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Any Top' list will entail a few obvious and unanimous selections when comparing between list makers. The debate and variations always come with the names beyond first few that immediately come to mind. A list of five is small enough to avoid any extreme surprise or disagreement with anyone's top five being influential, artistically and technically proficient, and innovative in the rock genre regardless of the style they play.

Rock keyboardist go beyond the beyond predominance on one keyboard based instrument, whether piano, organ or synthesizer to a multi-instrumentalist approach utilizing the appropriate sound for the mood and style of the song. The top rock keyboardists demonstrate a virtuosic proficiency in all keyboard based instruments and have defined a sound and styling which not only uniquely marks their performance of a piece of music, but also defines a music categorization in itself.

There are two artists that through their influence on Rock music, the use of keyboards as a lead instrument and unquestioned mastery of performance deserve to be on everyone's list: Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman.

Keith Emerson the charismatic leader of The Nice, and later, the founder of the dynamic progressive rock trio; Emerson, Lake and Palmer, not only had the chops to master and interpret complex and complicated musical passages, but also helped influence the development of the synthesizer into a successful sound and performance instrument. Emerson also demonstrated a visionary theatrical performance style that vaulted the keyboard into the musical forefront as a viable lead instrument on par with the electric guitar. Emerson, born in 1944, began piano lessons at age eight but never went on to advanced training, instead relying on playing and self study to further his abilities. He even overcame a serious arm injury later in his career to cement his status as a distinguished Rock Keyboardist.

Rick Wakeman's impeccable technique was brought about through years of classical training before ditching his track toward being a concert pianist to play rock and roll full time. Where Emerson could be classified as bombastic, Wakeman was textural, astutely using the colorings of sound from a surrounding bank of synthesizers, along with the more classical keyboard instruments, to orchestrate the long symphonic rock tunes of the band Yes, as well as in his prominent session and solo work.

Beyond these two keyboardists, debate and elements of preference come into the selection to

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