Keith Emerson was among the best keyboard players of his generation. He was a musical pioneer, blazing a trail for the role of synthesizers in rock, and also the fusion of classical and pop into the movement that became progressive music.
As a trio, Emerson, Lake, & Palmer were brash, kinetic, and abundantly talented. They blended mind-blowing musical chops, bombast, and a push-the-envelope sense of adventure. But despite some over-the-top arrangements, they could also surprise with a tender ballad, and some wonderfully intricate and inventive playing too.
Emerson passed away this week under tragic circumstances. But his work has made an indelible impression. I’ll never forget the first time I heard “Take a Pebble, “In the Beginning,” and “Lucky Man.” These were songs that seemed to leap out of the airwaves and demand serious attention. As a teenage listener, these tunes took me into uncharted realms where the musical imagination reigned. Keith, I hoped the show would never end, but the songs you created still turn me on.
