When I was growing up, I used to watch my Dad and his band rehearse in our den.  Hanging on the wall, directly behind the dummer, was a poster of a strange armadillo that was also a tank.  I later found out that the armadillo was named Tarkus and he was the star of his very own album by a group called Emerson, Lake, and Palmer.

I just heard the very sad news that the Emerson in Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, the legendary Keith Emerson, died yesterday.  He was 71 years old.

Whether it was as a member of the Nice, ELP, the Best, or the Keith Emerson Band or as a solo soundtrack artist, Keith Emerson is one of the men who made synthesizers cool.  After starting out playing a Hammond organ, Emerson soon discovered and popularized the Moog synthesizer.  In doing so, he changed music forever.

Rest in peace, Maestro Emerson and thank you for the music.

The one, the only Keith Emerson