Free Republic

Keith Emerson, the outsized co-founding keyboardist in Emerson Lake and Palmer has died. Long-time bandmate Carl Palmer’s publicist has posted a message that confirms Emerson’s passing last night (March 10) in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 71. “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,” Palmer said. “He was a pioneer and an innovator whose musical genius touched all of us in the worlds of rock, classical and jazz.”

When I was in high school, none of us had ever heard anything like this music. It was life changing. I will never forget sitting in Bill Barret's trailer in Plainview TX listening to this album over and over. RIP Keith.

Not sure if this has been posted here yet but Keith Emerson of the 70's band Emerson, Lake and Palmer has been found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 71 and living in California.

Rock star Keith Emerson killed himself because he feared he was no longer good enough as a musician, his girlfriend exclusively told The Mail on Sunday last night. The 71-year-old founder and keyboard player of Emerson, Lake and Palmer was 'tormented with worry' about upcoming concerts in Japan because nerve damage to a hand had affected his playing, said Mari Kawaguchi. She found Emerson's body when she returned to the apartment the couple shared in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, early on Friday morning. He had shot himself with a gun he kept for protection. 'Keith wasn't feeling well on Thursday...