Claparul de origine britanica Keith Emerson, membru al formatiei de rock progresiv Emerson, Lake & Palmer, a decedat, vineri dimineata, in casa sa din California, dupa ce si-a tras un glont in cap. Politistii au declarat ca ar fi vorba de o sinucidere. Compozitorul ave 71 de ani.
Nascut in 1944 in satul Todmorden din comitatul Yorkshire, Emerson a fost claparul mai multor trupe ale anilor 1960, printre care si The Nice. El era cunoscut ca membru fondator al trupei Emerson, Lake & Palmer, un asa-numit ”super grup”, format in 1970, care reunea muzicieni rock cunoscuti. Din trupa mai faceau parte, alaturi de Emerson, basistul Greg Lake, care facuse parte din King Crimson si tobosarul si percutionistul Carl Palmer, un veteran al mai multor formatii britanice celebre. ”Keith a fost o persoana sensibila, a carei dragoste fata de muzica si pasiune pentru concertele in care canta la pian vor ramane fara pereche pentru multi ani de acum incolo. El a fost un pionier si un inovator al carui geniu muzical ne-a impresionat pe toti cei din lumea rockului, a muzicii clasice sau a jazzului”, a declarat Palmer pe site-ul sau. Formatia a lansat patru albume de studio de-a lungul anilor 1970, inclusiv albumul de debut si continuarile acestuia, “Tarkus”, lansat in 1971. Acesta a ajuns pe locul fruntas al clasamentului Billboard 200, conform Billboard.com. Emerson a mai cantat si ca muzician solo si a scris autobigrafia sa “Pictures of an Exhibitionist,” in 2004.
“Lucky Man”
He had white horses
And ladies by the score
All dressed in satin
And waiting by the door
Ooooh, what a lucky man he was
Ooooh, what a lucky man he was
White lace and feathers
They made up his bed
A gold covered mattress
On which he was led
Ooooh, what a lucky man he was
Ooooh, what a lucky man he was
He went to fight wars
For his country and his king
Of his honor and his glory
The people would sing
Ooooh, what a lucky man he was
Ooooh, what a lucky man he was
A bullet had found him
His blood ran as he cried
No money could save him
So he laid down and he died
Ooooh, what a lucky man he was
Ooooh, what a lucky man he was