Top 10 Best Rock Organists
Raymond Daniel Manczarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek, was an American musician, singer, producer, film director, and author. Ray played two instruments in one and did so without sacrificing either instrument. Organs have typically served as decoration for any band they are a part of. Ray was a foundation and undoubtedly the most skilled instrumentalist within his band.
His spot at number one is well-deserved, and he needs more recognition, even in death!
How can Ray even be put in a list with these guys? RUSH? They could easily be the most overrated band ever.
Ray is easily the most talented rock organist out there! He could even sing. One time Jim got so drunk he couldn't sing, so Ray was playing with his right hand, the bass, and also singing. Talk about multitasking!
Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord was an English composer, pianist, and Hammond organ player known for his pioneering work in fusing rock with classical or baroque forms, especially with Deep Purple, as well as Whitesnake, Paice Ashton Lord, The Artwoods, and The Flower Pot Men. His presence, the personality, his musicianship, and the talent of composing rock, blues, and jazz songs as well as classical concertos.
Listen to Burn, The Painter, or Hard Lovin' Man!
Forever the best!
The master of the B3! Also great on piano, harpsichord (early Deep Purple), and synthesizer (fairly rarely). Jon, on occasion, literally tortured the Hammond, getting sounds out of it like no other.
I actually met him once, and he was also a real gentleman. Add to this his composing skills, and he's the best.
Considering the look of this list, I'd say Jon Lord needs to be closer to the top. Name one Rush song with actual organ in it. He plays synthesizer and piano, and barely ever piano.
Richard Christopher "Rick" Wakeman is an English keyboardist, songwriter, television and radio presenter, and author. He's just fantastic. The whole classic Yes lineup was.
It's amazing how David Lee Roth is considered #2. Eddie Van Halen played the keyboards for Jump, not Diamond Dave.
The only keyboard player entitled to be number one, followed by Neal Morse.
Eric Garth Hudson was a Canadian multi-instrumentalist. As the organist, keyboardist and saxophonist for Canadian-American rock group the Band, he was a principal architect of the group's unique sound. The most unique and multi-talented member of the most unique and multi-talented band.
Chest Fever is probably the best organ piece in rock music history!
Chest Fever... is there anything else that needs to be said?
Keith Noel Emerson was an English keyboardist and composer. Emerson played in a number of bands before he found his first commercial success with the Nice. Sadly, this "Best of All Rock Organists" list is a farce. Most of the voters are kids with little-to-no knowledge of the truly legendary Hammond organists.
Any list that doesn't place Keith Emerson within the top three is absurd. All the great rock musicians since the mid-'60s regarded him as not only the most outrageously talented keyboardist to ever play in the rock idiom, but also as the veritable "Jimi Hendrix" of the Hammond organ.
Not just good, not just a keyboard prodigy - he was incomparable.
Additionally, his most worthy Hammond organ rivals for the #1 spot would have been Rick Wakeman, Jon Lord, and a name totally missing from this list (another outrage!): Santana's and Journey's Gregg Rolie. These are the Hammond organ legends.
William Everett Preston was an American musician whose work included R&B, rock, soul, funk, and gospel.
Every member of the Allman Brothers Band is a master of his respective craft, and Gregg Allman is no exception. Not only could he groove hard on the organ, but he could also spit out some incredible vocals. Truly one of the greatest.
Gregg is always overshadowed by those great guitarists. Just listen to what he does. He is very good, and he has been doing it forever!
He should have composed music for Broadway. That is an absolute compliment to the same guy who plays the start on the greatest rock song of them all... Like a Rolling Stone.
Richard William "Rick" Wright was an English musician, composer, singer and songwriter. He was the main keyboardist and a backup vocalist for the psychedelic and progressive English rock band, Pink Floyd .
Stephen Lawrence Winwood is an English rock musician whose genres include progressive rock, blue-eyed soul, rhythm and blues, blues rock, pop rock, and jazz.The Newcomers
Talent that is overlooked all the time.
Gary Lee Weinrib, known professionally as Geddy Lee, is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush.
John Baldwin, better known by his stage name John Paul Jones, is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known as the bassist for the English rock band Led Zeppelin... read more Go right now and listen to a very famous Led Zeppelin boot called "Listen to This Eddie." You will find it hard not to listen to the entire show... but listen to JPJ on the phenomenal "No Quarter." You'll be a believer.
Jordan Rudess is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a member of the progressive metal/rock band Dream Theater and the progressive rock supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment.Simply the best rock organist. The British players, aside from Jon Lord, tended to overcomplicate or do horrible things to classical music. Lee didn't.
Check out the Blue album and the live recordings in the Concert Vault. Tell Me How Do You Feel and Stormy Monday were the best tracks. Also, try Jimmy McGriff and Groove Holmes live on Giants of the Organ for amazing jazz playing.
The only one to be seriously considered because he was the only bandleader, player, and vocalist.
Listen to any Phish song, ever. Call him a dirty hippie, call him a stoned musician, call him brilliant!
You haven't seen the ebony and ivory sing until you've seen McConnell throw down.
Both Iron Butterfly and Steppenwolf had far better organ work than Manzarek or Rush. Jon Lord comes close.
He is the organist of Steppenwolf. He can play incredible psychedelic solos, such as Magic Carpet Ride.
If only it was for A Whiter Shade of Pale, but listen to the DVD Procol Harum in the Union Chapel and all of his music.
Brent brought tremendous energy to the Grateful Dead not only on keys but also with an amazing voice and songwriting ability.
Gregg Alan Rolie is an American singer, keyboardist and organist. Rolie served as lead singer of the bands Santana, Journey and Abraxas Pool – all of which he co-founded. Greg played with reckless abandon with Santana and was the perfect driving complement to Carlos' hot, molten guitar licks.
Talented musician who played such catchy hooks and knew when enough was enough. He added a huge variety of sounds to The Cars' awesome songs. Greg is the best!