It is perhaps the cruelest of circumstances that the music industry, in general, gave only a brief nod to the passing of Keith Emerson, who as a third of Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP), made progressive rock masterpieces in the 1970′s and beyond and influenced many a progressive rock band both during their band’s era and today. As a classically trained keyboardist, Emerson made rock that not only had emotion and energy, but also a real beauty. 

It is said that Carl Palmer, longtime percussionist of ELP, is planning a tribute to Keith Emerson in June. If you are too young to remember some of ELP’s classic progressive rock, I highly encourage you to forage your record store CD bins and pick some up.  One of my all-time favorite ELP albums was Trilogy, which I believe is still unsurpassed as a musical masterpiece. 

Keith Emerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  He was 71.

Emerson Lake and Palmer at Amazon.com.

Carl Palmer website and comments about Keith.