Sir Elton John Calls for More Recognition of 1960s Keyboard Players

Sir Elton John has expressed his belief that keyboard players from the 1960s British club scene deserve far more recognition than they currently receive. In a piece written for The Guardian, the legendary singer and pianist questioned why British guitarists from the era have become household names, while talented piano and organ players have faded into obscurity, via Yahoo.

“The club scene in Britain back then was full of special keyboard players – but Steve Winwood aside, none of them are really household names these days,” Sir Elton wrote. He contrasted this with the continued reverence for guitar heroes like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page, saying, “It’s funny: there’s still a lot of reverence for the guitar heroes that British rock produced in the 60s… but the keyboard heroes, my heroes, not so much.”

Sir Elton highlighted several overlooked artists, including organist Brian Auger, whom he described as “astonishing,” and Graham Bond, who he called “technically incredible.” He noted that many of these musicians were primarily live performers, and their studio recordings did not fully capture the excitement of their stage presence. “Their records are great, but they often don’t quite capture how exciting they were on stage: you had to be there,” he said.

One of the key figures Elton mentioned was Ian Stewart, who played an integral role in shaping the Rolling Stones’ sound. Despite his importance to the band, Stewart is often overlooked as a core member alongside Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood. “He played in the wings, not in front of the audience. Neither he nor his keyboard were deemed sexy enough for the Rolling Stones,” Sir Elton said, emphasizing the lack of visibility for keyboard players.

While acknowledging that these artists are not entirely forgotten, Sir Elton stressed that they deserve much more recognition. “They were innovative and important and influential. They certainly influenced me, precisely because I couldn’t do any of the things they did.”

This reflection comes as Sir Elton recently discussed his own mortality in a new documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late, directed by RJ Cutler and Elton’s husband, David Furnish. The film chronicles Elton’s decades-long career, from his early days to his headline set at Glastonbury in 2023, which marked his final UK performance.

Earlier this year, Sir Elton achieved EGOT status—becoming a winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony—and was honoured with the Legacy Award at the 2023 Attitude Awards.