Pianist
- This article deals with those who play the piano. For other uses, see pianist (disambiguation).
A pianist is a person who plays the piano.
A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an orchestra or smaller ensemble, or accompany one or more singers or solo instrumentalists.
A performing classical pianist usually starts playing piano at a very young age, some as early as three years old. Many well-known classical composers were capable pianists themselves; for example, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, Frederic Chopin, Robert Schumann, and Sergei Rachmaninoff were all virtuoso pianists. Most pianists, to some degree, specialize in performing the music of either certain composers or certain periods.
Most western forms of music can make use of the piano. Consequently, pianists have a wide variety of forms and styles to choose from, including jazz, classical music, and all sorts of popular music.
Below is a list of well-known or influential pianists of different genres.
Classical pianists
See also List of classical pianists.
- Martha Argerich
- Claudio Arrau
- Alfred Brendel
- Alfred Cortot
- Georges Cziffra
- Ignaz Friedman
- Emil Gilels
- Glenn Gould
- Josef Hofmann
- Vladimir Horowitz
- Byron Janis
- Wilhelm Kempff
- Josef Lhevinne
- Dinu Lipatti
- Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
- Benno Moiseiwitsch
- Ignace Paderewski
- Sergei Rachmaninoff
- Sviatoslav Richter
- Anton Rubinstein
- Artur Rubinstein
- Artur Schnabel
- Krystian Zimerman
Pop music pianists
- Tori Amos
- Richard Clayderman
- Vanessa Carlton
- Jo Ann Castle
- Nick Cave
- Russ Conway
- Gavin DeGraw
- Ben Folds
- Billy Joel
- Elton John
- Norah Jones
- Rickie Lee Jones
- Liberace
- Alicia Keys
- Oksana Kolesnikova
- Freddie Mercury
- Jamie Short
- Barry Manilow
- Joni Mitchell
- Laura Nyro
- Brenda Russell
- Peter Skellern
Jazz pianists
Blues pianists
- Ray Charles also jazz, and country music
- Fats Domino
- Little Willie Littlefield
- Professor Longhair
- Jimmy Yancey
- Otis Spann
See the List of boogie woogie musicians for more blues players.
Country pianists
- Owen Bradley, also a record producer
- Floyd Cramer, "Last Date"
- Mickey Gilley, cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart
- Jerry Lee Lewis, also rock and roll
- Ronnie Milsap
- Moon Mullican, "I'll Sail My Ship Alone"
- Charlie Rich
- Hargus "Pig" Robbins, legendary session player
- Fred Rose, also a music publisher
- Del Wood, "Down Yonder"
Other genres
Well known gospel or contemporary Christian pianists include:
- Keith Green
- Jimmy Swaggart
- Luke Ferdinand V
- Richard Clayderman, commercially-oriented contemporary pianist who also features recordings of classical composers.