The guitar – once amplified – was working quite well 🙂 )
Admitted, my first musical heroes were lead singers/guitar players. For years, I watched and listened to anything I could find from 3 GOAT’s in particular with their respective bands. Once I knew all their albums, songs, lyrics, I started playing their solo’s om my (limited edition!) Air Guitar, making sure I mimicked their facial expressions during the nastiest parts of their lift-off’s.
It took until my twenties before I could really see and hear the other band members and their indispensable contributions to my GOAT’s. Once it became clear I would never exchange my Air Guitar for a genuine left-handed Stratocaster, only then I started appreciating the supporting pianoplayers for being heroes themselves, independently from any front man!
Today a tribute to 5 Keys behind 3 famous Snares.
1. Keys: Eugene Carrier (1946–1997) to Snares: B.B. King (1925–2015)
Enjoy the late Eugene Carrier, going airborne for 1 minute 20 seconds and no less than 48 bars of Blues at the infamous San Quentin State Prison!
2. Keys: Chuck Leavell to Snares: Eric Clapton
I could talk for hours about all-round keyboardist Chuck Leavell for hours, but let’s just stick to the title of below video: “Chuck Leavell is Awesome, and here’s why!”
3. Keys: Greg Phillinganes to Snares: Eric Clapton
We could show you better and faster Greg Phillinganes solos, but this one to us shows his ability to perfectly blend into a dramatic slow-hand blues during the “24-Nights” Orchestral apotheosis. I can watch the energy from Greg and co-vocalist and base player Nathan East in one line-up at any given day!
4. Keys: Johnnie Johnson (1924–2005) to Snares: Eric Clapton
Watch the late Johnnie Jonson during a “Worried Life Blues” piano solo of the outer category. Right hand solo, left hand using a towel, I was speechless at the time!
5. Keys: Reese Wynans to Snares: Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954–1990)
Reese Wynans starred in Double Trouble until the dreadful death of front man SRV in 1990. This high-energy solo makes him an eternal inspiration to any piano player!
Thank you for being an eternal inspiration! Stay safe, stay healthy and enjoy playing…
