Electric piano recordings began to grow in popularity in the late 1950s thanks to pioneers like Ray Charles and Sun Ra. In the 1960s, rock bands like the Animals and the Beatles began incorporating Wurlitzers, Fender Rhodes, and other electric pianos into their recordings. This mix focuses on the second generation of electric pianists (most of them jazzmen), who emerged in the late '60s and early '70s and made electric keyboards a staple of their repertoire -- artists like Stanley Cowell, Joe Zawinul, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Ramsey Lewis. Today, you can hear their influence in the stylings of Madlib, Wilco, Money Mark, and many others. (Note: In this mix, you'll also find a few timeless recordings from contemporary artists that feature electric keys).
