds, as can be seen at a Beat-Club performance in 1970/71. Both set up in right angle to stage and facing their keys, with Emerson standing in the middle, playing both of them simultaneously and in this way usually facing the audience. That was his favourite position, no matter if his equipment was left, right, or center of the stage and he continues to act this way in the 90s.
{{cite web}}
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has generic name (help) - "Hammer It Out: The Anthology - Keith Emerson". AllMusic. 19 July 2005. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
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... East European elements find their way into his rollicking organ and Moog arrangement alongside American folk tunes like 'Shortnin' Bread' and 'Turkey in the Straw.'
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Once you hear (Abaddon), you know that it's mostly true to classical form, in that the triplet-heavy melody keeps repeating itself, but every time louder and with more bells and whistles, even cranking in a phrase from the folksong The Girl I Left Behind Me before it's all over
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The 'Caribbean solo' of the 2nd Impression was played on a Minimoog (an interpolation of the song 'St. Thomas' by Sonny Rollins).
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Further reading
- Emerson, Keith (2003), Pictures of an Exhibitionist: From the Nice to Emerson, Lake and Palmer - The True Story of the Man Who Changed the Sound of Rock, John Blake, ISBN 1-84454-053-7
- Forrester, George, Martyn Hanson and Frank Askew. Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Show That Never Ends, A Musical Biography. (2001) Helter Skelter Publishing ISBN 1-900924-17-X.
- Lupis, Giuseppe (May 2006). The Published Music of Keith Emerson: Expanding the Solo Piano Repertoire (D.M.A.). University of Georgia. OCLC 223323019. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- Macan, Edward (2006), Endless Enigma: A Musical Biography of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Feedback Series in Contemporary Music, Vol. 4, Open Court, ISBN 978-0-8126-9596-0
- Pethel, Blair (1988). Keith Emerson: The Emergence and Growth of Style: A Study of Selected Works (D.M.A.). Peabody Conservatory of Music. OCLC 37599731. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
External links
- Official website (archived)
- Keith Emerson at AllMusic
- Keith Emerson discography at Discogs
- Keith Emerson at IMDb
- Keith Emerson Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection
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