The 60s rock pianists took their inspiration from many sources. Unlike the rock pianists of the 1950's, who were mostly influenced by boogie woogie and blues, the rock pianists of the 1960's used gospel, blues, country, and jazz to shape the continually evolving sound of rock.

The rockin' R&B of New Orleans and Detroit had a major impact on the sound of 60's rock piano. Though not household names, everyone heard the sound of the studio pianists that left their indelible mark on rock music.

The British Invasion changed rock music. Now it was no longer just an American phenomenon. The Beatles were probably the most influential rock band of all time, and the piano played a growing part in their music through the 60's.

Though our focus is on pianists, the 60's brought a new kind of musician into the band: the rock keyboardist. Many of the 60's rock pianists also played other keyboard instruments including organ, electric piano, clavinet and mellotron.

Joe Hunter was born and raised in Detroit, MI. His mother played piano and had Joe playing by the time he was 10. He learned the classics, and his favorite was Rachmaninoff. In his early teens, he got into Nat king Cole, and by his later teens was playing professionally around Detroit.

In the 1950's he was heading the Joe Hunter Band, backing up touring acts, including Jackie Wilson. Jackie had a hit with "Reet Petite," written by Detroit songwriter Berry Gordy. Gordy was starting his own record label, soon to become Motown Records, and needed a music director/band leader. Joe Hunter became the first person hired by Berry Gordy, and Joe Hunter put together the band that would become known as the "Funk Brothers," and play on hundreds of hit recordings.

During Joe's tenure at Motown from 1959 to 1964 he performed, produced and arranged numerous hits including Barrett Strongs's "Money," Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' "Shop Around," The Contours "Do You Love Me," and Marvin Gaye's "Pride and Joy."

After leaving Motown in 1964, Joe was musical director for many touring acts including Jimmy Ruffin and Bobby Blue Bland. By the '80's he was playing piano at Detroit's top hotels. In 1996 he published an autobiography titled Music, Motown and Myself.

Earl Van Dyke, also born and raised in Detroit, began playing piano at age 5. He later attended the Detroit Conservatory, and then went into the service. Some of his best friends while growing up included jazz piano greats Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones and Barry Harris. He spent two years in a VA hospital fighting TB.

An early professional break came when he replaced Jimmy Smith in the Chris Columbo Band. He later joined Lloyd Price's touring band where he met future Motown bass legend James Jamerson.

He was hired as second piano/keyboard man at Motown by Joe Hunter, and when Joe left in 1964, Earl took over as band leader of the Funk Brothers. At this time the Motown musicians were overworked and underpaid. They were on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and were paid $10 per song. In 1965, Earl put the band on strike, leading Berry Gordy to give them a significant raise.

This 60s rock pianist can be heard on hundreds of Motown records produced from the early 60's until Motown Corp. moved to Los Angeles in the early '70's. Some of these include Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life," The Temptation's "Papa Was A Rolling Stone," The Four Tops' "Bernadette," and Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine."

After Motown moved to L.A., Earl worked around Detroit backing touring acts. He later worked for the Detroit Education Department. In 1991 he retired from playing after developing carpal tunnel syndrome. He died the following year from prostate cancer.

Allen Toussaint, born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, was greatly influenced by Professor Longhair, the godfather of New Orleans piano. His first big break came at age 17, when he replaced Huey "Piano" Smith in Earl King's band.

In 1960, Toussaint was hired to audition artists for Minit Records. He soon became writer, arranger, producer and A&R chief at the label. His first big hit was Ernie K Doe's "Mother In Law," which Toussaint had written, but attributed to his mother, Naomi Neville, for legal reasons. Some other songs this very influential 60s rock pianist is responsible for include Benny Spellman's "Lipstick Traces," later covered by Delbert McClinton; Ernie K Doe's "A Certain Girl," later covered by the Yardbirds and then Warren Zevon; and "Fortune Teller," later covered by the Rolling Stones, The Who, The Hollies and Robert Plant/Alison Krause on the 2007 album of the year Raising Sand.

In the 1970's, he opened SeaSaint Studios, which became a destination studio for artists from New Orleans and around the world. The backing band was the Meters, the leaders of New Orleans funk. Artists recording with Toussaint included Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Dr. John, The Band, Robert Palmer, Boz Scaggs, Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt and Labelle. Glen Campbell had a huge hit with Allen's "Southern Nights," Scaggs and Raitt both charted with "What Do You Want The Girl To Do,"

Allen Toussaint was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. He recorded a critically acclaimed album with Elvis Costello, The River In Reverse, in 2006. Allen Toussaint passed away after appearing in concert in Madrid , Spain on November 9, 2015. 

Paul McCartney, from Liverpool, England was bass player and songwriter for The Beatles, and played piano on their records.

Paul McCartney has been called the most successful musician in pop music history, and his influence is immeasurable. For example, his song "Yesterday," the most covered song in history, has been recorded over 3,700 times in many languages, and has been played on the radio over 7 million times.

His publishing "empire," MPL Communications controls over 3,000 songs, including not only his own catalog, but the Buddy Holly catalog, the musicals Guys and Dolls, and Grease.

His influence as a 60s rock pianist is huge. Though not usually thought of as a pianist, he made a style of pop piano that has influenced almost every pop piano ballad since. The steady quarter note chord beat in "Hey Jude," "Let It Be," "The Long and Winding Road," and "Maybe I'm Amazed" is a sound imitated on thousands of songs.

Aretha Franklin was born in Memphis Tenn., and was considered a child prodigy at singing and piano. She was influenced by gospel singers Clara Ward and Mahalia Jackson who were both frequent visitors to the home of the Rev. C.L. Franklin, Aretha's father.

She recorded her first album Songs of Faith when she was only 14 years old. Her gospel singing career came to an end the following year when she became pregnant. She stayed out of the spotlight until 1960, when she was offered contracts by RCA, Motown and Columbia. She signed with Columbia, which had the most clout in the business. She recorded many albums, most with a big band jazz pop sound. She had a hit on the R&B charts with "Today I Sing The Blues."

Her contract lapsed in late 1966 and she signed with Atlantic Records, which knew what to do with her gospel/blues/R&B sound. She quickly had a hit with "I Never Loved A Man." in 1967. She played piano on her follow up "Do Right Man." Later in 1967, her cover of Otis Redding's "Respect" spent 8 weeks at #1 on the Billboard pop charts.

Aretha's distinctive, funky laid back but forceful piano can be heard on many of her records, including "Natural Woman," "Think," "Spanish Harlem," "Don't Play That Song," "Until You Come Back To Me," and "Call Me."

Aretha Franklin is an influential 60's rock pianist, plus much more. She is the "Queen of Soul," that is at home playing gospel, jazz, blues, funk, R&B, rock, and pop. She has won 20 Grammys, has had 20 #1 R&B hits, two #1 pop hits, and 45 top 40 hits since 1961. Rolling Stone magazine has crowned Aretha as the number one singer of all time.

Nicky Hopkins, from Hardlesden, North London, England dealt with poor health since his youth. He had Crohn's Disease, and had repeated surgeries. Because of this problem, he couldn't tour for very long, and subsequently focused on studio session work.

By the early 1960's Hopkins was an in-demand session player working for producers Shel Talmy and Mickie Most. He played on records by the Kinks, Jeff Beck, Donovan, and The Who.

He is best known for his work with the Rolling Stones, which made him the one of the best known of the 60s rock pianists. He played on Between The Buttons, Satanic Majesty's Request,and Beggar's Banquet. He also performed on some Beatle albums, including Let It Be.

Nicky Hopkins also took part in the San Francisco scene, recording with the Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and The Steve Miller Band. He was scheduled to perform at Woodstock with Jeff Beck, but Beck never showed, so Hopkins played with the Jefferson Airplane.

He can be heard on The Who's album Who's Next on the songs "Getting In Tune" and "Song Is Over."

He managed to tour with the Stones in 1971, '72 and '73; and recorded with them until 1980.

Some other notable songs featuring Nicky Hopkins: John Lennon's "Was Is Over," The Stones' "She's A Rainbow," Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful," The Beatles' "Revolution," and Led Zepplin's "Rock and Roll."

Booker T. Jones was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. Booker was a prodigy of sorts, playing oboe, sax, trombone, and piano in his school bands. His first big break at 17, when asked to play baritone sax on Rufus Thomas' record "Cause I Love You," for the record label that would soon become Stax Records.

The studio also had a record shop where Booker T. met a clerk named Steve Cropper. Guitarist Steve and pianist/organist Booker T. put together a band, Booker T. and the MG's, named after the small British sports car. While still in high school, they recorded their first hit, "Green Onions," a bluesy tune that has since become a standard.

He studied classical composition at Indiana State University, coming home to Memphis on the weekends to record with the MG's.

The MG's soon became the backing band on almost all of the Stax/Volt records. This 60's rock pianist and organist can be heard on hits by Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, Wilson Pickett, Albert King and others.

He co-wrote many of the Stax hits including Eddie Floyd's "I Never Found A Girl" and Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign," later covered by blues-rock trio the Cream.

In the 1970's Booker T. became an independent producer, producing Rita Coolidge, Bill Withers, Neil Young, Ray Charles, Natalie Merchant and Willie Nelson, including his huge hit album Stardust.

Booker T. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2007. In 2009 Booker T. released a new album Potato Hole, recorded with the Drive By Truckers backing him.

Laura Nyro was born and raised in the Bronx, New York City. She was self-taught, always singing, playing piano and writing poetry. She wrote her first song at age 8, later attended the Manhattan School For Music and Arts, singing in the subways and street corners after school.

She listened to John Coltrane, Pete Seeger, Van Morrison, Curtis Mayfield and the girl groups like the Shirelles and Martha and the Vandellas.

She first recorded in 1966, but it was not a success. She signed with David Geffen in 1967. Her album Eli and the Thirteenth Confession may be her best known. The vocal group, The Fifth Dimension had great chart success with her songs "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Wedding Bell Blues." Three Dog Night had a hit with "Eli's Coming," Blood, Sweat and Tears charted with "And When Die," and Barbara Striesand had a hit with "Stoney End."

The biggest record of her own was a cover of the Carole King/Gerry Goffin song "Up On The Roof."

This 60s rock pianist may not be well-known, but she was a big influence on many other artists. Joni Mitchell, Ricki Lee Jones, Steely Dan, Todd Rundgren and Elton John all cite Laura Nyro as a major influence. Her songs have been recorded by a diverse group of artists including Frank Sinatra, Carmen McCrae, Jr. Walker, Chet Atkins, and Swing Out Sister.

Steve Winwood hails from Handsworth, England, a suburb of Birmingham. He played drums, guitar and piano as a child, sometimes performing with his father's swing and Dixieland band.

As a teen, he became the hottest piano, organ and guitar player in Birmingham. When blues and R&B stars came on tour to the area, he would back them on local club dates. Steve backed up Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, T Bone Walker, Sonny Boy Williamson, Otis Spann, Chuck Berry, and others.

When He was 15 he co-wrote, sang and played piano and organ on two huge smash hits, "Gimme Some Lovin" and "I'm A Man," with the Spencer Davis Group.

He later left that group and started Traffic, and had a hit with "Mister Fantasy" in 1967. More albums with Traffic followed, then a later stint with the super group Blind Faith, which included guitarist Eric Clapton.

The Traffic album John Barleycorn Must Die features this 60's rock pianist in an instrumental titled "Glad," a classic rock radio hit.

Winwood kept Traffic flowing through the 1970's, and in the 1980's he had solo hits including "Higher Love," "Arc Of A Diver," and "Roll With It."

Steve Winwood continues to record and tour.