Top 10 Best Piano Rock Artists

Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, is an English singer, pianist, and composer. He has collaborated with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums. John has sold over 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.... read more

Billy Joel is a pop singer, NOT a rock singer. On the other hand, Elton John is both a rock AND a pop singer, and an absolutely unmatched songwriter and performer. More than 50 years in the music business, and he's about to start a three-year world tour!

Sir Elton John is the best piano rock artist of all time, bar none. He was offered a place in the British Royal Academy at the tender age of 11, where he studied for four years and then decided to move into rock and roll. I'm so glad he did.
He has sold over 300 million albums and is currently on his three-year farewell tour. He's a very inspirational and encouraging artist to those who are in the early years of their music careers.

Billy Joel

William Martin Joel is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and pianist. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man," he began his music career in the 1960s and gained popularity with his breakthrough 1973 hit of the same name. He released numerous successful albums throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s... read more

In response to the guy who says Joel is a pop artist, sure. I guess Joel's Male Rock Vocal Performance Grammy award for the entire Glass Houses album doesn't count. Or any of the rock tracks like Matter of Trust, No Man's Land, Shameless, I Go to Extremes.
All music and lyrics, by the way, were written by Joel. Meanwhile, Elton has to rely on Bernie Taupin for his lyrics.

Sir Elton John has sold more than 350 million albums. Billy Joel has sold more than 150 million.

The Arcana

The Arcana are a British rock band formed in 2016 in London, England. The band consists of Peter Lennodo on vocals, guitars, and keyboards, Jack Aquiziac on vocals, bass guitar, and keyboards, and Joey Silverheel on drums and percussion.... read more

There are a lot of amazing piano pieces in their songs. 'Somewhere in Nowhere' has a beautiful introduction melody.

Wishes Last Forever has great piano playing, and Good to Be Home has great harpsichord playing.

Leon Russell

Legend. Check out "Delta Lady" and "Stranger in a Strange Land." Also, "Cry Me a River" and "Let's Go Get Stoned," with Joe Cocker. Good ol' Okie.

Queen

Queen is an English rock band formed in London in 1970. The original lineup was Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass guitar). Before Queen, May and Taylor had played together in a band named Smile. Freddie Mercury, a fan... read more

They aren't that kind of piano rock artist, but they have good piano rock songs though.

The Millionaire Waltz: Great piano rock song.

Freddie was a talented piano player.

Dr. John

The Fray

The Fray is an American rock band that originated in Denver, Colorado. The band was formed in 2002 by schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King. They rose to fame with their 2005 debut album How to Save a Life, which was certified double platinum in the United States and achieved platinum status in Australia,... read more

Ben Folds

Ian Stewart

Billy Preston

Billy Preston, born William Everett Preston, was an American musician whose work spanned several genres including R&B, rock, soul, funk, and gospel. He collaborated with legendary artists such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and had a successful solo career. Some of his best-known songs include... read more

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Jim Brickman

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Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots is an American musical duo from Columbus, Ohio, best known for their hits "Stressed Out," "Heathens," and "Ride." The band formed in 2009 with Tyler Joseph, Nick Thomas, and Chris Salih. Today, the lineup consists of Tyler Joseph (lead vocals. Piano. Keyboards. Synthesizers. Ukulele... read more

Coldplay

Coldplay is a British rock band formed in 1996. The group includes Chris Martin (lead vocals, piano), Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), Guy Berryman (bass), and Will Champion (drums, backing vocals). Their manager, Phil Harvey, is often referred to as the unofficial fifth member... read more

Tori Amos

Tori Amos is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She is a classically trained musician with a mezzo-soprano vocal range. She gained prominence in the early 1990s with her debut solo album, Little Earthquakes.

Keane

Keane is an English post-Britpop, piano rock, and pop rock band from Battle, East Sussex, formed in 1995. The group consists of Tim Rice-Oxley, Richard Hughes, Jesse Quin, and Tom Chaplin. Keane achieved major success in the 2000s with albums such as Hopes and Fears.

Muse

Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The members are Matt Bellamy (lead vocals, lead guitar, piano, keyboards), Dom Howard (drums, percussion), and Chris Wolstenholme (bass, backing vocals). They have won numerous awards, including five MTV Europe Music Awards,... read more

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of the 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular... read more

They aren't much of a piano rock artist, but Paul McCartney plays good rock songs with piano.

Savatage

Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1979 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The group was initially called Avatar before changing its name to Savatage. It went on to gain recognition for its symphonic and progressive metal style.

Many of their songs have piano, and the piano is an important part of their sound. They use the piano very well to set a progressive tone in metal songs such as Gutter Ballet, Commissar, Surrender, Chance, Morphine Child, and many more.
Mozart and Madness is an instrumental with significant piano presence. The lead singer, Jon Oliva, is a multi-instrumentalist who played the piano parts.

The Doors

The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, comprising vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most influential and occasionally controversial rock acts of the 1960s, largely due to Morrison's poetic... read more

Bruce Hornsby

Rick Davies

Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis (1935-2022) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and pianist. He was famously nicknamed "The Killer" and was known for his dynamic stage presence and wild performances. Lewis was a pioneer of both rock and roll and rockabilly music.... read more

I can't believe that I had to add him to the list. He and Little Richard were two of the earliest rock and roll stars that proved that the piano could be a worthy instrument in rock and roll.

Laura Nyro

Laura Nyro was an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She earned critical acclaim for her original albums, especially Eli and the Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry. Her work also achieved commercial success through hit versions of her songs recorded by artists such as Barbra Streisand... read more

Roger Hodgson

Evanescence

Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1994 by singer and keyboardist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. The group rose to prominence in the early 2000s with their debut studio album Fallen (2003), which included the hit singles Bring Me to Life and My Immortal... read more

Little Richard

Richard Wayne Penniman, known by his stage name Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in rock and roll history. His dynamic music and flamboyant performance style helped shape the genre in the 1950s.

I'm going to miss his music now that he's gone. He's the one who created rock piano.