Born: Nov.2, 1944 in Lancashire, England

still alive, but...with health troubles

Throughout his career with the Nice, Emerson Lake & Palmer, and as a solo artist,

Emerson has proven himself perhaps the greatest, most technically accomplished keyboardist in rock history.

For all his reputation as an innovator and master of classically influenced rock,

Emerson (b. November 1, 1944 in the English town of Todmorden) began his career playing R&B;

the Nice got their first big break backing soul singer P.P.Arnold in 1967. Independently of Arnold,

the Nice carved out a niche in the fledgling prog-rock movement,

with Emerson's classical flourishes and flamboyant showmanship (flinging knives at his keyboard, etc.) leading the way. After the Nice dissolution,

Emerson fleshed out his musical ideas to their fullest with EL&P,

which debuted in 1970 and had a series of highly successful albums throughout the decade.