There are many choices out there. Some who have maybe inspired us to start, continue playing at critical moments in our lives when we were ready to pack in the keys for good, or just inspired a new direction in our playing/composing.

What piano/keyboard player(s) inspired you most along the way?


As for me, Elton got me started (back in '72 when I first heard Honky Cat) and continues to this day. (There is a whole story there, not for this particular thread at this particular time on this particular board.) But there have been many others. Here are a few that come to mind:

Keith Emerson
Keith Jarrett
Lyle Mays
Herbie Hancock
George Winston
David Lanz
Bill Evans
Jim Brickman
Richard Carpenter
Bruce Hornsby
Rickie Lee Jones
Rick Wakeman
Duke Ellington
Count Basie

There are many more, including players from my days in college and grad school - but these are the highlights for me, most of who I'm sure you've heard of.

Who shaped your playing?

Jeff