Film making

Over the past fifty years some of the top songs have been sung and performed by piano men. There has always been something special about a singer who tickled the ivories, and there have been great piano hits across many genres.

Thanks to the recent movie about his life, the first person who may spring to mind is Ray Charles. Jamie Foxx re-created his life in the movie and won an Oscar for his performance, but some of that certainly had to do with the music that Ray Charles gave us. 1954′s I Got A Woman was the start of a career that lasted until his recent death at the age of 73. Though of all the songs he performed it was a cover version of a Hoagy Carmichael song that many think of when they think of him. Georgia On My Mind, which he released in 1960, and won a Grammy for, was also named the State of Georgia’s official song in the late Seventies.

Also in the Fifties and one of the men responsible for introducing Rock ‘n Roll to the world was Jerry Lee Lewis. His wild behavior, on and off stage, brought him a lot of attention. But for many his song Great Balls Of Fire remains a Rock ‘n Roll and piano classic. His performances were unique and crazy, and he would often play the piano with his feet, stomping on the keys and revving up crowds.

He was only twelve when he started in the early sixties, but that did not stop Stevie Wonder. Nothing much did, he was a young black man during a difficult time in America’s history, and, he was blind. But nothing was a handicap to his talent, and in his youth he learnt to play a few instruments and wrote some incredible songs. Throughout his 50 year career he was written hits like My Cherie Amour, Higher Ground, For Once In My Life, I Just Called To Say I Love You and Part Time Lover to name just a few.

Perhaps the biggest showman of them all continues to entertain audiences today in Las Vegas, the one and only Elton John. From his first hit Crocodile Rock to songs like Don’t Go Breaking My Heart and Rocket Man, to the musical hit The Lion King, Elton John has written some of the twentieth century’s most memorable songs. He adapted his own song, Candle In The Wind, originally written about Marilyn Monroe, for the funeral of Princess Diana, performing it live for viewers across the world.

When he wrote his iconic song The Piano Man, Billy Joel made his mark on the music industry and gave him his first top 40 hit of many. Over the next decade he continued to write a few more hits like The Entertainer, It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me and Uptown Girl amongst others.

Today artists like Alicia Keys in the USA, and Jamie Cullum in the UK, continue the trend of the singing pianist, churning out piano hits across the globe. Alicia Keys’ Falling was one of the biggest hits of 2001 and she won five Grammy awards the following year.

For more information on all aspects of piano playing visit Piano Hits or check out – Piano Hits