After THESE SIX, I don't know what else can be said ...
But sometimes I'm bored, I guess - so I'll just keep adding to this ...

ELP released their "Trilogy" album in 1972, with the gem "From The Beginning." I have to say that this song IMMEDIATELY blew me away the very first time I heard it. And at my first opportunity to hear the rest of the album, I immediately had a new "favorite band." And I also knew what I wanted to do in life - I never thought that I would EVER be able to play like Keith Emerson - or as fantastic as Rick Wakeman (from YES) but I sure as hell wanted to try and learn.

Needless to say, ELP's "Brain Salad Surgery" the following year was a real foray into the mindscape, too. "Karn Evil 9" is on it, you know "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends ..."
I mean, who the hell ELSE writes stuff like that - plays with that ability ...???!!!

Aerosmith played a big part in influencing me to want to become a rock and roll musician, too - especially being "local boys." Ditto for The J. Geils Band, The Cars, Boston and a few others - both then, and later on.

On the "softer rock" side, Elton John's earlier music definitely had a big influence upon me, as did Supertramp's - especially their "Crime Of The Century" album (from 1974). James Taylor,Cat Stevens, Carole King - I think that all of them - and others - really made me want to create meaningful ballads, too - especially where my favorite instrument is piano. I was also listening to Jackson Browne's first album a lot at this time, and Neil Young's masterpiece "Harvest" - as well as his earlier "Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere" with Crazy Horse. Graham Nash's "Songs For Beginners" and Stephen Stills' first solo album really caught my attention, too.

Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin ...

The list is endless, really ...

And even today - these many years later - lots of the newer bands continue to influence me ...

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