Top 10 Best Rock Organists

1. Ray Manzarek

   

   Raymond Daniel Manczarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek, was an American musician, singer, producer, film director, and author. He was best known as the co-founder and keyboardist of the rock band The Doors. Manzarek's distinctive style was a key component of the band's sound.

   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!

2. Jon Lord

   

   Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord was an English composer, pianist, and Hammond organ player. He was known for pioneering the fusion of rock with classical and baroque forms. Lord was best known for his work with Deep Purple, as well as his contributions to Whitesnake, Paice Ashton Lord, The Artwoods, and... read more

   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.

3. 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

4. Rick Wakeman

   

   Richard Christopher "Rick" Wakeman is an English keyboardist, songwriter, television and radio presenter, and author. He is best known for being a member of the progressive rock band Yes across five tenures between 1971 and 2004. Wakeman has also had a successful solo career and is known for his virtuoso... read more

   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.

5. Garth Hudson

   

   Eric Garth Hudson is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist. As the organist, keyboardist, and saxophonist for the Canadian-American rock group the Band, he was a principal architect of the group's unique sound. Following the deaths of his former bandmates, Hudson is the last surviving original member of the... read more

   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?

6. Keith Emerson

   

   Keith Noel Emerson was an English keyboardist and composer. He first gained attention performing with several local bands. Emerson achieved his first commercial success as the keyboardist of The Nice, a group known for blending classical music with rock.

   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.

7. Gregg Allman

   

   Gregory LeNoir Allman was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He co-founded the Allman Brothers Band, which was influential in the development of Southern rock. Allman also had a successful solo career and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

   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!

8. Al Kooper

   

   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.

9. Richard Wright

   

   Richard William "Rick" Wright was an English musician, composer, singer, and songwriter. He was the main keyboardist and a backing vocalist for the psychedelic and progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Wright contributed significantly to the band's sound on classic albums like The Dark Side of the Moon and... read more

10. Steve Winwood

    

    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. He was a member of the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith, and later achieved solo success. Winwood is known for hits like Higher Love and... read more

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Tony Kaye

    
12. ?

    Brian Auger

    Talent that is overlooked all the time.

The Contenders

13. Geddy Lee

    

    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. He joined Rush in 1968 and remained with the band until its initial dissolution in 2018 before reuniting with... read more

14. John Paul Jones

    

    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. Years after Led Zeppelin disbanded, Jones joined the supergroup Them Crooked... 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.

15. Jordan Rudess

    

    Jordan Charles Rudess is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a member of the progressive metal and rock band Dream Theater and the progressive rock supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment. He's been a central figure in their complex musical arrangements since joining Dream Theater in 1999... read more

16. Lee Michaels

    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.

17. Page McConnell

    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.

18. Alan Price

    

19. Doug Ingle

    

    Both Iron Butterfly and Steppenwolf had far better organ work than Manzarek or Rush. Jon Lord comes close.

20. Goldy McJohn

    He is the organist of Steppenwolf. He can play incredible psychedelic solos, such as Magic Carpet Ride.

21. Matthew Fisher

    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.

22. Dennis DeYoung

    

23. Brent Mydland

    Brent brought tremendous energy to the Grateful Dead not only on keys but also with an amazing voice and songwriting ability.

24. Gregg Rolie

    

    Gregg Alan Rolie is an American singer, keyboardist, and organist. He served as the original lead singer of the bands Santana and Journey, both of which he co-founded. He also co-founded Abraxas Pool, a short-lived reunion project of former Santana members.

    Greg played with reckless abandon with Santana and was the perfect driving complement to Carlos' hot, molten guitar licks.

25. Vincent Crane

26. Jimmy McGriff

27. Greg Hawkes

    

    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!