Editing Keith Emerson

{{Short description|English keyboardist, songwriter, and composer (1944–2016)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}

{{Infobox person
| name               = Keith Emerson
| image              = Keith Emerson StPetersburg Aug08.jpg
| caption            = Emerson performing in [[Saint Petersburg]], Russia, September 2008
| birth_name         = Keith Noel Emerson
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1944|11|2|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Todmorden]], West Riding of Yorkshire, England
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|2016|3|11|1944|11|2|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[Santa Monica, California]], U.S.
| resting_place      = Lancing and Sompting Cemetery, [[Lancing, West Sussex]], England
| children           = 2
| occupation         = Musician, songwriter, composer
| years_active       = 1964–2016
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
|background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
|instrument = [[Keyboard instrument|Keyboards]]<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
|genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Progressive rock]]
* [[classical music|classical]]
}}
|label = [[Edel AG|Edel]], [[Victor Entertainment|Victor]], [[Shout! Factory]], [[Varèse Sarabande]], [[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino]], [[Manticore Records|Manticore]], J!MCO Records, [[Sanctuary Records Group|Sanctuary]], [[EMI]], Marquee Inc., [[Charly Records|Charly]], Gunslinger Records, [[Cinevox]]
|associated_acts = [[Gary Farr]] & The T-Bones, [[The V.I.P.'s (band)|the V.I.P.'s]], [[P. P. Arnold]], [[the Nice]], [[Free Creek]], [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer]], [[Emerson, Lake & Powell]], [[3 (1980s band)|3]], Keith Emerson Band, [[Ayreon]]
}}
}}

'''Keith Noel Emerson''' (2 November 1944{{snd}}11 March 2016) was an English keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He played keyboards in a number of bands before finding his first commercial success with [[the Nice]] in the late 1960s.<ref name=vh1>{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/emerson_keith/artist.jhtml|title=VH1.com: Keith Emerson: Biography |website=VH1.com |publisher=[[VH1]] |access-date=23 February 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712190719/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/emerson_keith/artist.jhtml |archive-date=12 July 2011}}</ref> He became internationally famous for his work with the Nice, which included writing rock arrangements of classical music.<ref name=lupisp5>{{Cite thesis |type=D.M.A. |title=The Published Music of Keith Emerson: Expanding the Solo Piano Repertoire |pages=5 |url=http://athenaeum.libs.uga.edu/handle/10724/23179 |last=Lupis |first=Giuseppe |date=May 2006 |publisher=University of Georgia |access-date=7 January 2015 |oclc=223323019 }}</ref> After leaving the Nice in 1970, he was a founding member of [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer]] (ELP), one of the early [[progressive rock]] supergroups.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer were commercially successful through much of the 1970s, becoming one of the best-known progressive rock groups of the era.<ref name=vh1 /> Emerson wrote and arranged much of ELP's music on albums such as ''[[Tarkus]]'' (1971) and ''[[Brain Salad Surgery]]'' (1973), combining his own original compositions with classical or traditional pieces adapted into a rock format.<ref>Lupis, pp. 6–8.</ref> Following ELP's break-up at the end of the 1970s, Emerson pursued a solo career, composed several film soundtracks, and formed the bands [[Emerson, Lake & Powell]]<ref name=vh1 /> and [[3 (1980s band)|3]] to carry on in the style of ELP.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-last=Hoffmann |editor-first=Frank W. |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound |title=Emerson, Lake and Palmer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9GGTAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT800 |access-date=20 March 2016 |edition=2nd |year=2005 |publisher=[[Routledge]]|volume=1 |isbn=978-0-415-97120-1 |page=374 }}</ref> In the early 1990s, ELP reunited for two more albums and several tours before breaking up again in the late 1990s. Emerson also reunited The Nice in 2002 and 2003 for a tour.<ref name=varietyobit>{{cite magazine |last=Chagollan |first=Steve |date=11 March 2016 |title=Keith Emerson, Keyboardist for Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Dies at 71 |url=https://variety.com/2016/music/news/keith-emerson-dies-dead-emerson-lake-palmer-1201728226/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |location=[[Los Angeles, California]]  |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312094012/http://variety.com/2016/music/news/keith-emerson-dies-dead-emerson-lake-palmer-1201728226/ |archive-date=12 March 2016}}</ref>

During the 2000s, Emerson resumed his solo career, including touring with his own Keith Emerson Band featuring guitarist Dave Kilminster, then replaced by Marc Bonilla, and collaborating with several orchestras. He reunited with ELP bandmate [[Greg Lake]] in 2010 for a duo tour, culminating in a one-off ELP reunion show in London to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|last=Allen |first=Jim |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/keith-emerson-appreciation/ |title=How Keith Emerson Changed the World |publisher=Ultimateclassicrock.com |date=12 March 2016 |access-date=20 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313102617/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/keith-emerson-appreciation/ |archive-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> Emerson's last album, ''The Three Fates Project'', with Marc Bonilla and Terje Mikkelsen, was released in 2012.<ref name=varietyobit /> Emerson reportedly suffered from depression, and since 1993 developed nerve damage that hampered his playing, making him anxious about upcoming performances. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on 11 March 2016 at his home in Santa Monica, California.<ref name=savage>{{cite web|last1=Savage|first1=Mark|title=Keith Emerson's death ruled suicide|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35806414|website=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=15 March 2016 |access-date=15 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315142625/http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35806414 |archive-date=15 March 2016}}</ref><ref name=lynch>{{cite magazine |last=Lynch |first=Joe |date=11 March 2016 |title=Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer Dead at 71 of Suicide |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7127455/keith-emerson-dead-emerson-lake-palmer |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |location=[[New York City]]  |access-date=9 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408154740/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7127455/keith-emerson-dead-emerson-lake-palmer |archive-date=8 April 2016}}</ref><ref name=grinberg>{{cite news|last1=Grinberg|first1=Emanuella|title=Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer Dead at 71|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/11/entertainment/keith-emerson-dies-feat/|website=CNN|date=12 March 2016 |access-date=9 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408151955/http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/11/entertainment/keith-emerson-dies-feat/ |archive-date=8 April 2016}}</ref>

Emerson is widely regarded as one of the greatest keyboard players of the progressive rock era.<ref name=vh1 /><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Milano |first=Domenic |date=October 1977 |title=Keith Emerson |magazine=[[Keyboard (magazine)|Contemporary Keyboard]] |publisher=GPI Publications |location=[[San Francisco, California]] |pages=22–30, 32, 36, 38, 52 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Milano |first=Domenic |date=September 1980|title=Keith Emerson: Rock's Multi-Keyboard King — Then and Now |magazine=[[Keyboard (magazine)|Contemporary Keyboard]] | publisher=GPI Publications | location=[[San Francisco, California]]| pages=16–23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=25 Giants of Keyboard Music |date=January 2000 |magazine=[[Keyboard (magazine)|Keyboard]]|publisher=CMP Entertainment Media |location=[[San Francisco, California]]| pages=32–42 |quote=No one else captured the hearts of fledgling rock keyboardists through the '70s and '80s the way he did.}}</ref> [[AllMusic]] describes Emerson as "perhaps the greatest, most technically accomplished keyboardist in rock history".<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/keith-emerson-mn0000765900/biography |title=Keith Emerson: Artist Biography by Steve Huey |last=Huey |first=Steve |date=2016 |website=allmusic.com |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=19 March 2016 |quote=Throughout his career with the Nice, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and as a solo artist, Emerson proved himself perhaps the greatest, most technically accomplished keyboardist in rock history. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315043951/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/keith-emerson-mn0000765900/biography |archive-date=15 March 2016}}</ref> In 2019, readers of ''[[Prog (magazine)|Prog]]'' voted him the greatest keyboard player in progressive rock.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-top-ten-keyboard-players-in-prog |title=The top ten keyboard players in prog |first=Jerry |last=Ewing |website=loudersound.com |date=21 July 2019 |access-date=14 June 2023}}</ref>
{{TOClimit|3}}

==Early life==
Emerson was born on 2 November 1944 in [[Todmorden]], West Riding of Yorkshire. The family had been evacuated from southern England during World War II, after which they returned south and settled in [[Goring-by-Sea]], West Sussex.<ref name="hanson">{{cite book|last=Hanson|first=Martyn|title=Hang on to a Dream: The Story of The Nice|date=2002 | publisher=[[Helter Skelter (books)|Helter Skelter Publishing]]|location=[[London]] |isbn=978-1-900924-43-6}}</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2016}} Emerson attended West Tarring School (now [[Thomas A’Becket Middle School, Worthing, West Sussex|Thomas A’Becket Middle School]]) in [[Tarring, West Sussex|Tarring]].<ref name=WorthingDaily>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=21 July 2013 |title=Worthing's Got Talent |url=http://worthingdaily.co.uk/your-comment/worthings-got-talent/ |newspaper=Worthing Daily |location=[[Worthing]], [[West Sussex]] |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313033714/http://worthingdaily.co.uk/your-comment/worthings-got-talent/ |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref> His mother Dorothy was not musical, but his father Noel was an amateur pianist and taught Emerson basic piano. When Emerson was eight, his parents arranged formal tuition, learning to play and read music with "local little old ladies" until he was around thirteen, with whom he studied to [[ABRSM]] Grade 7.<ref name=EMM83>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/keith-emerson/5998|title=Keith Emerson|first=Keith|last=Emerson|magazine=Electronics & Music Maker|date=May 1983|via=Muzines|access-date=28 June 2021}}</ref><ref name=hollyq /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Emerson |first1=Keith |title=Pictures of an Exhibitionist |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xS8UAQAAIAAJ |date=2004 |publisher=John Blake |location=London |isbn=1844540537 |page=21}}</ref><ref name=milano>{{cite book |last=Milano |first=Domenic |editor-last=Rideout |editor-first=Ernie |title=Keyboard Presents Classic Rock |publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation|Backbeat Books]] |location=[[New York City]] |date=2010 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/keyboardpresents0000unse/page/173 173–183] |chapter=Keith Emerson: It's Good to Be the King of Prog Rock |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hVTa5OhJvBgC&pg=PA173 |isbn=978-0-87930-952-7 |url=https://archive.org/details/keyboardpresents0000unse/page/173 }}</ref> Emerson's teacher put him in competitions at the Worthing Music Festival and suggested he finish studying music in London, but Emerson had little interest in classical music at the time and chose jazz piano.<ref name=EMM83/> His studies in [[Western classical music]] largely inspired his own style in his professional career which often incorporated jazz and rock elements.<ref name=varietyobit />

Although Emerson did not own a record player, he enjoyed listening to music on the radio, particularly [[Floyd Cramer]]'s 1961 [[appoggiatura|slip note-style]] "[[On the Rebound]]" and the work of [[Dudley Moore]]. He used jazz sheet music from [[Dave Brubeck]] and [[George Shearing]] and learned about jazz piano from books and [[Andre Previn]]'s version of ''[[My Fair Lady]]''.<ref name=EMM83/> He also listened to [[boogie-woogie]], and to [[country music|country-style]] pianists including [[Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson]], [[Russ Conway]] and [[Winifred Atwell]]. Emerson later described himself: "I was a very serious child. I used to walk around with [[Piano sonatas (Beethoven)|Beethoven sonatas]] under my arm. However, I was very good at avoiding being beaten up by the bullies. That was because I could also play [[Jerry Lee Lewis]] and [[Little Richard]] songs. So, they thought I was kind of cool and left me alone."<ref name=hollyq />

Emerson became interested in the [[Hammond organ]] after hearing jazz organist [[Jack McDuff]] perform "Rock Candy", and the Hammond became his instrument of choice in the late 1960s. Emerson acquired his first Hammond organ, an L-100 model, at the age of 15 or 16, on [[hire purchase]] and a loan from his father.<ref>{{Citation|last=Fortner|first=Stephen|title=Keith Emerson Interviewed by You|magazine=[[Keyboard Magazine]]|date=December 2010}}</ref><ref name=OTT84>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/emerson/8455|title=Emerson|first=Paul|last=Colbert|magazine=One Two Testing|date=July 1984|via=Muzines|access-date=28 June 2021}}</ref> He had saved money to buy a Bird electric organ with built-in speakers on each side, but then spotted a Hammond in the shop and thought it was a better purchase.<ref name=EMM83/> Emerson's initial plan was for a non-musical career while playing the piano on the side. Upon leaving school he worked at [[Lloyds Bank|Lloyds Bank Registrars]] where he played the piano in the bar at lunch times and local pubs at nights. He was ultimately fired from the bank.<ref name=P72/><ref name=WorthingDaily/> Emerson played in a local 20-piece swing band run by [[Worthing Borough Council|Worthing Council]], performing [[Count Basie]] and [[Duke Ellington]] tunes. This led to the formation of the Keith Emerson Trio, with the group's drummer and bassist.<ref name=EMM83/>

==Career==
===1965–1970: Early groups and The Nice===
While performing in the Worthing and Brighton area, Emerson played in John Brown's Bodies where members of The T-Bones, the backing band of blues singer [[Gary Farr]], offered him a place in their group.<ref name=EMM83/><ref name=P72/> After a subsequent UK and European tour with the T-Bones, the band split. Emerson then joined [[The V.I.P.'s (band)|The V.I.P.'s]],
which he described as a "purist blues band";<ref name=EMM83/> his noted flamboyance began when a fight broke out during a performance in France. Instructed by the band to keep playing, he produced some explosion and machine gun sounds with the Hammond organ, which stopped the fight. His band members told him to repeat the stunt at the next concert,<ref name=P72>{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/emerson-lake-and-palmer-super-group-of-the-seventies|title=Emerson Lake and Palmer: Super-Group of the Seventies!|first=Keith|last=Altham|magazine=Petticoat|date=4 November 1972|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="Analog Days">{{cite book|title=Analog Days, The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer|url=https://archive.org/details/analogdaysinvent00pinc|url-access=registration|first1=Trevor |last1=Pinch |first2=Frank |last2=Trocco|publisher=[[Harvard University Press]]|year=2002|isbn=9780674008892}}</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2016}} where Emerson played the organ back to front.<ref name=EMM83/>

In 1967, Emerson formed [[The Nice]] with [[Lee Jackson (bassist)|Lee Jackson]], also of the T-Bones, [[David O'List]], and Ian Hague, after soul singer [[P. P. Arnold]] asked him to form a backing band.<ref name=TG16/> After replacing Hague with [[Brian Davison (drummer)|Brian Davison]], the group set out on its own, quickly developing a strong live following. The group's sound was centred on Emerson's [[Hammond organ]] showmanship and theatrical abuse of the instrument, and their radical rearrangements of classical music themes as "symphonic rock".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fowles |first1=Paul |date=2009 |title=A Concise History of Rock Music |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nW2-7BrEUOEC&pg=PA126 |location=[[Pacific, Missouri]] |publisher=[[Mel Bay|Mel Bay Publications]] |pages=126–127 |isbn=978-1-61911-016-8}}</ref><ref name=macanrtc65>{{cite book |last=Macan |first=Edward |date=1997 |title=Rocking the Classics: English Progressive Rock and the Counterculture |url=https://archive.org/details/rockingclassicse0000maca |url-access=registration |location=[[Oxford]] |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/rockingclassicse0000maca/page/65 65] |isbn=0-19-509887-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Greene |first=Doyle |date=2016 |title=Rock, Counterculture and the Avant-Garde, 1966–1970: How the Beatles, Frank Zappa, and the Velvet Underground Defined an Era |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VLWaCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA183 |location=[[Jefferson, North Carolina]] |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |page=183 |isbn=978-1-4766-6214-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Weigel |first=David |date=14 August 2012 |title=Prog Spring: Before It Was a Joke, Prog Was the Future of Rock 'n' Roll. |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/prog_spring/features/2012/prog_rock/history_of_prog_the_nice_emerson_lake_palmer_and_other_bands_of_the_1970s_.html |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |location=[[New York City]]  |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831011009/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/prog_spring/features/2012/prog_rock/history_of_prog_the_nice_emerson_lake_palmer_and_other_bands_of_the_1970s_.html |archive-date=31 August 2012 }}</ref> To increase the visual interest of his show, Emerson abused his Hammond L-100 organ by, among other things, hitting it, beating it with a whip, pushing it over, riding it across the stage like a horse, playing with it lying on top of him, and wedging knives into the keyboard.<ref name=milano /><ref name=cateforis>{{cite book |last=Cateforis |first=Theo |date=2011 |title=Are We Not New Wave? Modern Pop at the Turn of the 1980s |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-MVrM3zKrHQC&pg=PA158 |location=[[Ann Arbor, Michigan]] |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |page=158 |isbn=978-0-472-03470-3}}</ref> Some of these actions also produced musical sound effects: hitting the organ caused it to make explosion-like sounds,<ref name=romano>{{cite book |last=Romano |first=Will |date=2014 |title=Prog Rock FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Rock's Most Progressive Music |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UIqkCAAAQBAJ&pg=PT30 |location=[[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]] |publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation|Backbeat Books]] |page=PT30 |isbn=978-1-61713-620-7}}</ref> turning it over made it [[Audio feedback|feed back]], and the knives held down keys, thus sustaining notes. Emerson's show with The Nice has been cited as having a strong influence on [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] musicians.<ref name=macanrtc65 />

Away from The Nice, Emerson was involved in the 1969 ''[[Music from Free Creek]]'' "supersession" project that included [[Eric Clapton]] and [[Jeff Beck]]. For the session, Emerson performed with drummer [[Mitch Mitchell]] and bassist [[Chuck Rainey]] covering, among other tunes, the [[Eddie Harris]] instrumental "Freedom Jazz Dance".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sutherland |first=Sam |date=27 January 1973 |title=Studio Track |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FkUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT27 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |location=[[New York City]] |page=28 |access-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref>

Emerson first heard a [[Moog synthesizer]] when a record shop owner played him ''[[Switched-On Bach]]'' (1968) by [[Wendy Carlos]], and thought the instrument looked like "an electronic [[skiffle]]".<ref name="Analog Days" /> He got into contact with keyboardist [[Mike Vickers]], who had paid £4,000 to have one shipped from the US, and organised to play it at an upcoming The Nice concert at the [[Royal Festival Hall]] with the [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]], in February and March 1970.<ref name=OTT84/> Vickers helped [[Synthesizer patch|patch]] the Moog, and the concert saw Emerson perform "[[Also sprach Zarathustra (Strauss)|Also sprach Zarathustra]]" by [[Richard Strauss]] with Vickers behind the machine to swap patches.<ref name=OTT84/><ref name="Analog Days" />

===1970–1979: Emerson, Lake & Palmer===
[[File:KeithEmersonPerforming.jpg|thumb|right|Emerson performing in concert with Emerson, Lake & Palmer in 1977]]

After The Nice split in March 1970, Emerson formed a new band, [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer]] (ELP), with bassist [[Greg Lake]] from [[King Crimson]] and drummer [[Carl Palmer]] from [[Atomic Rooster]]. After four months of rehearsal, the band played its first shows and recorded its first album, having quickly obtained a record deal with [[Atlantic Records]]. ELP became popular immediately after their [[Isle of Wight Festival 1970|1970 Isle of Wight Festival]] performance, and continued to tour regularly throughout the 1970s. Not all were impressed, with [[BBC Radio 1]] DJ [[John Peel]] describing their Isle of Wight set as a "tragic waste of talent and electricity".<ref name=glancey/> Their set, with a half-million onlookers, involved "annihilating their instruments in a classical-rock blitz" and firing cannons from the stage,<ref>{{cite web|last=Reed |first=Ryan |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/emerson-lake-and-palmer-stage-debut/ |title=45 Years Ago: Emerson, Lake and Palmer Make Their Stage Debut |publisher=Ultimateclassicrock.com |date=13 August 2013 |access-date=20 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314065059/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/emerson-lake-and-palmer-stage-debut/ |archive-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> which had been tested out on a field near [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref name=glancey>{{cite news |last=Glancey |first=Jonathan |date=31 May 2002 |title=Keith Emerson – The Hendrix of the Hammond |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/may/31/shopping.artsfeatures1 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=[[London]] |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304222413/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/may/31/shopping.artsfeatures1 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

====Use of synthesizers====
{{multiple image |align=left |direction=vertical |width=220
|image1=Keith Emerson's Customized R.A.Moog Modular Synthesizer with keyboard, ribbon controllers (1968), Customized Hammond "Tarkus" C3 with chrome stand (ca.1968) - Play It Loud. MET (2019-05-13 19.02.27 by Eden, Janine and Jim).jpg
|caption1=Keith Emerson's customized
* "Monster [[Moog modular synthesizer systems|Moog]]" [[Moog modular synthesizer systems|modular synth<!-- esizer -->]]
* "Tarkus" [[Hammond organ|Hammond]] C3 organ
}}

ELP's record deal provided funds for Emerson to buy his own [[Moog modular synthesiser]] from the US, which was a preset model that had fewer leads and punch cards to call up certain patches.<ref name=OTT84/> He used the patch that Vickers provided, which contained six distinctive Moog sounds and became the foundation of ELP's sound.<ref name="Analog Days" /> It was a temperamental device, with the oscillators often going out of tune with temperature change.<ref name="Analog Days" /> Emerson was the first artist to tour with a Moog synthesiser. His "Monster Moog", built from numerous modules, weighed {{convert|550|lbs|kg}}, stood {{convert|10|ft|m|0}} tall and took four roadies to move. Even with its unpredictability, it became an indispensable component of not only ELP's concerts, but also Emerson's own.<ref>{{citation|last=Bernstein|first=David|newspaper=The New York Times|title=A Comeback for Another Classic Rocker: The Moog Synthesizer|date=29 September 2004}} "Mr. Emerson's towering, 10-foot-tall, 550-pound ''Monster Moog,'' as he called it, was an indispensable part of the group's concerts, even though it was often unreliable and difficult to play."</ref> His use of the Moog was so critical to the development of new Moog models that he was given prototypes, such as the Constellation, which he took on one tour,<ref name="Analog Days" /> and the Apollo, which had its début on "[[And did those feet in ancient time|Jerusalem]]" on ''[[Brain Salad Surgery]]'' (1973).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/elp-brain-salad-surgery/ |title=40 Years Ago: Emerson, Lake & Palmer Release 'Brain Salad Surgery'|last1=DeRiso |first1=Nick |date=19 November 2013 |website=ultimateclassicrock.com |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Ultimate Classic Rock]] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123080410/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/elp-brain-salad-surgery |archive-date=23 January 2015 }}</ref> As synthesiser technology evolved, Emerson went on to use a variety of other synthesisers, including the [[Minimoog]], [[Yamaha GX-1]], and several models by [[Korg]].

====As composer and arranger====
Emerson performed several notable rock arrangements of classical compositions, ranging from [[Johann Sebastian Bach|J. S. Bach]] and [[Modest Mussorgsky]] to 20th-century composers such as [[Béla Bartók]], [[Aaron Copland]], [[Leoš Janáček]] and [[Alberto Ginastera]]. Occasionally Emerson quoted from classical and jazz works without giving credit, particularly early in his career.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tsioulcas |first=Anastasia |date=11 March 2016 |title=Remembering Keith Emerson, A Prog-Rock Legend |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2016/03/11/470119610/remembering-keith-emerson-a-prog-rock-legend |publisher=[[NPR]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312094648/http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2016/03/11/470119610/remembering-keith-emerson-a-prog-rock-legend |archive-date=12 March 2016}}</ref><ref>Romano, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=UIqkCAAAQBAJ&pg=PT42 PT42].</ref> An early example of Emerson's arranging was the song "Rondo" by The Nice, which is a [[time signature|4/4]] interpretation of [[Dave Brubeck]]'s 9/8 composition "[[Blue Rondo à la Turk]]".<ref name=MrBrubeck>{{cite web|last=Emerson|first=Keith|title=Meeting Mr. Brubeck Again|url=http://www.keithemerson.com/MiscPages/2009/20090924-DaveBrubeck.html|work=Official Keith Emerson Website|access-date=10 February 2013|archive-date=5 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605091756/http://www.keithemerson.com/MiscPages/2009/20090924-DaveBrubeck.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> During live performances the piece is introduced by an extensive excerpt from the 3rd movement of Bach's ''[[Italian Concerto]]''.<ref name=hollyq>{{cite web |url=https://www.ramblingonmusic.com/single-post/2015/11/09/would-you-like-a-knife-with-that-keith-emerson-the-leatherdonned-daredevil-how-emerson-ch |title=Would You Like A Knife With That? Keith Emerson: The Leather-Donned Daredevil. How Emerson Changed The Role Of The Keyboardist Through Explicit Stage Presence and Performance |last1=Q. |first1=Holly |date=10 September 2015 |website=Rambingonmusic.com |publisher=Rambling On Music |access-date=13 March 2016 |archive-date=3 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203191104/https://www.ramblingonmusic.com/single-post/2015/11/09/would-you-like-a-knife-with-that-keith-emerson-the-leatherdonned-daredevil-how-emerson-ch |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On ELP's [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer (album)|eponymous first album]], Emerson's classical quotes went largely uncredited. In the 1973 reissue on the group's personal label, Manticore Records, the songs are credited correctly. By 1971, with the releases '' [[Pictures at an Exhibition (Emerson, Lake & Palmer album)|Pictures at an Exhibition]]'' and ''Trilogy'', ELP began to fully credit classical composers, including [[Modest Mussorgsky]] for the piano piece which inspired the ''Pictures'' album, and Aaron Copland for "Hoedown" on the ''Trilogy'' album. Emerson indicated in an interview that he based his version of ''Pictures at an Exhibition'' on Mussorgsky's original piano composition, rather than on [[Maurice Ravel]]'s later orchestration of the work.<ref name=prasademerson>{{cite web |url=http://www.innerviews.org/inner/emerson.html |title=Keith Emerson: Meshing Sonorities |last1=Prasad |first1=Anil |author-link=Anil Prasad |date=2015 |website=innerviews.org |publisher=Innerviews |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150905113757/http://www.innerviews.org/inner/emerson.html |archive-date=5 September 2015 }}</ref>

Following ELP's 1974 tour, the members agreed to put the band on temporary hiatus and pursue individual solo projects. During this time, Emerson composed his "[[Piano Concerto No. 1 (Emerson)|Piano Concerto No. 1]]" and recorded it with the [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]].<ref name=welcomeback>{{cite AV media |people=Keith Emerson (interviewee) |year=1997 |title=Welcome Back&nbsp;... The ELP Story  |medium=Audio documentary |url=http://ladiesofthelake.com/audiofiles/elpstory.html |access-date=16 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007105430/http://ladiesofthelake.com/audiofiles/elpstory.html |archive-date=7 October 2015 |format=Audio CD  |publisher=[[Manticore Records]] (CD); Ladies of the Lake - A Greg Lake Tribute Site (transcription) |id=a55656 (M-CD102 PRO) }}</ref> According to Emerson, he was motivated by critical comments suggesting that he relied upon adapting classical works because he was unable to write his own music, and further motivated by the London Philharmonic "who weren't that helpful to begin with" and "had the attitude of 'What's a rock musician doing writing a piano concerto?'"<ref name=prasademerson /> Emerson said, "I wanted people to say, look, I'm a composer, I do write my own music, and what greater challenge than to write a piano concerto."<ref name=welcomeback /> The recording later appeared on ELP's album ''[[Works Volume 1]]''. Emerson's concerto has since been performed by classical pianists, most notably Jeffrey Biegel, who has performed it several times and recorded it with Emerson's permission.<ref name=prasademerson /><ref>{{cite news |last=Glenn |first=Gamboa | url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/keith-emerson-dead-keyboardist-of-rock-band-emerson-lake-and-palmer-was-71-1.11564608 | title=Keith Emerson dead; Emerson, Lake and Palmer keyboardist was 71 | newspaper=[[Newsday]] | location=[[Long Island, New York]] | date=11 March 2016 | access-date=26 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312095943/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/keith-emerson-dead-keyboardist-of-rock-band-emerson-lake-and-palmer-was-71-1.11564608 |archive-date=12 March 2016}}</ref>

In 1976, while still in ELP, Emerson also released his first solo record, the single "Honky Tonk Train Blues" b/w "Barrelhouse Shake-Down". "Honky Tonk Train Blues", Emerson's cover of a 1927 [[boogie-woogie]] piano song by [[Meade Lux Lewis]], reached {{Numero|21}} on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/keith-emerson-songs/ |title=Top 10 Keith Emerson Songs|last1=DeRiso |first1=Nick |website=ultimateclassicrock.com |date=11 March 2016 |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Ultimate Classic Rock]] |access-date=17 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313112552/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/keith-emerson-songs/ |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name=honkytonkchart>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/honky%20tonk%20train%20blues/ |title=Official Singles Chart Results Matching: Honky Tonk Train Blues |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=10 April 1976 |website=officialcharts.com |access-date=17 March 2016 }}</ref>

====Theatrics====
[[File:Keith Emerson (1980s).jpg|thumb|upright|Emerson in the mid-1990s]]

In addition to his technical skills at playing and composing, Emerson was a theatrical performer.<ref name="nytobit">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/12/arts/music/keith-emerson-70s-rock-showman-with-a-taste-for-spectacle-dies-at-71.html |title=Keith Emerson, '70s Rock Showman With a Taste for Spectacle, Dies at 71 |first=Ben |last=Ratliff |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |page=B7 |date=11 March 2016}}</ref> He cited guitarist [[Jimi Hendrix]] and organist [[Don Shinn (musician)|Don Shinn]] as his chief theatrical influences. While in ELP, Emerson continued to some degree the physical abuse of his Hammond organ that he had developed with The Nice, including playing the organ upside down while having it lie over him and using knives to wedge down specific keys and sustain notes during solos. He also engaged in knife throwing using a target fastened in front of his Leslie speakers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Macan |first=Edward |date=2006 |title=Endless Enigma: A Musical Biography of Emerson, Lake and Palmer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tXoIAQAAMAAJ |location=[[Chicago]] |publisher=[[Open Court Publishing Company]] |pages=24–26 |isbn=978-0-8126-9596-0}}</ref> He was given his trademark knife, an authentic Nazi dagger, by [[Lemmy Kilmister]], who was a roadie for The Nice in his earlier days.<ref name="Cider">{{cite book| first= Stuart| last= Maconie| year= 2004| title= Cider With Roadies| edition= 1st| publisher= [[Random House]]| location= [[London]]| isbn= 0-09-189115-9| page= 53}}</ref>

Emerson toned down his theatrics with the organ when ELP used more stage props for their shows. While touring ''Brain Salad Surgery'' from 1973 to 1974, at the end of the show, a sequencer in Emerson's Moog Modular synthesiser was set running at an increasing rate, with the synthesiser pivoting to face the audience while emitting smoke and deploying a large pair of silver bat wings from its back.<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 332.</ref> The same tour featured one of Emerson's memorable live show stunts with ELP, which involved playing a piano suspended as high as 20 feet in mid-air and then rotated end-over-end with Emerson sitting at it. This was purely for visual effect, as the piano was fake and had no works inside, leaving Emerson to mime playing.<ref name=greglakepiano>{{cite web |url=http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/05/18/keith-actually-hurt-himself-doing-it-inside-emerson-lake-and-palmers-amazing-rotating-piano-stunt/ |title=Inside Emerson Lake and Palmer's Amazing Rotating Piano Stunt: 'Keith Actually Hurt Himself Doing It' |author=Something Else! |date=18 May 2013 |website=somethingelsereviews.com |publisher=Something Else! |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815185726/http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/05/18/keith-actually-hurt-himself-doing-it-inside-emerson-lake-and-palmers-amazing-rotating-piano-stunt/ |archive-date=15 August 2014 }}</ref> Emerson was introduced to Bob McCarthy, former circus employee on Long Island, New York who demonstrated the stunt piano for him at his home. It was used for shows at [[Madison Square Garden]] in December 1973 and the [[California Jam]] in April 1974, which was filmed. Emerson said: "After that every TV show I did came the question&nbsp;... Keith, how do you spin around on that piano? I'd say what about my music?{{'"}}<ref name=shasho>{{cite web |url=http://www.classicrockmusicwriter.com/2014/09/keith-emerson-interview-master-of.html |title=Keith Emerson Interview: 'Master of the Keyboards & Moog Synthesizer' – New 'Live CD' with Greg Lake |last1=Shasho |first1=Ray |date=26 September 2014 |website=classicrockmusicwriter.com |publisher=The Classic Rock Music Reporter (Ray Shasho) |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203015734/http://www.classicrockmusicwriter.com/2014/09/keith-emerson-interview-master-of.html |archive-date=3 December 2015 }}</ref> The stunt caused Emerson to suffer multiple finger injuries and a broken nose.<ref name=greglakepiano /> He wished to use it at the band's reunion concert in 2010, but was forbidden by the [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|local authority]] who said that the plans did not meet health and safety standards.<ref name=shasho />

===1979–1991: Solo and group projects===
After ELP disbanded in 1979, Emerson pursued a variety of projects during the 1980s and 1990s, including solo releases, soundtrack work and other bands, including supergroup [[the Best (band)|the Best]]. In the early 1990s, Emerson rejoined the reunited ELP, but the group broke up again by the end of that decade.<ref name=classicbands>{{cite web |url=http://www.classicbands.com/elp.html |title=Emerson, Lake and Palmer |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=ClassicBands.com |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817063505/http://www.classicbands.com/elp.html |archive-date=17 August 2015 }}</ref>

====Solo career====
In 1981, Emerson released his debut solo album, ''Honky''. Recorded in [[the Bahamas]] with local musicians, it departed from Emerson's usual style in featuring [[calypso music|calypso]] and [[reggae]] songs, and was generally not well received,<ref name=perryhonky>{{cite web |last=Perry |first=Shawn |title=Honky: At the Movies: Off the Shelf |url=http://www.vintagerock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=355 |publisher=Vintage Rock |website=Vintagerock.com |access-date=18 March 2016 }}</ref> except in Italy where it was a hit.<ref name=classicbands /> Emerson's subsequent solo releases were sporadic, including a Christmas album in 1988, and the album ''Changing States'' (also known as ''Cream of Emerson Soup'') recorded in 1989 but not released until 1995, after several of its songs had already been re-recorded and released in different versions on ELP's 1992 comeback album ''Black Moon''. ''Changing States'' also contained an orchestral remake of the ELP song "Abaddon's Bolero" with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and "The Church", which Emerson composed for the 1989 [[Michele Soavi]] horror film of the same name.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.backgroundmagazine.nl/CDreviews/KeithEmersonChangingStates.html |title=Keith Emerson — Changing States |last=Strik |first=Henri |editor-last=Ladiges |editor-first=Esther |location=[[Wijchen]], [[Netherlands]] |magazine=Background Magazine |publisher=backgroundmagazine.nl |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319022137/http://www.backgroundmagazine.nl/CDreviews/KeithEmersonChangingStates.html |archive-date=19 March 2016 }}</ref>

====Soundtrack work====
In the 1980s, Emerson began to write and perform music for films, as his orchestral and classical style was more suited for film work than for the [[new wave music|new wave]]-dominated pop/ rock market.<ref name=perryhonky /> He was given the script for ''[[Chariots of Fire]]'', but turned down the offer to score it.<ref name=EMM83/> Films for which Emerson contributed soundtrack music include [[Dario Argento]]'s ''[[Inferno (1980 film)|Inferno]]'' (1980), the action thriller ''[[Nighthawks (1981 film)|Nighthawks]]'' (1981) starring [[Sylvester Stallone]], (1984 film) Best Revenge, notable because he collaborated with [[Brad Delp]] from the rock band [[Boston (band)|Boston]] and [[Levon Helm]] from [[The Band]] both on vocals, and [[Garth Hudson]] also from The Band on accordion, that also featured an instrumental piece called "Dream Runner" that became a standard solo performance piece for Emerson during at ELP shows throughout the next decade, [[Lucio Fulci]]'s ''[[Murder Rock]]'' (1984), and Michele Soavi's ''[[The Church (1989 film)|The Church]]'' (also known as ''La chiesa'') (1989).<ref name=martin>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Jeffery X |date=6 February 2015 |title=Music Review: Keith Emerson, "At the Movies" |url=http://popshifter.com/2015-02-06/music-review-keith-emerson-movies/ |publisher=Popshifter |website=Popshifter.com |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312222504/http://popshifter.com/2015-02-06/music-review-keith-emerson-movies/ |archive-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref> He was also the composer for the short-lived 1994 US animated television series ''[[Iron Man (TV series)|Iron Man]]''.<ref name=hammondhof /><ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 699.</ref>

====1980s and 1990s bands====
Starting in the mid-1980s, Emerson formed several short-lived [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]]s. The first two, [[Emerson, Lake & Powell]] (with Lake and ex-[[Rainbow (rock band)|Rainbow]] drummer [[Cozy Powell]])<ref name=harrison>{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Thomas |date=2011 |title=Music of the 1980s |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MBEZBL7Dr7YC&pg=PA85 |location=[[Santa Barbara, California]] |publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group|Greenwood]] |page=85 |isbn=978-0-313-36599-7}}</ref> and [[3 (1980s band)|3]] (with Palmer and American multi-instrumentalist [[Robert Berry]]), were intended to carry on in the general style of ELP in the absence of one of the original members.<ref name=larkin>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-last=Larkin |editor-first=Colin |editor-link= Colin Larkin (writer) |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Popular Music |title=Emerson, Lake and Palmer  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA2006-IA2068V |access-date=18 March 2016 |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |location=United Kingdom |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8 |pages=PA2006-IA2068 – PA2006-IA2069 }}</ref> Emerson, Lake & Powell had some success,<ref name=harrison /> and their sole album is considered one of the best of both Emerson's and Lake's careers. Stylistically, it was a departure from their 1980s progressive rock peers, Genesis and Asia.<ref name=classicbands /> Progressive rock analyst Edward Macan wrote that Emerson, Lake & Powell were closer to the "classic ELP sound" than ELP's own late-1970s output.<ref name=macanrockin366>Macan, ''Rocking the Classics'', p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=b98dJ3cYAksC&pg=PT366 PT366] and .</ref> By contrast, 3's only album sold poorly<ref name=classicbands /><ref name=larkin /> and drew comparisons to "the worst moments of ''Love Beach''"<ref name=macanrockin366 /> (which had been a commercial disaster for ELP<ref>{{cite book |last=Stump |first=Paul |date=2005 |title=Gentle Giant: Acquiring the Taste |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vrF7IklgSU8C&pg=PA140 |location=[[London]] |publisher=SAF Publishing |page=140 |isbn=978-0-946719-61-7}}</ref>).

[[File:Emerson, Lake & Palmer 07.jpg|thumb|left |Emerson performing with ELP in 1992]]

Emerson also toured briefly in 1990 with [[The Best (band)|The Best]], a supergroup including [[John Entwistle]] of [[The Who]], [[Joe Walsh]] of the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]], [[Jeff "Skunk" Baxter]] of [[Steely Dan]] and [[The Doobie Brothers]], and [[Simon Phillips (drummer)|Simon Phillips]]. This project focused on covering songs from each of the members' past bands.<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 520.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bbchron.blogspot.com/2011/01/best-kemerson-j-walsh-j-entwhistle.html |title=The Best (K.Emerson, J. Walsh, J. Entwhistle, J.Baxter, S.Phillips) - 1990-09-26 - Yokahama, Japan |author=BBKron |date=25 January 2011 |website=bbchron.blogspot.com |publisher=BB Chronicles |access-date=18 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010200722/http://bbchron.blogspot.com/2011/01/best-kemerson-j-walsh-j-entwhistle.html |archive-date=10 October 2011 }}</ref>

In the early 1990s, Emerson formed the short-lived group Aliens of Extraordinary Ability with [[Stuart Smith (musician)|Stuart Smith]], Richie Onori, Marvin Sperling and Robbie Wyckoff. The group's name came from the application process for a US [[visa (document)|work visa]], and the members included several British musicians who, like Emerson, had come to [[Los Angeles]] to further their careers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rogers |first=John |date=1 February 2008 |title=Star Power Helps With Green Card: Hollywood Loves Its Foreign-Born Actors, But They Still Have Immigration Hurdles.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-feb-01-et-expatriate1-story.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |location=[[Los Angeles, California]] |access-date=18 March 2016  |agency=[[Associated Press]]|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105231547/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/feb/01/entertainment/et-expatriate1 |archive-date=5 November 2011}}</ref> The group turned down a record deal with [[Samsung]] because of Emerson's commitment to an ELP reunion and Smith's involvement with a possible reformation of [[The Sweet]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockmusicstar.com/heavenearth/2013/3/24/heaven-earth-stuart-smith.html |title=Heaven & Earth - Stuart Smith |last1=Orwat |first1=Thomas S. Jr. |date=24 March 2013 |website=rockmusicstar.com |publisher=Rock Music Star (Thomas S. Orwat, Jr.) |access-date=18 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313033021/http://www.rockmusicstar.com/heavenearth/2013/3/24/heaven-earth-stuart-smith.html |archive-date=13 March 2016 |quote=...&nbsp;I was playing in a band called, Aliens of Extraordinary Ability, with Keith Emerson. We were offered a record deal with Samsung, but Keith decided to go back to Emerson, Lake and Palmer. I then got involved in the reformation of the band Sweet, which ended up not happening. }}</ref>

===1991–1998: Reunion with ELP===
In 1991, ELP reformed for two more albums (''[[Black Moon (album)|Black Moon]]'' (1992) and ''[[In the Hot Seat]]'' (1994)) and world tours in 1992–1993. After the 1993 tour, Emerson was forced to take a year off from playing due to a nerve condition affecting his right hand (see [[#Health issues|Health issues]]). Following his recovery, ELP resumed touring in 1996, including a successful US tour with [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]], but broke up again in August 1998.<ref name=classicbands />

===1998–2016===
[[File:Keith Emerson & Moog 15May10.jpg|thumb|right|Emerson with his "Monster Moog" synthesiser, May 2010]]
Emerson participated in The Nice's reunion tour and a 40th anniversary show for ELP, preceded by a short duo tour with Greg Lake.  Apart from these reunions, he continued his solo career, releasing solo and soundtrack albums, touring with his own Keith Emerson Band, and making occasional guest appearances. Starting in 2010, he increasingly focused on orchestral collaborations. A documentary film based on his autobiography was reportedly in production at the time of his death in 2016.

====Reunion shows====
In 2002 Emerson reformed and toured with The Nice, though performing a longer set of ELP music using a backing band including guitarist/vocalist [[Dave Kilminster]].<ref name=anderson>{{cite web |url=http://s159645853.websitehome.co.uk/rockreviews/elp/R02oct06crs.htm |title=Keith Emerson & The Nice: London Royal Festival Hall: 6 Oct 2002 |last1=Anderson |first1=Doug |date=November 2002 |website=s159645853.websitehome.co.uk/ |publisher=Rock Reviews (RockReviews.co.uk) |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005220747/http://s159645853.websitehome.co.uk/rockreviews/elp/R02oct06crs.htm |archive-date=5 October 2008 }}</ref> During the spring of 2010, he toured with Greg Lake in the United States and Canada, doing a series of "Intimate Evening" duo shows in which they performed newly arranged versions of the music of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Nice, and [[King Crimson]] as well as Emerson's new original composition.<ref name=prasadlake>{{cite web |url=http://www.innerviews.org/inner/lake.html |title=Greg Lake: New Perspectives |last1=Prasad |first1=Anil |author-link=Anil Prasad |date=2011 |website=innerviews.org |publisher=Innerviews |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150501201431/http://www.innerviews.org/inner/lake.html |archive-date=1 May 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2010/20100211-EmersonLakeTourInfo.html |title=An Intimate Evening With Keith Emerson & Greg Lake |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=4 April 2010 |website=KeithEmerson.com |publisher=Keith Emerson |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414184905/http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2010/20100211-EmersonLakeTourInfo.html |archive-date=14 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2010/20100211-EmersonLake-Tour-dates.html |title=An Intimate Evening With Keith Emerson & Greg Lake (USA Tour Dates 2010) |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=18 April 2010 |website=KeithEmerson.com |publisher=Keith Emerson |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722171353/http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2010/20100211-EmersonLake-Tour-dates.html |archive-date=22 July 2015 }}</ref> On 25 July 2010, a one-off Emerson, Lake & Palmer reunion concert closed the [[High Voltage Festival]] as the main act in [[Victoria Park, East London]], to commemorate the band's 40th anniversary.<ref name=prasadlake /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/x2rj | title=Emerson, Lake & Palmer High Voltage Review | publisher=BBC | access-date=12 March 2016 | author=Diver, Mike}}</ref>

====Solo career and Keith Emerson Band====
Emerson continued his solo and soundtrack work into the 2000s. His solo releases included the all-piano album ''Emerson Plays Emerson'' (2002),<ref name=glancey /> several compilations, and contributions to [[Pink Floyd]] and [[Led Zeppelin]] tribute albums (see [[#Discography|Discography]]). He was also one of three composers who contributed to the soundtrack for the Japanese ''[[kaiju]]'' film ''[[Godzilla: Final Wars]]'' (2004).<ref name=martin />

Following the August 2008 release of the album ''Keith Emerson Band Featuring Marc Bonilla'', Emerson also toured with his own self-named band in [[Russia]], the [[Baltic states|Baltic States]] and [[Japan]] between August and October 2008. The tour band members were [[Marc Bonilla]], Travis Davis and Tony Pia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2008/2008EEuroBalticTour.html |title=Eastern Europe and Baltic Tour 2008: Keith Emerson Band Featuring Marc Bonilla |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=25 August 2008 |website=KeithEmerson.com |publisher=Keith Emerson |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629154648/http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2008/2008EEuroBalticTour.html |archive-date=29 June 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2008/2008JapanTourInfo.html |title=Keith Emerson Band Featuring Marc Bonilla: Japan Tour Schedule and Ticket Information |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=1 September 2008 |website=KeithEmerson.com |publisher=Keith Emerson |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907033114/http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/2008/2008JapanTourInfo.html |archive-date=7 September 2011 }}</ref>

====Orchestral collaborations====
Japanese composer [[Takashi Yoshimatsu]] worked with Emerson to create an arrangement of ELP's song "[[Tarkus (song)|Tarkus]]", which premiered on 14 March 2010, performed by the [[Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra]].<ref name=shasho /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/keith-emerson/tarkus-by-tokyo-philharmonic-to-be-aired-in-japan-on-66/398630526751/ |title='Tarkus' by Tokyo Philharmonic to be Aired in Japan on 6/6 |last=Emerson |first=Keith |date=1 June 2010 |website=Facebook.com |publisher=Keith Emerson (official Facebook page) |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316062716/https://www.facebook.com/notes/keith-emerson/tarkus-by-tokyo-philharmonic-to-be-aired-in-japan-on-66/398630526751/ |archive-date=16 March 2016}}</ref> Yoshimatsu's arrangement has been featured in multiple live performances and two live recordings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.evmelia-festival.org/en/artists/composers/273-takashi-yoshimatsu-composer-in-residence-evmelia-v-2015-.html |title=Takashi Yoshimatsu: Composer-in-Residence (Evmelia V) 2016 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2016 |website=evmelia-festival.org |publisher=International Music Festival Evmelia |access-date=16 March 2016 |quote=He worked on the orchestration of Emerson Lake and Palmer's Work 'Tarkus' with much success leading to multiple Live Performances and 2 Live Recordings. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218144515/http://evmelia-festival.org/en/artists/composers/273-takashi-yoshimatsu-composer-in-residence-evmelia-v-2015-.html |archive-date=18 February 2016 }}</ref>

In September 2011, Emerson began working with Norwegian conductor [[Terje Mikkelsen]], along with the Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla and the [[Munich Radio Orchestra]], on new orchestral renditions of ELP classics and their new compositions. The project "The Three Fates" was premiered in [[Norway]] in early September 2012, supervised by Norwegian professor and musician [[Bjørn Ole Rasch]] for the Norwegian [[Grappa Music|Simax label]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.backgroundmagazine.nl/Gigreviews/20120903ThreeFatesProjElephant9.html |title=BACKGROUND MAGAZINE Concert Review: Three Fates Project & Elephant 9 Oslo |publisher=Backgroundmagazine.nl |date=3 September 2012 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Hägar |url=http://jurassic-rock.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/three-fates-project-elephant-9-live.html |title=File Under Jurassic Rock: Three Fates Project & Elephant 9 Live |publisher=Jurassic-rock.blogspot.co.uk |date=4 September 2012 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> The work received its UK live premiere on 10 July 2015 at London's [[Barbican Centre]], with the [[BBC Concert Orchestra]], as part of the celebration of the life and work of Robert Moog.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://moogsoundlab.uk/events.html |title=moogsoundlab.uk |publisher=moogsoundlab.uk |access-date=2016-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322171233/http://moogsoundlab.uk/events.html |archive-date=22 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Emerson made his conducting debut with Orchestra Kentucky of [[Bowling Green, Kentucky]] in September 2013. In October 2014, Emerson conducted the South Shore Symphony at his 70th birthday tribute concert at [[Molloy College]] in [[Rockville Centre]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. The concert also featured the premiere of his ''Three String Quartets'',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Danish |first1=Peter |title=BWW Reviews: Keith Emerson With the South Shore Symphony |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwclassical/article/BWW-Reviews-Keith-Emerson-With-the-South-Shore-Symphony-20141015 |access-date=11 April 2016 |agency=BWW Hub |date=14 October 2015}}</ref> and a performance of Emerson's "Piano Concerto No. 1" by Jeffrey Biegel.<ref name=malloyp1>{{cite news |last=Malloy |first=Mary |date=1 October 2014 |title='The Classical Legacy of a Rock Star': Keith Emerson's 70th Birthday Tribute Concert at Madison Theatre |url=http://liherald.com/baldwin/stories/The-Classical-Legacy-of-a-Rock-Star,59125?page=1&content_source= |newspaper=Baldwin Herald |location=[[Baldwin, Nassau County, New York]] |page=1 |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316073545/http://liherald.com/baldwin/stories/The-Classical-Legacy-of-a-Rock-Star%2C59125?page=1&content_source= |archive-date=16 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name=malloyp2>{{cite news |last=Malloy |first=Mary |date=1 October 2014 |title='The Classical Legacy of a Rock Star': Keith Emerson's 70th Birthday Tribute Concert at Madison Theatre |url=http://liherald.com/baldwin/stories/The-Classical-Legacy-of-a-Rock-Star,59125?page=2&content_source= |newspaper=Baldwin Herald |location=[[Baldwin, Nassau County, New York]] |page=2 |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316073812/http://liherald.com/baldwin/stories/The-Classical-Legacy-of-a-Rock-Star%2C59125?page=2&content_source= |archive-date=16 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name=malloyp3>{{cite news |last=Malloy |first=Mary |date=1 October 2014 |title='The Classical Legacy of a Rock Star': Keith Emerson's 70th Birthday Tribute Concert at Madison Theatre |url=http://liherald.com/baldwin/stories/The-Classical-Legacy-of-a-Rock-Star,59125?page=3&content_source= |newspaper=Baldwin Herald |location=[[Baldwin, Nassau County, New York]] |page=3 |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316074127/http://liherald.com/baldwin/stories/The-Classical-Legacy-of-a-Rock-Star%2C59125?page=3&content_source= |archive-date=16 March 2016 }}</ref>

====Other appearances and activities====
In 2000, Emerson was a featured panelist and performer at "The Keyboard Meets Modern Technology", an event honouring Moog presented by the [[Smithsonian]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], in conjunction with a gallery exhibition celebrating the 300th anniversary of the piano.<ref>{{cite news |last=Porter |first=Christopher |date=14 April 2000 |title=The Keyboard Meets Modern Technology |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/19445/the-keyboard-meets-modern-technology |newspaper=[[Washington City Paper]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930164443/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/19445/the-keyboard-meets-modern-technology |archive-date=30 September 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Crawford |first=Franklin |date=23 August 2005 |title=Robert Moog, Ph.D. '64, Inventor of the Music Synthesizer, Dies of Brain Cancer |url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2005/08/robert-moog-dies-71|newspaper=[[Cornell Chronicle]] |location=[[Ithaca, New York]] |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130045134/http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2005/08/robert-moog-dies-71 |archive-date=30 January 2016}}</ref> Emerson later headlined both the first and third [[Moogfest]], a festival held in honour of [[Robert Moog]], at the [[B.B. King|B. B. King Blues Club & Grill]] at [[Times Square]] in New York City, in 2004 and 2006 respectively.<ref>{{cite web |last=Emerson |first=Keith |author-link=Keith Emerson |url=http://www.keithemerson.com/Gallery/2004Appearances/18MayMoogFest/2004May18.html |title=Photos – 18 May 2004 – MoogFest |publisher=Official Website |date=18 May 2004 |access-date=10 November 2011 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312073544/http://www.keithemerson.com/Gallery/2004Appearances/18MayMoogFest/2004May18.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Mick |title=An Electrifying Journey: Origin of a Music Festival Celebrating Innovator Bob Moog |url=http://www.thetunedinn.com/article/electrifying-journey-origin-music-festival-celebrating-innovator-bob-moog |publisher=The Tuned Inn |location=Brooklyn, NY |date=29 September 2011 |access-date=10 November 2011 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312215658/http://thetunedinn.com/article/electrifying-journey-origin-music-festival-celebrating-innovator-bob-moog |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Emerson opened the [[Led Zeppelin]] reunion/[[Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert]] at the [[The O2 Arena (London)|O2 Arena]] in London on 10 December 2007,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/dec/16/popandrock.ledzeppelin | title=One Step Closer to Heaven | work=The Guardian | date=16 December 2007 | access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref> along with [[Chris Squire]] and [[Alan White (Yes drummer)|Alan White]] ([[Yes (band)|Yes]]) and [[Simon Kirke]] ([[Bad Company]]/[[Free (band)|Free]]). The supergroup played a new arrangement of "[[Fanfare for the Common Man (Emerson, Lake & Palmer song)|Fanfare for the Common Man]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Tim |date=February 2008 |title=Ahmet Ertegun Tribute: London Greenwich 02 Arena: 10th December, 2007 |url=http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/ahmet-ertegun-tribute |magazine=[[Record Collector]] |location=United Kingdom |publisher=[[Metropolis International|Diamond Publishing]] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313214654/http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/ahmet-ertegun-tribute |archive-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> Emerson also made a guest appearance in 2009 on [[Spinal Tap (band)|Spinal Tap]]'s album ''[[Back from the Dead (Spinal Tap album)|Back from the Dead]]'',<ref name="blabbermouth">{{cite web |title=SPINAL TAP: Entire New Album Available For Streaming |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=121958 |date=15 June 2009 |publisher=[[blabbermouth.net]] |access-date=15 June 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090618073503/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=121958| archive-date= 18 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> and played on several songs at Spinal Tap's "One Night Only World Tour" at [[Wembley Arena]] on 30 June 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last=McDermott |first=Lucy |date=1 July 2009 |title=Spinal Tap World Tour: For One Night Only |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/comedy/2009/07/spinal-tap-world-tour-for-one-night-only.shtml |work=BBC News |access-date=13 March 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313232047/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/comedy/2009/07/spinal-tap-world-tour-for-one-night-only.shtml |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=info@keith-emerson.com |url=http://www.keithemerson.com/MiscPages/2009/20090628-SpinalTap.html |title=Official Keith Emerson Website - Spinal Tap @ Wembley Arena |publisher=Keithemerson.com |access-date=13 March 2016 |archive-date=28 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228044648/http://www.keithemerson.com/MiscPages/2009/20090628-SpinalTap.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/spinal-tap/2009/wembley-arena-london-england-63d14a4f.html |title=Spinal Tap Concert Setlist at Wembley Arena, London on June 30, 2009 |publisher=setlist.fm |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>

In 2004 Emerson published his autobiography entitled ''Pictures of an Exhibitionist'', which dealt with his life up to his nearly career-ending nerve-graft surgery in 1993.<ref name=keautobio>{{cite book |last=Emerson |first=Keith |date=2004 |title=Pictures of an Exhibitionist |location=[[London]] |publisher=[[John Blake Publishing|John Blake Publishing, Ltd.]] |isbn=1-84454-053-7}}</ref><ref name=wakeman>{{cite news |last=Wakeman |first=Rick |author-link=Rick Wakeman |date=19 December 2003 |title=Naughty But Nice |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/dec/20/highereducation.biography |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=[[London]] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912175705/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/dec/20/highereducation.biography |archive-date=12 September 2014}}</ref> In 2007, Emerson began working with Canadian independent filmmaker Jason Woodford to make a documentary film based on his autobiography.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=28 August 2013 |title=West Kelowna Filmmaker to Tell Story of Keith Emerson |url=http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/221542171.html |newspaper=Kelowna Capital News |location=[[Kelowna]], [[British Columbia]] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313222931/http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/221542171.html |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=18 August 2013 |title=Emerson: Pictures of an Exhibitionist from Canada |url=http://worthingdaily.co.uk/entertainment/emerson-pictures-of-an-exhibitionist-from-canada/ |newspaper=Worthing Daily |location=[[Worthing]], [[West Sussex]] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819014519/http://worthingdaily.co.uk/entertainment/emerson-pictures-of-an-exhibitionist-from-canada/ |archive-date=19 August 2013 }}</ref> As of March 2016, production was still ongoing and the filmmakers were seeking funding to finish the film, according to the webpage of an artists' management company representing Emerson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/143631545730732/QEDG+Management |title=Emerson, Lake & Palmer |date=March 2016 |website=artisttrove.com |publisher=QEDG Management |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313224207/http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/143631545730732/QEDG%2BManagement |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Around the Christmas of 1969, Emerson married his Danish girlfriend Elinor Lund.<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 42.</ref> They had two sons, Aaron and Damon,<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 355.</ref> before they divorced in 1994. Emerson said it was his fault, as he had "fallen in love with someone else."<ref name=glancey/><ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 571.</ref> Emerson then had a long-term relationship with Mari Kawaguchi.<ref name=jablon>{{cite news |last=Jablon |first=Robert |date=12 March 2016 |title=Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer Dies at 71 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/keith-emerson-emerson-lake-palmer-dies-71-37587541 |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |website=ABC News |access-date=12 March 2016 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312065051/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/keith-emerson-emerson-lake-palmer-dies-71-37587541 |archive-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref>

In April 1975, Emerson's Sussex house burned down and he relocated to London.<ref name=IMRW75>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/emerson-moog/5014|title=Emerson/Moog|first=Ray|last=Hammond|magazine=International Musician and Recording World|date=June 1975|via=Muzines|access-date=28 June 2021}}</ref>

Emerson enjoyed flying as a hobby, and he obtained his pilot's licence in 1972. When Emerson moved to [[Santa Monica, California]] in the mid-1990s, [[John Lydon]], who had openly and harshly criticised ELP during the 1970s when Lydon was a member of the [[punk rock]] band [[Sex Pistols]], was Emerson's neighbour.<ref name=glancey /> The two became friends, with Lydon saying in a 2007 interview, "He's a great bloke".<ref name=jablon /> In 2002, Emerson was in the process of returning to live in England.<ref name=glancey />

===Health issues===
In 1993, Emerson was forced to take a year off from playing after he developed a nerve-related condition affecting his right hand that he likened to "writer's cramp", and that was also reported as a form of arthritis.<ref name=glancey /><ref>{{cite web |last=Perry |first=Shawn |date=October 1997 |title=Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Humphrey's By The Sea: San Diego, CA: September 30, 1997 |url=http://www.vintagerock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=262 |publisher=Vintage Rock |website=Vintagerock.com |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507132611/http://www.vintagerock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=262 |archive-date=7 May 2013 }}</ref> It marked a low period for Emerson, who was going through a divorce and having financial difficulties. He turned to alcohol, before a course of psychotherapy led to his move to Santa Monica. During his time off, he ran marathons, customised a [[Harley-Davidson]] motorcycle, and wrote film scores and his autobiography, ''Pictures of an Exhibitionist'', which opens and closes with an account of his illness and subsequent arm operation.<ref name=keautobio /><ref name=wakeman />

In 2002, Emerson had regained the full use of his hands and could play to his usual strength.<ref name=glancey /> In 2016, he was corresponding with a carpal-tunnel syndrome expert about his struggle with [[focal dystonia]], who said "Musicians can't talk about it because they won't get another gig if word gets out that they're in pain so they keep quiet."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-03-17|title=Keith Emerson Kept Secret Debilitating Physical Pain That Affects Millions, Expert Says|url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/03/17/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-may-have-played-part-in-keith-emersons-suicide-expert-says/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321062753/https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/03/17/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-may-have-played-part-in-keith-emersons-suicide-expert-says/|archive-date=2016-03-21|access-date=2021-04-04|website=CBSLA.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2010, Emerson underwent immediate surgery after a routine colonoscopy had revealed a "rather dangerous" polyp in his lower colon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greglake.com/Tour/2010_updates.html|website=greglake.com|title=Tour 2010|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082843/http://www.greglake.com/Tour/2010_updates.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Death==
[[File:Keith Emerson Grave.jpg|thumb|upright|Emerson's grave in [[Lancing, West Sussex]]]]

Emerson died on 11 March 2016 in Santa Monica, California, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.<ref name=savage /><ref name=lynch /><ref name=grinberg /> His body was found at his Santa Monica home.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/11/keith-emerson-of-emerson-lake-and-palmer-dies-at-71|title=Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer found dead aged 71|last1=Rawlinson|first1=Kevin |date=11 March 2016 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|location=[[London]]|access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319055916/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/11/keith-emerson-of-emerson-lake-and-palmer-dies-at-71 |archive-date=19 March 2016}}</ref> Following a [[autopsy|post-mortem]], the medical examiner ruled Emerson's death a suicide, and concluded that he had also had [[heart disease]] and [[Major depressive disorder|depression]] associated with alcohol.<ref name=savage /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/keith-emerson-s-death-ruled-a-suicide-l-a-coroner-says-1.11581198 |title=Keith Emerson's death ruled a suicide, L.A. coroner says |newspaper=[[Newsday]] |location=[[Long Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]] |date=16 March 2016 |access-date=16 March 2016 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316161952/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/keith-emerson-s-death-ruled-a-suicide-l-a-coroner-says-1.11581198 |archive-date=16 March 2016 }}</ref> According to Emerson's girlfriend Mari Kawaguchi, Emerson had become "depressed, nervous, and anxious" because nerve damage had hampered his playing, and he was worried that he would perform poorly at upcoming concerts in Japan and disappoint his fans.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lawler |first=David |date=13 March 2016 |title=Keith Emerson's Girlfriend Says He Killed Himself Because He Feared Disappointing His Fans |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/12192653/Keith-Emersons-girlfriend-says-he-killed-himself-because-he-feared-disappointing-his-fans.html |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |location=[[London]] |access-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313172140/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/12192653/Keith-Emersons-girlfriend-says-he-killed-himself-because-he-feared-disappointing-his-fans.html |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Oppenheim |first=Maya |date=13 March 2016 |title=Keith Emerson's Girlfriend Says He Was a 'Perfectionist' and 'Sensitive Soul'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/keith-emersons-girlfriend-says-the-thought-he-wouldnt-play-perfectly-made-him-depressed-nervous-and-a6928506.html |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |location=[[London]] |access-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314045114/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/keith-emersons-girlfriend-says-the-thought-he-wouldnt-play-perfectly-made-him-depressed-nervous-and-a6928506.html |archive-date=14 March 2016 }}</ref>

Emerson was buried on 1 April 2016 at Lancing and Sompting Cemetery, [[Lancing, West Sussex]].<ref name=kielty>{{cite magazine |last=Kielty |first=Martin|url=http://teamrock.com/news/2016-04-04/keith-emerson-lake-palmer-death-laid-to-rest |title=Keith Emerson laid to rest |magazine=TeamRock.com |date=4 April 2016 |access-date=4 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404182842/http://teamrock.com/news/2016-04-04/keith-emerson-lake-palmer-death-laid-to-rest|archive-date=4 April 2016}}</ref> Although his death had been reported by news sources and an official Emerson, Lake and Palmer [[social media]] page as having occurred on the night of 10 March,<ref name=lynch /><ref name=grinberg /> his grave memorial gives his date of death as 11 March 2016.<ref name=kielty />{{efn|Emerson's death occurred on 10 March local time, which was 11 March in the UK}}

His former ELP bandmates, [[Carl Palmer]] and [[Greg Lake]], both issued statements on his death. Palmer said, "Keith was a gentle soul whose love for music and passion for his performance as a keyboard player will remain unmatched for many years to come."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=11 March 2016 |title=Keith Emerson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer Keyboardist, Dead at 71 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/keith-emerson-emerson-lake-and-palmer-keyboardist-dead-at-71-20160311 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location=New York City  |access-date=20 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312093601/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/keith-emerson-emerson-lake-and-palmer-keyboardist-dead-at-71-20160311 |archive-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref> Lake said, "As sad and tragic as Keith's death is, I would not want this to be the lasting memory people take away with them. What I will always remember about Keith Emerson was his remarkable talent as a musician and composer and his gift and passion to entertain. Music was his life and despite some of the difficulties he encountered I am sure that the music he created will live on forever."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Greg-Lake-Releases-Statement-on-Passing-of-Keith-Emerson-20160312 |title=Greg Lake Releases Statement on Passing of Keith Emerson |last1=Brady |first1=Louisa  |date=12 March 2016 |website=Broadway World |access-date=13 March 2016 | url-status=live |archive-date=13 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313033606/http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Greg-Lake-Releases-Statement-on-Passing-of-Keith-Emerson-20160312}}</ref> Lake died later that same year of pancreatic cancer.<ref name="nytobit2">{{cite news |last=Grimes |first=William |author-link=William Grimes (journalist) |date=8 December 2016 |title=Greg Lake, of King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Dies at 69 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/08/arts/music/greg-lake-dies.html}}</ref>

A tribute concert featuring [[Brian Auger]], [[Jordan Rudess]], [[Eddie Jobson]], Aaron Emerson, [[Steve Lukather]], [[Steve Porcaro]], [[Marc Bonilla]], and [[Rachel Flowers]] took place at the [[ El Rey Theatre (Los Angeles)|El Rey Theatre]]. Proceeds from sales of the DVD go to the [[Dystonia]] Medical Research Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ewing|first=Jerry|date=2020-01-14|title=Keith Emerson Tribute Concert DVD screening announced|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/keith-emerson-tribute-concert-dvd-screening-announced|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Prog Magazine|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wiggins|first=Kevin|date=2020-11-03|title=Keith Emerson Tribute Concert Coming As 3-Disc Set|url=https://www.antimusic.com/news/20/November/03Keith_Emerson_Tribute_Concert_Coming_As_3-Disc_Set.shtml|access-date=2021-04-04|website=antiMusic|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Playing style==
Emerson sometimes reached into the interior of his piano and hit, plucked, or strummed the strings with his hand. He said that as a keyboard player, he hated the idea of being "static" and that to avoid it, he "wanted to get inside the piano, brush the strings, stick Ping-Pong balls inside".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Milano |first1=Domenic |last2=Doerschuk |first2=Robert L. |editor-last=Doerschuk |editor-first=Robert L. |date=2002 |title=Playing From the Heart: Great Musicians Talk About Their Craft |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qJF3h2Qe4sUC&pg=PA95 |chapter=Keith Emerson: Star Power |location=[[San Francisco, California]] |publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation|Backbeat Books]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/playingfromheart00doer/page/95 95] |isbn=978-0-87930-704-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/playingfromheart00doer/page/95 }}</ref> "Take a Pebble" included Emerson strumming the strings of his piano, a technique pioneered by [[avant-garde music|avant-garde]] composer [[Henry Cowell]], referred to as [[string piano]].<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 114.</ref> In the Nice's 1968 live performance of "Hang on to a Dream" on the German television program ''[[Beat-Club]]'' (later released on DVD in 1997), Emerson can be seen and heard reaching inside his grand piano at one point and plucking its strings.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=[[The Nice]] (musical performers) |year=1997 |title=Beat-Club - The Best Of '68 |medium=Music video (playlist available via Discogs.com)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Beat-Club-The-Best-Of-68/release/3956800 |access-date=13 March 2016 |format=DVD |location=Germany |publisher=Studio Hamburg }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.totalmusicgeek.com/2009/12/nice-hang-on-to-dream-1969.html |title=The Nice – "Hang on to a Dream" (1969) |last1=Kerr |first1=Drew |date=29 December 2009 |website=totalmusicgeek.com |publisher=Total Music Geek (Drew Kerr) |access-date=13 March 2016 |quote=Emerson was clearly in charge&nbsp;... even plucking the piano strings at one point. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413053123/http://www.totalmusicgeek.com/2009/12/nice-hang-on-to-dream-1969.html |archive-date=13 April 2011 }}</ref>

In addition to such experimentation, Emerson also incorporated unique musical stylization into his work. Emerson is recognized for having integrated different sounds into his writing, utilizing methods of both horizontal and vertical contrast. Horizontal contrast is the use of distinct styles in a piece of music, combined by alternating between two different segments (in Emerson's case, most frequently alternating classical and non-classical); this technique can be seen in numerous works, such as "Rondo", "Tantalising Maggie", "[[The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack]]" and others. Vertical contrast is the combination of multiple styles simultaneously; Emerson frequently played a given style with one hand and a contrasting one with the other. This structure can be seen in works such as "Intermezzo from the Karelia Suite", "Rondo", and others. Emerson's love of modern music such as Copland and Bartok was evident in his open voicings and use of fifths and fourths, "Fanfare" emulated guitar power chords. He also used dissonance, atonality, sonata and fugue forms, exposing rock and roll audiences to  myriad classical styles from Bach to Stravinsky.<ref name="style">{{cite journal
| first1= Akitsugu| last1= Kawamoto| year= 2005| title= 'Can You Still Keep Your Balance?': Keith Emerson's anxiety of influence, style change, and the road to prog superstardom| journal= Popular Music| volume= 24| issue= 2| edition= 5th| publisher= [[Cambridge University Press]]| location= London| doi=10.1017/S0261143005000425| pages= 227–230| s2cid= 145724563}}</ref>

==Instrumentation==
Emerson used a variety of electronic keyboard instruments during his career, including several [[Hammond organ]]s and synthesisers by [[Moog Music]], [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]], and [[Korg]]. From time to time he also used other instruments such as [[pipe organs]], a [[grand piano]], a [[clavinet]], and very briefly, a [[Mellotron]].<ref name=reid>{{cite magazine |last=Reid |first=Gordon |date=May 1995 |title=Keith Emerson's Keyboard Clearout: Exploration |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/keith-emersons-keyboard-clearout |magazine=[[Sound on Sound]] |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |publisher=soundonsound.com |access-date=12 March 2016 | url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606070855/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_articles/may95/keithemerson.html |archive-date=6 June 2015}}</ref> During his ELP years, Emerson toured with a large amount of gear, taking thirteen keyboard units to a December 1973 show at [[Madison Square Garden]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Weigel |first=David |date=15 August 2012 |title=Prog Spring: Prog Comes Alive! Emerson, Lake and Palmer at Madison Square Garden, 1973 |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/prog_spring/features/2012/prog_rock/prog_comes_alive_emerson_lake_palmer_at_madison_square_garden_1973_promo_ill_cast_comedy_for_fools_the_birth_of_prog.html |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |location=[[New York City]]  |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831105331/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/prog_spring/features/2012/prog_rock/prog_comes_alive_emerson_lake_palmer_at_madison_square_garden_1973_promo_ill_cast_comedy_for_fools_the_birth_of_prog.html |archive-date=31 August 2012 }}</ref> and later travelling with a large [[Yamaha GX-1]] that required eight roadies to move it.<ref name=reid /> Michael "Supe" Granda of [[The Ozark Mountain Daredevils]] recalled Emerson's organ rig as being "as large as [the Daredevils'] entire stage plot".<ref>{{cite book |last=Granda |first=Michael Supe |date=2008 |title=It Shined: The Saga of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VGrDqgm9TC8C&pg=PA231 |location=[[Bloomington, Indiana]] |publisher=[[AuthorHouse]] |page=231 |isbn=978-1-4343-9165-0}}</ref>

===Pre-ELP equipment and Hammond organs===
Initially a piano player, Emerson obtained his first [[Hammond organ]], an L-100, after hearing jazz organist [[Jack McDuff]] and becoming frustrated with broken [[Action (piano)|hammers]] inside pianos.<ref name=milano /> Around 1968, during his time with the Nice, he added a second Hammond organ, the more expensive C-3, and placed the two organs sideways and facing each other so he could stand between the two keyboards and play both with his unobstructed body facing the audience.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://geb.uni-giessen.de/geb/volltexte/2000/319/pdf/p000002.pdf |title=Hidden Behind His Instruments or Acting as Entertaining Frontman: Where Is the Keyboarder? |last1=Einbrodt |first1=Ulrich Dieter, Dr. |website=geb.uni-giessen.de/ |publisher=[[University of Giessen]] |location=[[Giessen]], [[Hesse]], [[Germany]] |access-date=14 March 2016 |quote=Strikingly, he (Emerson) was often using two Hammonds, as can be seen at a Beat-Club performance in 1970/71. Both set up in right angle to stage and facing their keys, with Emerson standing in the middle, playing both of them simultaneously and in this way usually facing the audience. That was his favourite position, no matter if his equipment was left, right, or center of the stage and he continues to act this way in the 90s. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611010546/http://geb.uni-giessen.de/geb/volltexte/2000/319/pdf/p000002.pdf |archive-date=11 June 2007 }}</ref> Emerson preferred the sound of the C-3 as being "far superior" to the cheaper L-100, and used the L-100 to "throw around and make it feed back".<ref name=milano /><ref name=vail>{{cite book |last=Vail|first=Mark |title=The Hammond Organ: Beauty in the B|publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation]] |location=[[New York City]] |date=2002 |edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SbxJAgAAQBAJ&q=l100+emerson&pg=PT125 |isbn=978-0-87930-705-9}}</ref> Emerson got the L-100 to feed back by placing it close to the onstage speakers and using a [[fuzzbox]].<ref name=milano /> He continued to perform physical abuse stunts with the L-100 to some degree throughout his years with ELP.<ref name=kegear>{{cite web |url=http://www.brain-salad-surgery.de/keith_emersons_gear.html |title=Keith Emerson's Gear |author=Lothar |date=31 January 2016 |website=brain-salad-surgery.de |publisher=Brain Salad Surgery |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310125305/http://www.brain-salad-surgery.de/keith_emersons_gear.html |archive-date=10 March 2016 }}</ref>

Throughout his career, Emerson owned a number of L-100 models in various states of repair to support his act. These organs were also specially reinforced and modified to enhance their sound and help prevent damage while on tour, and were reported to weigh 300 to 350 pounds.<ref name=frost>{{cite magazine |last=Frost |first=Matt |date=April 2009 |title=Tech That: Keith Wechsler: On the Road With Keith Emerson |url=http://www.performing-musician.com/pm/apr09/articles/techthat.htm |magazine=Performing Musician |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |publisher=performing-musician.com |access-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120916230042/http://www.performing-musician.com/pm/apr09/articles/techthat.htm |archive-date=16 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> By contrast, his C-3 organ was not used for stunts and Emerson continued to play his original C-3 for many years, using it on all the ELP albums and tours throughout the 1970s.<ref name=kegear /> He also owned several other Hammond organ models in addition to the L-100s and the C-3.<ref name=vail /> When Emerson sold much of his gear in the mid-1990s, his Hammond organs were among the items he kept as being "too personal to let go".<ref name=reid /> The remains of one L-100 that failed and burned during a 1990s ELP show in Boston were donated to the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref name=frost />

===ELP equipment and Moog synthesisers===
[[File:Emerson moog.jpg|thumb|right|Emerson with the [[Moog synthesizer]] (c.1977)]]

With ELP, Emerson added the Moog synthesiser behind the C-3 with the keyboard and [[ribbon controller]] stacked on the top of the organ.<ref name=kegear /> The ribbon controller allowed Emerson to vary pitch, volume or timbre of the output from the Moog by moving his finger up and down the length of a touch-sensitive strip. It also could be used as a phallic symbol, and outfitted with a small rocket launcher, it quickly became a feature of the act.<ref name=cateforis /> He continued to divide his keyboard setup into two banks so that he could play between them with his body in view.<ref name=cateforis /> When the ultra-compact Moog [[Minimoog]] first appeared it was placed where needed, such as on top of the grand piano. A [[Hohner]] [[clavinet]] L, with reversed black and white keys, was also part of Emerson's keyboard rig. Although it could be heard on numerous album pieces, according to Emerson, it was only used for one song, "[[Nut Rocker]]" in concert.<ref name=reid />

During the ''Brain Salad Surgery'' tour of 1974, Emerson's keyboard setup included the Hammond C-3 organ, run through multiple [[Leslie speaker]]s driven by HiWatt guitar amplifiers, the Moog 3C modular synthesiser (modified by addition of various modules and an [[oscilloscope]]) with ribbon controller, a [[Steinway & Sons|Steinway]] concert grand piano with a Minimoog synthesiser on top of it, an upright acoustic-electric piano that was used for honky-tonk piano sounds, a Hohner Clavinet and another Minimoog synthesiser. Emerson also used a prototype polyphonic synthesiser produced by Moog, which was the test bed for the Moog [[Polymoog]] polyphonic synthesiser. The original synthesiser setup as envisioned by Moog was called the Constellation, and consisted of three instruments – the polyphonic synthesiser, called the Apollo, a monophonic lead synthesiser called the Lyra, and a bass-pedal synthesiser, called the [[Moog Taurus|Taurus]], but Emerson never used the Taurus.<ref name=kegear />

===Pipe organs===
Occasionally Emerson used a [[pipe organ]], when available, in live performances and on recordings. He played the [[Royal Albert Hall Organ]] at a show with The Nice on 26 June 1968, where the band controversially burned a painting of an [[Flag of the United States|American flag]] onstage to protest against the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>Emerson, ''Pictures'', p. 102–103.</ref> The stunt caused a storm of objections in the US and The Nice received a lifetime ban from the venue.<ref name=TG16>{{cite news|last=Sweeting |first=Adam |author-link=Adam Sweeting |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/13/keith-emerson-obituary |title=Keith Emerson obituary  |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=13 March 2016 |access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saskatoontalenteducation.com/great-music-the-nice-elegy.html |title=Great Music The Nice - Elegy |publisher=Saskatoontalenteducation.com |access-date=25 March 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

With ELP, Emerson used the [[Royal Festival Hall#The organ|Royal Festival Hall organ]] for the "Clotho" segment of "The Three Fates" on the 1970 [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer (album)|eponymous debut album]] by ELP.<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 119.</ref> He played this organ again in 2002 to open The Nice reunion tour show, but according to a reviewer, the organ failed to operate at the expected volume.<ref name=anderson />

The [[Newcastle City Hall#Organ|Newcastle City Hall organ]] was used for the introductory section of ''Pictures at an Exhibition'', recorded there live on 26 March 1971.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Holland |first=Roger |date=11 September 2007 |title=Emerson Lake and Palmer: Pictures at an Exhibition |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/emerson-lake-and-palmer-pictures-at-an-exhibition/ |magazine=[[PopMatters]] |publisher=Sarah Zupko |access-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314073912/http://www.popmatters.com/review/emerson-lake-and-palmer-pictures-at-an-exhibition/ |archive-date=14 March 2016 }}</ref> Emerson was recorded playing the organ at St. Mark's Church in London for "The Only Way (Hymn)" on the 1971 ELP album ''[[Tarkus]]''.<ref>Romano, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=UIqkCAAAQBAJ&pg=PT134 PT134.]</ref>

===Yamaha Electone GX-1 synthesiser===
After founder Robert Moog left Moog Music in the late 1970s, Emerson began to consider using synthesisers made by other companies.<ref name=reid /> Emerson became one of the few buyers of the [[Yamaha GX-1]] polyphonic synthesiser, which reportedly cost almost $50,000. The GX-1 was subsequently used on the ELP album ''[[Works Volume 1]]'', particularly on the song "[[Fanfare for the Common Man (Emerson, Lake & Palmer song)|Fanfare for the Common Man]]", and on tour.<ref name=reidCS80>{{cite web |url=http://www.gordonreid.co.uk/vintage/cs80.html |title=The Yamaha CS80 |last1=Reid |first1=Gordon |date=18 May 2013 |website=gordonreid.co.uk |publisher=Gordon Reid |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917022815/http://www.gordonreid.co.uk/vintage/cs80.html |archive-date=17 September 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> It can be seen in ELP's ''Works Orchestral Tour'' video<ref name=reidCS80 /> and in promotional photos and videos from 1977 featuring the band playing "Fanfare" outdoors during a snowstorm in [[Montreal]]'s [[Olympic Stadium (Montreal)|Olympic Stadium]].<ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 385.</ref> Emerson later bought a second GX-1 from [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]] of [[Led Zeppelin]], and used parts from it to repair his original GX-1, which was damaged by a tractor crashing into Emerson's home studio.<ref name=reid /><ref name=achilles>{{cite web |url=http://led-zeppelin.org/current-news/1901-that-one-time-that-keith-emerson-bough-john-paul-jones-yamaha-gx-1-synth |title=That One Time That Keith Emerson Bought John Paul Jones' Yamaha GX-1 Synth |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=12 March 2016 |website=led-zeppelin.org |publisher=Achilles Last Stand |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312162138/http://led-zeppelin.org/current-news/1901-that-one-time-that-keith-emerson-bough-john-paul-jones-yamaha-gx-1-synth |archive-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref>

Emerson sold much of his keyboard equipment in the 1990s when he relocated from England to [[Santa Monica, California]].<ref name=reid /> The John Paul Jones GX-1 was sold to film composer [[Hans Zimmer]], while Emerson's original GX-1 was sold to Italian keyboardist Riccardo Grotto.<ref name=achilles /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.matrixsynth.com/2011/06/john-paul-jones-yamaha-gx-1-with.html |title=John Paul Jones Yamaha GX-1 with Programmer Up for Auction? |author=Matrix, via John |date=13 June 2011 |website=Matrixsynth.com |publisher=Matrixsynth: Everything Synth |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312161708/http://www.matrixsynth.com/2011/06/john-paul-jones-yamaha-gx-1-with.html |archive-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref>

===Korg synthesisers===
In the late 1970s, Emerson also began to use the [[Korg PS-3300]] and PS-3100, which at the time were among the world's first fully polyphonic synthesizers. These Korgs appeared on the ELP album ''[[Love Beach]]'', and Emerson continued to use them into the 1980s for his solo album ''Honky'' and his soundtrack work. He also became an official endorser for the PS-3300 and PS-3100 in the early 1980s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emersonlakepalmer.de%2Fcontent%2Felp_equipment.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl= |title=Emerson, Lake & Palmer – ELP Equipment: Part 1: The Korg PS 3000 Series or Emerson's Fateful Decision  |last1=Franco |first1=Bernd Hoffmann |website=emersonlakepalmer.de |publisher=Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Die ELP-History-Website (original site in German) |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218135904/http://emersonlakepalmer.de/content/elp_equipment.htm |archive-date=18 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Mark |date=2007 |title=Analog Synthesizers: Understanding, Performing, Buying: From the Legacy of Moog to Software Synthesis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iI77AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA83 |location=[[Burlington, Massachusetts]] |publisher=[[Focal Press]] |page=83 |isbn=978-0-240-52072-8}}</ref>

By the late 2000s, Emerson was employing "a host of Korg gear" including the [[Korg OASYS]] and [[Korg Triton]] Extreme [[music workstation]] synthesisers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://i.korg.com/Artist.aspx?artist=85 |title=Keith Emerson: The Orchestration of a Legend |last1=Whitmore |first1=Laura B. |date=January 2009 |website=i.korg.com |publisher=[[Korg]] |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313204708/http://i.korg.com/Artist.aspx?artist=85 |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref> A review of the DVD release of ELP's 2010 one-off reunion show said that the Korg OASYS "appear[ed] to be Emerson's go-to instrument", although he also used a Hammond C-3 and a Moog with a ribbon controller onstage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theclevelandsound.com/?p=9073 |title=ELP Reunites For 40th Anniversary DVD |last1=Roche |first1=Pete |date=26 September 2011 |website=theclevelandsound.com |publisher=The Cleveland Sound |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016092223/http://www.theclevelandsound.com/?p=9073 |archive-date=16 October 2011 }}</ref>

==Honours and awards==
In December 1980 ''Contemporary Keyboard'' magazine announced, in their Fifth Annual Readers' Poll, that Emerson had—for the fifth time in a row—captured first place in two categories – '"Overall Best Keyboardist" and "Best Multi-Keyboardist". The five-time wins put Emerson in their "Gallery Of The Greats" for both categories. The same poll also saw Emerson take "Best Rock Organist" for the fourth time and "Best Lead Synthesist".<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=December 1980|title=Fifth Annual Poll Results|magazine=[[Keyboard (magazine)|Contemporary Keyboard]] | publisher=GPI Publications | location=[[San Francisco, California]]| page=11}}</ref>

In March 2010 Emerson received the annual [[Frankfurter Musikpreis|Frankfurt Music Prize]] for his achievements, awarded in [[Frankfurt]] on the eve of the annual [[Musikmesse Frankfurt|Musikmesse]] fair.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bae |first=David |date=19 March 2010 |title=The Frankfurt Music Prize 2010 Goes to Keith Emerson |url=http://us.aving.net/news/view.php?articleId=150480 |publisher=Aving Global Network |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313233539/http://us.aving.net/news/view.php?articleId=150480 |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}</ref>

In September 2013 Orchestra Kentucky of [[Bowling Green, Kentucky|Bowling Green]] gave Emerson their Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts and Humanities "for his role in bringing classical music to the masses".<ref name=malloyp2 /><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=29 September 2013 |title=Worthing's Keith Emerson Receives Lifetime Achievement Award |url=http://worthingdaily.co.uk/news/keith-emerson-receives-lifetime-achievement-award/ |newspaper=Worthing Daily |location=[[Worthing]], [[West Sussex]] |access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930015936/http://worthingdaily.co.uk/news/keith-emerson-receives-lifetime-achievement-award/ |archive-date=30 September 2013 }}</ref>

In 2014 Emerson was inducted into the Hammond Hall of Fame by the Hammond Organ Company.<ref name=hammondhof>{{cite web |url=http://hammondorganco.com/artists/organ-and-leslie-artists/keith-emerson/ |title=Keith Emerson: Hammond Hall Of Fame-2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2014 |publisher=Hammond Organ Company |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905084041/http://hammondorganco.com/artists/organ-and-leslie-artists/keith-emerson/ |archive-date=5 September 2015 }}</ref>

==Discography==
===Solo works===
====Studio albums====
* ''Honky'' (1981) (digitally re-mastered 2013)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shop.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4390 |title=Cherry Red Records – Honky – Keith Emerson |publisher=Shop.cherryred.co.uk |date=28 October 2013 |access-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331152004/http://shop.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4390 |archive-date=31 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ''The Christmas Album'' (1988)
* ''Changing States'' (1995)
* ''Emerson Plays Emerson'' (2002)
* ''Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla'' (2008)
* ''The Three Fates Project'' (with [[Marc Bonilla]], [[Terje Mikkelsen]]) (2012)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grappa.no/en/simax-classics/cd-dvd-three-fates-project-keith-emerson-band-in-symphony/ |title=Grappa musikkforlag CD+DVD: Three Fates Project. Keith Emerson Band in Symphony |publisher=Grappa.no |date=23 September 2015 |access-date=13 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323024806/http://www.grappa.no/en/simax-classics/cd-dvd-three-fates-project-keith-emerson-band-in-symphony/ |archive-date=23 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Live albums====
* ''Boys Club – Live from California'' (with [[Glenn Hughes (English singer)|Glenn Hughes]], Marc Bonilla) (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/boys-club-live-from-california-mw0001737718 |title=Boys Club: Live from California - Marc Bonilla, Keith Emerson, Glenn Hughes  |website=AllMusic |date=30 January 2009 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>
* ''Moscow'' (with Keith Emerson Band Featuring Marc Bonilla) CD & DVD (2010)<ref>{{cite web|first=Thom |last=Jurek |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/moscow-mw0002055757 |title=Moscow - Keith Emerson Band, Keith Emerson  |website=AllMusic |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>
* ''Live from Manticore Hall'' (with [[Greg Lake]]) (2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-from-manticore-hall-mw0002684021 |title=Live From Manticore Hall – Keith Emerson, Greg Lake  |website=AllMusic |date=28 May 2010 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>

====Soundtrack albums====
* ''[[Inferno (soundtrack)|Inferno]]'' (1980)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/r511516 |title=Emerson: Inferno &#91;Original Motion Picture Soundtrack&#93; - Keith Emerson &#124; AllMusic |first=K. |last=Dryden |work=allmusic.com |year=2011 |access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref>
* ''[[Nighthawks (1981 film)|Nighthawks]]'' (1981)<ref>{{cite web|first=Ken |last=Dryden |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/nighthawks-mw0000837391 |title=Nighthawks - Keith Emerson  |website=AllMusic |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>
* ''[[Murder Rock|Murderock]]'' (1984)<ref>{{cite web|first=Victor W. |last=Valdivia |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/murderock-mw0000529431 |title=Murderock - Keith Emerson  |website=AllMusic |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>
* ''Best Revenge'' (1985)<ref>{{cite web|first=Victor W. |last=Valdivia |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/best-revenge-original-soundtrack-mw0000840298 |title=Best Revenge [Original Soundtrack&#93; - Keith Emerson  |website=AllMusic |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>
* ''[[Genma Taisen|Harmageddon]]''/''China Free Fall'' (1987) — Split album with Derek Austin. Emerson did the ''Harmageddon'' soundtrack while Austin did the ''China Free Fall'' soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ken |last=Dryden |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/harmageddon-china-free-fall-mw0000838048 |title=Harmageddon/China Free Fall - Keith Emerson  |website=AllMusic |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>
* ''Iron Man Vol. 1'' (2001) 
* ''[[The Church (1989 film)|La Chiesa]]'' (2002) — Music from the 1989 horror film ''The Church'', also known as ''La chiesa''. Also contains material by [[Fabio Pignatelli]] and [[Goblin (band)|Goblin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/la-chiesa-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000524491 |title=La Chiesa (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |website=AllMusic |access-date=17 March 2016}}</ref>
* ''[[Godzilla: Final Wars]]'' (2004)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-the-final-tribute-album-for-godzilla-mw0000471035 |title=This Is the Final Tribute Album for Godzilla - Original Soundtrack  |website=AllMusic |date=4 January 2005 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>

====Compilations====
* ''Chord Sampler'' (1984)
* ''The Emerson Collection'' (1986)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.proggnosis.com/Release_Detail.aspx?RID=28125 |title=The Emerson Collection by KEITH EMERSON songs, tracks list, members, credits, reviews, information, discography on ProGGnosis |publisher=Proggnosis.com |date=1 February 2009 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>
* ''At the Movies'' (2005)<ref>{{cite web|author=AllMusic Review |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/at-the-movies-mw0000377375 |title=At the Movies - Keith Emerson  |website=AllMusic |date=22 November 2005 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>
* ''Hammer It Out – The Anthology'' (2005)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/hammer-it-out-the-anthology-mw0000530972 |title=Hammer It Out: The Anthology - Keith Emerson  |website=AllMusic |date=19 July 2005 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>
* ''Off the Shelf'' (2006)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/off-the-shelf-mw0000533344/releases | website = AllMusic | title = Keith Emerson – Off the Shelf | access-date = 13 March 2016}}</ref>

====Singles====
* "Honky Tonk Train Blues" ([[Meade Lux Lewis|Lewis]]) b/w "Barrelhouse Shake-Down" (1976)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010jsrm |title=BBC One – Top of the Pops, 22/04/1976 |publisher=BBC|date=23 April 2011 |access-date=11 March 2016}}</ref> — <small>[ITA #1] [UK #21]</small><ref name=honkytonkchart />

===Contributions===
* "[[In the Flesh?]]" (2 versions) and "[[Waiting for the Worms]]" on [[Pink Floyd]] tribute album ''[[Back Against the Wall]]'' (2005)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Back-Against-The-Wall-A-Tribute-To-Pink-Floyd/release/4985225 |title=Various – Back Against The Wall (A Tribute to Pink Floyd) |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2016 |website=Discogs.com |publisher=[[Discogs]] |access-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212023325/http://www.discogs.com/Various-Back-Against-The-Wall-A-Tribute-To-Pink-Floyd/release/4985225 |archive-date=12 February 2015}}</ref>
* "[[Black Dog (Led Zeppelin song)|Black Dog]]" on [[Led Zeppelin]] tribute album ''Led Box: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute'' (2008)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/led-box-the-ultimate-led-zeppelin-tribute-mw0000582795 |title=Various Artists: Led Box: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2016 |website=Allmusic.com |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227234942/http://www.allmusic.com/album/led-box-the-ultimate-led-zeppelin-tribute-mw0000582795 |archive-date=27 February 2014}}</ref>
* [[Ayreon]] – "Progressive Waves" on ''[[The Theory of Everything (Ayreon album)|The Theory of Everything]]'' (2013)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/a_2/ayreon-the-theory-of.htm|title=Ayreon - The Theory Of Everything (Review by Andrija "TheIslander" Petrovic)|last=Steinmetal|access-date=24 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826095931/http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/a_2/ayreon-the-theory-of.htm|archive-date=26 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Spinal Tap (band)|Spinal Tap]] – "Heavy Duty" on ''[[Back from the Dead (Spinal Tap album)|Back from the Dead]]''

===As part of a group===
* [[The Nice#Discography|The Nice discography]]
* [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer discography]]
* [[Emerson, Lake & Powell#Discography|Emerson, Lake & Powell discography]]
* [[3 (1980s band)#Discography|3 discography]]
* [[The Best (band)|The Best]] A band including [[Joe Walsh]], [[Jeff "Skunk" Baxter]], [[John Entwistle]] and [[Simon Phillips (drummer)|Simon Phillips]], they recorded a DVD of a live concert in Yokohama Japan, on the 26 September 1990 which was published in 2010.

==Pieces based on other works==

Emerson occasionally [[Cover version|covered]] or [[Sampling (music)|sampled]] other musical works in his compositions. Permission to use pieces was sometimes denied by the composer or his family; for example [[Gustav Holst]]'s daughter refused to grant official permission for rock bands to perform her late father's composition ''Mars, the Bringer of War''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/artists/gustav-holst/biography/ |title=About Gustav Holst |last1=Eder |first1=Bruce |date=2016 |website=MTV.com |publisher=MTV |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314025608/http://www.mtv.com/artists/gustav-holst/biography/ |archive-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> However, a number of composers did grant permission for their works to be used. [[Aaron Copland]] said that there was "something that attracted [him]" about ELP's version of "Fanfare for the Common Man", and so approved its use, although he said, "What they do in the middle (i.e., the modal section between repeats of Copland's theme), I'm not sure exactly how they connect that with my music".<ref name=copland>{{cite AV media |people=[[Aaron Copland]] (Interviewee) |year=2007 |title=From The Beginning (Disc 4, Track 1) |medium=CD Audio recording |language=en  |time=CD |publisher=Castle Music UK  }}</ref> [[Alberto Ginastera]], on the other hand, enthusiastically approved Emerson's electronic realisation of the fourth movement of his first piano concerto, which appeared on their album ''Brain Salad Surgery'' under the title "Toccata". Ginastera said, "You have captured the essence of my music, and no one's ever done that before."<ref name=bachcantatas>{{cite web |url=http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Ginastera-Alberto.htm |title=Alberto Ginastera (Composer) |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=16 May 2013 |website=bach-cantatas.com |publisher=Bach Cantatas Website |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327172734/http://bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Ginastera-Alberto.htm |archive-date=27 March 2014 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPgTvMZvJOI&t=4075s Emerson discussing his first meeting with Ginastera], at YouTube</ref>

===With The Nice===
* "America, 2nd Amendment", from ''[[West Side Story (musical)|West Side Story]]''{{'s}} "[[America (West Side Story song)|America]]", by [[Leonard Bernstein]], credited, quoting [[Antonín Dvořák]]'s Symphony No. 9, ''[[Symphony No. 9 (Dvořák)|From the New World]]'', uncredited.<ref name=hollyq /><ref>Macan, ''Endless Enigma'', p. 22.</ref>
* "Rondo", derived from [[Dave Brubeck]]'s "Blue Rondo à la Turk", uncredited, quoting Bach, ''[[Italian Concerto]]'' third movement, uncredited.<ref name=hollyq />
* "Diary of an Empty Day", from ''[[Symphonie Espagnole]]'' by [[Édouard Lalo]], credited.<ref name=hollyq />
* "Azrael Revisited", quoting [[Sergei Rachmaninoff]]'s ''Prelude in C-sharp minor'', credited.<ref name=hollyq />
* "[[Ars Longa Vita Brevis (album)|Ars Longa Vita Brevis]]" – Bach, the third ''[[Brandenburg Concerto]]'', Allegro, credited.<ref name=hollyq />
* "[[Karelia Suite|Intermezzo from the Karelia Suite]]" – [[Sibelius]], credited.<ref name=hollyq />
* "Pathetique", third movement from [[Tchaikovsky]]'s Symphony No. 6, credited.<ref name=hollyq />
* "[[She Belongs to Me]]", by [[Bob Dylan]], credited, quoting Bach, uncredited,<ref>Duxbury, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2-wyCE21VEQC&pg=PA162 162].</ref> and fragments of the theme from ''[[The Magnificent Seven]]'', by [[Elmer Bernstein]], uncredited.<ref name=hollyq />
* "[[Nashville Skyline|Country Pie]]", by [[Bob Dylan]], credited, lyrics partly set to Bach, the sixth [[Brandenburg Concerto]], credited.<ref name=hollyq />

===With ELP===
* "The Barbarian", based on ''[[Allegro barbaro (Bartók)|Allegro barbaro]]'', Sz. 49, BB 63 by [[Béla Bartók]], uncredited on US release of ''[[Emerson Lake & Palmer (album)|Emerson Lake & Palmer]]'' (credited on the British Manticore re-pressing of the original LP).<ref name="Donohoe">{{cite news |last=Donohoe |first=Peter |date=12 March 2016 |title=How Keith Emerson's Inventiveness Influenced My Musical Career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/12/how-keith-emersons-inventiveness-influenced-my-musical-career |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312173344/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/12/how-keith-emersons-inventiveness-influenced-my-musical-career |archive-date=12 March 2016 |access-date=27 March 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref>
* "[[Knife-Edge (Emerson, Lake & Palmer song)|Knife-Edge]]", based on the [[Sinfonietta (Janáček)|Sinfonietta]] by [[Leoš Janáček]], uncredited on US release (credited on the British Manticore re-pressing of the original LP); middle section based on the Allemande from ''[[French Suites]]'' No. 1 in D minor, by [[J. S. Bach]], uncredited.<ref name="Donohoe"/>
* "The Only Way (Hymn)", incorporating (in the song's introduction and bridge) J. S. Bach's '[[Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540|Organ Toccata in F]] and Prelude VI from Book I of the [[Well-Tempered Clavier]]', credited on ''[[Tarkus]]''.<ref>Duxbury, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2-wyCE21VEQC&pg=PA358 358].</ref>
* "Are You Ready Eddy?", based on the tune of [[Bobby Troup]]'s song "[[The Girl Can't Help It (song)|The Girl Can't Help It]]" and including a quote from the [[Assembly (bugle call)|Assembly]] [[bugle call]], both uncredited (on ''Tarkus'').<ref>Emerson, ''Pictures'', p. 205.</ref>
* ''[[Pictures at an Exhibition]]'', by [[Modest Mussorgsky]], credited.<ref name=hollyq />
* "Blues Variation" from ''[[Pictures at an Exhibition (Emerson, Lake & Palmer album)|Pictures at an Exhibition]]'' also contains an uncredited quote of the 'head' of [[Bill Evans]]' minor blues piece "[[Interplay (Bill Evans album)|Interplay]]" (1:52), and [[Miles Davis]]' "Weirdo"([[Ballads and Blues (Miles Davis album)]]), (aka [[Walkin']]) (2:45).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brain-salad.com/Emerson/quote-list.txt |title=Keith Emerson Musical Quote List Sorted By Composer |last1=Plotcyk |first1=Steven |last2=Smith |first2=Jim |date=31 May 2006 |website=brain-salad.com |publisher=ELP Digest (fan website) |access-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151028133256/http://www.brain-salad.com/Emerson/quote-list.txt |archive-date=28 October 2015 }}</ref>
* "[[Nut Rocker]]", adapted by [[Kim Fowley]], credited, from [[Tchaikovsky]]'s "March of the Wooden Soldiers", uncredited.<ref name=hollyq />
* "Hoedown", from ''[[Rodeo (ballet)|Rodeo]]'' by [[Aaron Copland]], credited, quoting "[[Shortnin' Bread]]" and "[[Turkey in the Straw]]", both traditional.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Epstein |first1=Dan |last2=Gehr |first2=Richard |last3=Heller |first3=Jason | date=11 March 2016 |title=Emerson, Lake and Palmer: 10 Essential Songs |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/emerson-lake-and-palmer-10-essential-songs-20160311 |magazine=Rolling Stone |location=[[New York City]]  |access-date=14 March 2016 |quote=...&nbsp;East European elements find their way into his rollicking organ and Moog arrangement alongside American folk tunes like 'Shortnin' Bread' and 'Turkey in the Straw.' |url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312094711/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/emerson-lake-and-palmer-10-essential-songs-20160311 |archive-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref>
* "Abaddon's Bolero", quoting "[[The Girl I Left Behind]]", traditional.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thebigpictureandthecloseup.com/blog/?p=3309 |title=Someone Must Have Sent That To Kemp, Or, Not Enough Friends |last1=Gohn |first1=Jack L. B. |date=26 August 2012 |website=thebigpictureandthecloseup.com |publisher=Jack L.B. Gohn |access-date=14 March 2016 |quote=Once you hear (Abaddon), you know that it's mostly true to classical form, in that the triplet-heavy melody keeps repeating itself, but every time louder and with more bells and whistles, even cranking in a phrase from the folksong The Girl I Left Behind Me before it's all over[.] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314051411/http://www.thebigpictureandthecloseup.com/blog/?p=3309 |archive-date=14 March 2016 }}</ref>
* "[[And did those feet in ancient time|Jerusalem]]", by [[Hubert Parry|C. Hubert H. Parry]], credited.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ladiesofthelake.com/cabinet/bssliner.html |last=McCulley |first=Jerry |title=Liner Notes from the DVD-A of Brain Salad Surgery |website=ladiesofthelake.com |publisher=Ladies of the Lake - A Greg Lake Tribute Site |access-date=2 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820025400/http://www.ladiesofthelake.com/cabinet/bssliner.html |archive-date=20 August 2015 }}</ref>
* "[[Maple Leaf Rag]]", by [[Scott Joplin]] (in ''[[Works Volume 2]]''), credited.<ref name=hollyq />
* "Toccata", from a piano concerto by [[Alberto Ginastera]], endorsed by the composer, credited.<ref name=bachcantatas />
* "Karn Evil 9, 2nd Impression", quoting "[[St. Thomas (song)|St. Thomas]]", a [[Caribbean]] melody sometimes attributed to [[Sonny Rollins]], uncredited.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brain-salad-surgery.de/karn_evil_9.html |title=Karn Evil 9: Songs: 2nd Impression |last1=Emerson |first1=Keith |date=2016 |website=brain-salad-surgery.de |publisher=Brain Salad Surgery |access-date=14 March 2016 |quote=The 'Caribbean solo' of the 2nd Impression was played on a Minimoog (an interpolation of the song 'St. Thomas' by Sonny Rollins). |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310113115/http://www.brain-salad-surgery.de/karn_evil_9.html |archive-date=10 March 2016 }}</ref>
* "[[Fanfare for the Common Man]]", by [[Aaron Copland]], credited.<ref name=copland />
* ''[[Carmina Burana (Orff)|Carmina Burana]]'', by [[Carl Orff]], quoted in an extended solo in live recordings from Poland.<ref>Duxbury, p. 75.</ref>
* With Emerson, Lake & Powell, the main theme to "Touch & Go" is identical to the English folk song "[[Lovely Joan]]", better known as the counterpoint tune in [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]]' ''Fantasia on Greensleeves''. Not credited.<ref>Vaughan Williams: Greensleeves/Tallis Fantasia. The New Queen's Hall Orchestra/Wordsworth. Argo 440 116–2 (1994)</ref><ref>Duxbury, p. 76.</ref>
* With Emerson, Lake & Powell, "Mars" is based on the equivalent movement from the suite ''[[The Planets]]'', by [[Gustav Holst]]. Credited.<ref name=duxbury359>Duxbury, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2-wyCE21VEQC&pg=PA359 359].</ref>
* "Romeo & Juliet" from the ''[[Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev)|Romeo and Juliet]]'' suite by [[Sergei Prokofiev]], credited.<ref name=duxbury359 />
* "Love at First Sight" intro, [[Étude Op. 10, No. 1 (Chopin)|Étude Op. 10, No. 1]], by [[Frédéric Chopin]], uncredited.<ref>Duxbury, p. 73.</ref>

== Songs composed by Emerson (alone or with contributions from others) ==
Besides his "Piano Concerto", there are several examples of Emerson creativity in original composition. Since the late Sixties he wrote a wide typology of pieces in different musical styles ranging from pop rock songs such as "Flower King of Flies", "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack", "Happy Freuds" to complex pieces including transversal influences from baroque to contemporary and jazz, anticipating the progressive genre ("For Example", "Five Bridges Suite"). During the seventies alongside arrangements of classic tracks and  Lake's ballads, a decisive element of EL&P's albums are the compositions featuring music entirely written by Emerson. His trademark is a very varied range of musical approach: songs with a hard rock impact with a jazz flavour such as "Bitches Crystal", "A Time and a Place", "Living Sin", examples of country or stride piano such as "Jeremy Bender" or "Benny the Bouncer", and adventurous instrumentals difficult to classify in one genre, such as "The Three Fates", "Tank" and "Abaddon's Bolero". The more structured and complex epic tracks such as "Tarkus", "Trilogy", "The Endless Enigma", "[[Karn Evil 9]]", "Pirates", "Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentleman" are all Emerson’s compositions. As a soloist, after his "Piano Concerto" a period of compositions recorded with the orchestra opened during the early Eighties ("Inferno", "Nighthawks", "Orchestral Suite to Best Revenge"). In the following decades Emerson composed many pieces for piano, such as "The Dreamer", "And Then January", "Outgoing Tide", "Broken Bough" and "Soulscapes", displaying an intimate and crepuscular inspiration, also reiterated in orchestral pieces such as "Glorietta Pass" and "After All of This". Funky and dance rhythms can be found in several songs present in the ''Murderock'' and ''Nighthawks'' soundtracks, whereas in some tracks of ''Godzilla Final Wars'' the sound are those of the 2000s. A return to the visionary and tumultuous style of progressive music is represented by the album recorded under the name of the Keith Emerson Band, which includes the long suite "The House Of Ocean Born Mary" co-written with Marc Bonilla.

See the section below for a list of songs composed or co-composed by Emerson.

=== With Keith Emerson Trio ===

* "Winkle Picker Stamp" (Emerson)
* "56 Blues" (Emerson)

=== With The Nice ===

* "Flower King" of Flies (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
* "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" (O'List, Emerson)
* "Tantalising Maggie" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
* "Dawn" (Davison, Emerson, Jackson)
* "The Cry of Eugene" (O'List, Emerson, Jackson)
* "The Diamond Hard Blue Apples Of The Moon" (Emerson, O'List, Davison, Jackson)
* "Daddy Where Did I Come From?" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
* "Little Arabella" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
* "Happy Freuds" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
* "Ars Longa Vita Brevis: Prelude, 2nd Movement", "4th Movement e Coda" (Emerson, O'List, Davison, Jackson)
* "For Example" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)
* "The Five Bridges Suite: Fantasia, Chorale, High Level Fugue, Finale"
* "One of Those People" (Emerson; lyrics: Jackson)

=== With Emerson Lake & Palmer/Emerson Lake & Powell/Three ===

* "The Three Fates: Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos" (Emerson)
* "Tank" (Emerson, Palmer)
* "Rave Up" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
* "Tarkus: Eruption, Stones of Years, Iconoclast, Mass, Manticore, Aquatarkus" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "Jeremy Bender" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "Bitches Crystal" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "The Only Way/Infinite Space" (Emerson, Bach; lyrics: Lake)
* "A Time and a Place" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
* "The Old Castle" (Emerson, Mussorgsky)
* "Blues Variation" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
* "The Curse Of Baba Yaga" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
* "The Endless Enigma" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "The Sheriff" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "Trilogy" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "Living Sin" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
* "Abaddon's Bolero" (Emerson)
* "Benny the Bouncer" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "Karn Evil 9 1st, 2nd, 3rd Impression" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake, Sinfield)
* "Piano Concerto n.1: Allegro Giojoso, Andante Molto Cantabile, Toccata con Fuoco" (Emerson)
* "L.A.Nights" (Emerson, Palmer)
* "Pirates" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake, Sinfield)
* "[[Tiger in a Spotlight]]" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer, Sinfield)
* "When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
* "Brain Salad Surgery" (Emerson, Lake, Sinfield)
* "Barrelhouse Shake-Down" (Emerson)
* "So Far To Fall" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake, Sinfield)
* "The Gambler" (Emerson, Lake, Sinfield)
* "Memoirs Of An Officer And A Gentleman: Prologue / The Education Of A Gentleman, Love At First Sight, Letters From The Front, Honourable Company (A March)" (Emerson; lyrics: Sinfield)
* "Introductory Fanfare" (Emerson)
* "The Score" (Emerson)
* "Learning To Fly" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "The Miracle" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "Touch And Go" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "Love Blind" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "Step Aside" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "Lay Down Your Guns" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake, Gould)
* "Vacant Possession" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "Lover to Lover" (Emerson, Berry, Palmer)
* "Desde la Vida" (Emerson, Berry, Palmer)
* "On My Way Home" (Emerson)
* "Black Moon" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
* "Paper Blood" (Emerson, Lake, Palmer)
* "Farewell To Arms" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "Changing States" (Emerson)
* "Close To Home" (Emerson)
* "Better Days" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "A Blade of Grass" (Emerson)
* "Hand of Truth" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "One By One" (Emerson, Lake, Olsen)
* "Thin Line" (Emerson, Wray, Olsen)
* "Change" (Emerson, Wray, Olsen)
* "Street War" (Emerson; lyrics: Lake)
* "A Cajun Alley" (Emerson)

=== Solo ===

* ''Inferno'' (soundtrack): 15 tracks (Emerson; lyrics on "Mater Tenebrarum": Emerson/Salmon)
* ''Nighthawks'' (soundtrack): 10 tracks (Emerson; lyrics on "Nighthawking": Mark Mueller)
* "Salt Cay" (Emerson)
* "Green Ice" (Emerson)
* "Rum-a-ting (Emerson)"
* "Jesus Loves Me (Emerson)"
* ''Harmagedon'' (soundtrack): 6 tracks (Emerson; lyrics on Children of the Light: Tony Allen)
* ''Murderock'' (soundtrack): 11 tracks (Emerson; lyrics on 3 tracks: Doreen Chanter)
* ''Best Revenge'' (soundtrack): 5 tracks and 1 orchestral suite
* "My Name is Rain" (Emerson; lyrics: Lorna Wright)
* "Snowman's Land" (Emerson)
* "Captain Starship Christmas" (Emerson; lyrics: Lorna Wright)
* "[[Up the Elephant and Round the Castle]]" (Emerson; lyrics: [[Jim Davidson]])
* "Empire of Delight" (Emerson; lyrics: [[Peter Hammill]])
* "Airport Of Silence" (Emerson, Tate; lyrics: [[Troy Tate]])
* "Last Ride Into The Sun" (Emerson, Berry, Palmer)
* ''La Chiesa'' (soundtrack): 3 tracks (Emerson)
* "Shelter from the Rain" (Emerson, Bonilla, Gilbert)
* "Another Frontier" (Emerson)
* "Ballade" (Emerson)
* "The Band Keeps Playing" (Emerson, Bonilla, Gilbert)
* "Interlude" (Emerson)
* "Vagrant" (Emerson)
* "Solitudinous" (Emerson)
* "Broken Bough" (Emerson)
* "Outgoing Tide" (Emerson)
* "Roll'n Jelly" (Emerson)
* "B & W Blues" (Emerson)
* "For Kevin" (Emerson)
* "Hammer It Out" (Emerson)
* "Ballad For A Common Man" (Emerson)
* "Nilu's Dream" (Emerson)
* "Lament For Tony Stratton Smith" (Emerson)
* "And Then January" (Emerson)
* "Rio" (Emerson)
* "Soulscapes" (Emerson)
* "Asian Pear" (Emerson)
* "Motor Bikin'" (Emerson)
* "Katoh-San" (Emerson)
* "Star Strike Theme" (Emerson)
* ''Iron Man'' (soundtrack): 1 track and 5 suites (Emerson)
* ''Godzilla Final Wars'' (soundtrack): 13 tracks (Emerson)
* "Land of the Rising Sun" (Emerson)
* "New Orleans" (Emerson)
* "Middle of a Dream" (Emerson, Bonilla, Hughes)
* "The House Of Ocean Born Mary: Ignition, 1st Presence, Last Horizon, Crusaders Cross, Fugue, 2nd Presence, Blue Inferno, 3rd Presence, Prelude To A Hope" (Emerson; 3 tracks: Emerson, Bonilla)
* "The Art of Falling Down" (Emerson, Bonilla)
* "Gametime" (Emerson, Bonilla)
* "One By One" (Emerson, Berry)
* "What You're Dreaming Now" (Emerson, Berry)
* "Somebody's Watching" (Emerson, Berry)
* "Your Mark On The World" (Emerson, Berry)
* "Sailors Horn Pipe" (Emerson, Berry)
* "Never" (Emerson, Berry)
* "Beyond The Stars" (Emerson)
* "Glorietta Pass" (Emerson)
* "After All Of This" (Emerson)

==Literature==
* {{cite book
 | last =Ford 
 | first =Peter T.
 | title =The compositional style of Keith Emerson in Tarkus (1971) for the rock music trio Emerson, Lake and Palmer 
 | publisher =Indiana State University
 | date =1994 
 | location =Terre Haute 
 | url =
 | doi =
 | id =
 | isbn =
 | mr =
 | zbl =
 | jfm = }} (Thesis M.A.)

==In popular culture==
On the UK surreal television comedy series ''[[Big Train]]'', [[Kevin Eldon]] portrayed Emerson as a [[Roman slave]] fighting his enemies with [[progressive rock]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boingboing.net/2011/12/19/keith-emerson-fights-with-the.html |title=Keith Emerson Fights With the Power of Prog Rock |last1=Pescovitz |first1=David |date=19 December 2011 |website=boingboing.net |publisher=[[Boing Boing]] |access-date=21 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222180857/http://boingboing.net/2011/12/19/keith-emerson-fights-with-the.html |archive-date=22 December 2011 }}</ref>

The long-running comic-strip character ''Keef da Blade''  in the [[Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge]], student newspaper ''Lachesis'' (1970s)<ref>Brooke, C., ''A History of Gonville and Caius College'' — Boydell Press (1996). {{ISBN|978-0-85115-423-7}}.</ref>  is based largely on Emerson, the character's name being presumably a reference to his trademark stage antics with knives.

==See also==
* [[List of Hammond organ players]]
* [[List of Moog synthesiser players]]

==Footnotes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|25em}}

==Further reading==
* Emerson, Keith (2003), ''Pictures of an Exhibitionist: From the Nice to Emerson, Lake and Palmer – The True Story of the Man Who Changed the Sound of Rock'', [[John Blake (journalist)|John Blake]], {{ISBN|1-84454-053-7}}
* Forrester, George, Martyn Hanson and Frank Askew. ''Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Show That Never Ends, A Musical Biography''. (2001) Helter Skelter Publishing {{ISBN|1-900924-17-X}}.
* {{Cite thesis |type=D.M.A. |title=The Published Music of Keith Emerson: Expanding the Solo Piano Repertoire |url=http://athenaeum.libs.uga.edu/handle/10724/23179 |last=Lupis |first=Giuseppe |date=May 2006 |publisher=University of Georgia |access-date=7 January 2015 |oclc=223323019 }}
* Macan, Edward (2006), ''Endless Enigma: A Musical Biography of Emerson, Lake and Palmer'', Feedback Series in Contemporary Music, Vol. 4, Open Court, {{ISBN|978-0-8126-9596-0}}
* {{Cite thesis |type=D.M.A. |title=Keith Emerson: The Emergence and Growth of Style: A Study of Selected Works |url=https://catalog.library.jhu.edu/catalog/bib_281881 |last=Pethel |first=Blair |date=1988 |publisher=Peabody Conservatory of Music |oclc=37599731 |access-date=7 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108010520/https://catalog.library.jhu.edu/catalog/bib_281881 |archive-date=8 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Keith Emerson}}
* {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20230807202334/https://www.keithemerson.com/}} (archived)
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p17314}}
* {{discogs artist|Keith Emerson}}
* {{IMDb name|0256230}}
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/keith-emerson Keith Emerson Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Collection]]

{{The Nice}}
{{Emerson, Lake & Palmer}}

{{Authority control}}

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