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Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)

12 Mar 16 - 04:47 PM (#3778360)
Subject: Keith Emerson
From: keberoxu

Suicide?!
Just got this news. Already Carl Palmer has social-media messages expressing his sorrow.
Moderators will turn this thread into an obit maybe? Do what you have to do. I'm speechless.

12 Mar 16 - 05:10 PM (#3778364)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: Joe Offer

Wikipedia says Emerson was the keyboardist with the Emerson, Lake, & Palmer band. About his death, Wikipedia says:
    Emerson died on 10 March 2016 in Santa Monica, California, of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His body was found at his Santa Monica home. It was later reported that Emerson had "'recently' been suffering from depression and a degenerative nerve issue that hampered his keyboard playing capabilities."

12 Mar 16 - 05:12 PM (#3778365)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: michaelr

He was a classically trained pianist-turned-rocker. Before ELP, he played with The Nice. Emerson was the first rock musician to use a synthesizer (the Moog, being the first and only at the time).

12 Mar 16 - 07:44 PM (#3778398)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: GUEST,HiLo

The above was me. Too quick on the submit thing. I was very sorry to hear this news. Liked a lot of ELP stuff , very progressive music and in many ways ahead of its' time!

12 Mar 16 - 08:06 PM (#3778402)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: keberoxu

The hit single "what a lucky man he was" got played to death of course. But it held my attention because the lyrics were reminiscent of a traditional ballad, regardless of the musical setting.

13 Mar 16 - 03:30 AM (#3778450)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: fat B****rd

I never cared much for ELP but The Nice came to our club in Grimsby, as a 4 piece, and were so good I bought the Ars Longa Vita Brevis LP. They all were friendly and very particular about their performance.
Their material was amazingly varied and exceptionally well played. Very sad news.
RIP Mr. Emerson.

13 Mar 16 - 04:18 AM (#3778451)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: GUEST,Sean O'Shea

Agreed.
THE NICE were THE underground band to see in 68/70.

13 Mar 16 - 04:21 AM (#3778453)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: GUEST,Sedayne D'Voidoffolk

Wikipedia says Emerson was the keyboardist with the Emerson, Lake, & Palmer band

Wow. Thank God for WIKI, huh?

13 Mar 16 - 06:37 AM (#3778471)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: GUEST,Ed

Emerson was the first rock musician to use a synthesizer (the Moog, being the first and only at the time)..

I'm sorry, michaelr, but that's nonsense.

Emerson first used a Moog at The Nice's Royal Festival Hall concert in February 1970. It had been used in 'rock' many times prior to this.

Some better known earlier albums featuring it (there are lots more):

1967 The Doors – Strange Days

1967 The Rolling Stones – Their Satanic Majesties Request

1968 The Byrds – The Notorious Byrd Brothers

1968 Simon and Garfunkel – Bookends

1969 The Beatles – Abbey Road

1969 Bread – Bread

13 Mar 16 - 08:02 AM (#3778488)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: Acorn4

I think I remember reading in NME in the seventies where Keith said that he had never actually been to a music college of any sorts, which makes his keyboard achievements somewhat incredible.

The Nice version of "Hang on to a Dream" by Tim Hardin was always my favourite track of theirs - the piano solo would be completely different every time.

RIP a great musician.

13 Mar 16 - 10:58 AM (#3778513)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: michaelr

Thanks for that info, Ed. I should have said "Emerson was the first rock musician regularly to use a synthesizer in live performance."

13 Mar 16 - 03:55 PM (#3778572)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link

Sue from our Footscray sing around sort of issued a challenge on Facebook to us regulars, so I shall have a go with ..take a pebble..   Interesting tune with some unexpected chord progression. It's from ELP s earlier work , and perhaps more accessible musically?

13 Mar 16 - 04:13 PM (#3778577)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: keberoxu

Regarding the NME interview quote: will have to take your word for that one.
The obituary articles in the Telegraph and the Guardian have a little more detail about music formation in Emerson's childhood. It is stated that Emerson's father, an engineer, played the piano by ear. He encouraged his son to study piano; said to have had music lessons from ages 8 to 12. "and then, while studying at the Worthing College of Further Education, joined the Worthing Youth Swing Orchestra." He worked in a bank once out of school, although he was already making music; eventually he had enough work in music to leave the day job.

13 Mar 16 - 04:20 PM (#3778580)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: GUEST,Ed

"Emerson was the first rock musician regularly to use a synthesizer in live performance."

You may well be right there, Michael.

Cheers,

Ed

13 Mar 16 - 04:27 PM (#3778585)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity

Another sad piece of musician dying news...sorry to hear that.
I guess if you're a 'politi-nut', you can always blame the gun.

GfS

13 Mar 16 - 11:13 PM (#3778669)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: GUEST,Larry the Radio Guy.

I was a great fan of The Nice. It helped me to appreciate what was called Progressive Rock. Loved all their albums---and those unpredictable keyboard solos.   Sad news about his death. It must be so tough for a creative genius to have that ability taken from him by disease. I wish he could have found other reasons to stay alive.

14 Mar 16 - 08:11 AM (#3778747)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby

I was privileged to see The Nice at 1967 Windsor Jazz and Blues Fest. where an electrifying appearance still stays with me. Another of my fave and under-rated Brit. R&B bands, Gary Farr and the T-Bones had Keith in its line-up for a brief spell in the final days. Their recordings still do the trick for me.
This is sad news indeed. Musicianship allied to showmanship is a tough call but Keith managed it effortlessly.

14 Mar 16 - 05:38 PM (#3778844)
Subject: RE: Obit: Keith Emerson (1944-2016)
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler

The version of America by the Nice was what awakened my interest in music.
I had been taken to innumerable classical music concerts and organ recitals and heard lots of pop music but it was the astounding inventiveness whilst retaining the original tune that got to me, especially once I had heard "Rondo 69" and "She belongs to me".