Overview

Classic Keys is a beautifully photographed and illustrated book focusing on the signature rock keyboard sounds of the 1950s to the early 1980s. It celebrates the Hammond B-3 organ, Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos, the Vox Continental and Farfisa combo organs, the Hohner Clavinet, the Mellotron, the Minimoog and other famous and collectable instruments. From the earliest days of rock music, the role of keyboards has grown dramatically. Advancements in electronics created a crescendo of musical invention. In the thirty short years between 1950 and 1980, the rock keyboard went from being whatever down-on-its-luck piano awaited a band in a bar or concert hall to a portable digital orchestra.  It made keyboards a centerpiece of the sound of many top rock bands, and a handful of them became icons of both sound and design. Their sounds live on: Digitally, in the memory chips of modern keyboards, and in their original form thanks to a growing group of musicians and collectors of many ages and nationalities. Classic Keys explores the sound, lore, and technology of these iconic instruments, including their place in the historical development of keyboard instruments, music, and the international keyboard instrument industry. Twelve significant instruments are presented as the chapter foundations, together with information about and comparisons with more than thirty-six others. Included are short profiles of modern musicians, composers, and others who collect, use, and prize these instruments years after they went out of production. Both authors are avid musicians, collect and restore vintage keyboards, and are well-known and respected in the international community of web forums devoted to these instruments.

Full Product Details

9781574417760

Table of Contents

Reviews

"The story of keyboard development, the people who built them, and the part they played in our musical history has never been fully told up until now. This book is a must for all who love keyboards and their history and indeed, music in general. It should be on every music lover's bookshelf.""--Rick Wakeman, keyboard player for Yes, solo artist and session player ""Classic Keys tells you everything you always wanted to know about vintage keyboards. It's not for squares.""--Donald Fagen, keyboard player, singer and co-founder of Steely Dan ""A 'dream book' for us keyboard players. Beautiful depictions of classic instruments, both in pictures and text. Accurate and well-written histories of these vintage pieces that we all love and respect. I'm still drooling over each page!""--Chuck Leavell, keyboard player for The Allman Brothers Band and musical director of The Rolling Stones ""A true gem. It contains information that even an avid fan with deep knowledge of the subject will find rewarding... I am stunned by the depth and detail in this wonderful tome, and the wealth of photographs. Everything is chronicled with care and love.""--Steve Nieve, keyboard player for Elvis Costello and the Attractions, session player and composer ""An extremely thorough and informative book that reveals the evolution and inner workings of keyboard instruments that changed contemporary music for the good, forever. As an educator, I feel that this book should be required reading for every contemporary keyboardist.""--Dave Limina, Piano Department Chair, Berklee College of Music, and author of Hammond Organ Complete ""Needed, brilliant and timeless. Thank you!""⁠--John Novello, Hammond B-3 player for jazz fusion trio Niacin"

The story of keyboard development, the people who built them, and the part they played in our musical history has never been fully told up until now. This book is a must for all who love keyboards and their history and indeed, music in general. It should be on every music lover's bookshelf. --Rick Wakeman, keyboard player for Yes, solo artist and session player Classic Keys tells you everything you always wanted to know about vintage keyboards. It's not for squares. --Donald Fagen, keyboard player, singer and co-founder of Steely Dan A 'dream book' for us keyboard players. Beautiful depictions of classic instruments, both in pictures and text. Accurate and well-written histories of these vintage pieces that we all love and respect. I'm still drooling over each page! --Chuck Leavell, keyboard player for The Allman Brothers Band and musical director of The Rolling Stones A true gem. It contains information that even an avid fan with deep knowledge of the subject will find rewarding... I am stunned by the depth and detail in this wonderful tome, and the wealth of photographs. Everything is chronicled with care and love. --Steve Nieve, keyboard player for Elvis Costello and the Attractions, session player and composer An extremely thorough and informative book that reveals the evolution and inner workings of keyboard instruments that changed contemporary music for the good, forever. As an educator, I feel that this book should be required reading for every contemporary keyboardist. --Dave Limina, Piano Department Chair, Berklee College of Music, and author of Hammond Organ Complete Needed, brilliant and timeless. Thank you! --John Novello, Hammond B-3 player for jazz fusion trio Niacin

The story of keyboard development, the people who built them, and the part they played in our musical history has never been fully told up until now. This book is a must for all who love keyboards and their history and indeed, music in general. It should be on every music lover's bookshelf. --Rick Wakeman, keyboard player for Yes, solo artist and session player Classic Keys tells you everything you always wanted to know about vintage keyboards. It's not for squares. --Donald Fagen, keyboard player, singer and co-founder of Steely Dan A 'dream book' for us keyboard players. Beautiful depictions of classic instruments, both in pictures and text. Accurate and well-written histories of these vintage pieces that we all love and respect. I'm still drooling over each page! --Chuck Leavell, keyboard player for The Allman Brothers Band and musical director of The Rolling Stones A true gem. It contains information that even an avid fan with deep knowledge of the subject will find rewarding... I am stunned by the depth and detail in this wonderful tome, and the wealth of photographs. Everything is chronicled with care and love. --Steve Nieve, keyboard player for Elvis Costello and the Attractions, session player and composer An extremely thorough and informative book that reveals the evolution and inner workings of keyboard instruments that changed contemporary music for the good, forever. As an educator, I feel that this book should be required reading for every contemporary keyboardist. --Dave Limina, Piano Department Chair, Berklee College of Music, and author of Hammond Organ Complete Needed, brilliant and timeless. Thank you! --John Novello, Hammond B-3 player for jazz fusion trio Niacin

The story of keyboard development, the people who built them, and the part they played in our musical history has never been fully told up until now. This book is a must for all who love keyboards and their history and indeed, music in general. It should be on every music lover's bookshelf.""--Rick Wakeman, keyboard player for Yes, solo artist and session player ""Classic Keys tells you everything you always wanted to know about vintage keyboards. It's not for squares.""--Donald Fagen, keyboard player, singer and co-founder of Steely Dan ""A 'dream book' for us keyboard players. Beautiful depictions of classic instruments, both in pictures and text. Accurate and well-written histories of these vintage pieces that we all love and respect. I'm still drooling over each page!""--Chuck Leavell, keyboard player for The Allman Brothers Band and musical director of The Rolling Stones ""A true gem. It contains information that even an avid fan with deep knowledge of the subject will find rewarding... I am stunned by the depth and detail in this wonderful tome, and the wealth of photographs. Everything is chronicled with care and love.""--Steve Nieve, keyboard player for Elvis Costello and the Attractions, session player and composer ""An extremely thorough and informative book that reveals the evolution and inner workings of keyboard instruments that changed contemporary music for the good, forever. As an educator, I feel that this book should be required reading for every contemporary keyboardist.""--Dave Limina, Piano Department Chair, Berklee College of Music, and author of Hammond Organ Complete ""Needed, brilliant and timeless. Thank you!""⁠--John Novello, Hammond B-3 player for jazz fusion trio Niacin

Author Information

Alan S. Lenhoff has been a writer, editor, and executive for major U.S. newspapers, and a magazine publisher.  He lives in Birmingham, Michigan. David E. Robertson is an industrial designer, commercial photographer, and design historian from Adelaide, Australia. He is a member of the Order of Australia for services to professional design.

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