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Famous Female Keyboardists

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Updated July 3, 2024 20.2K views 12 items

List of famous female keyboardists, listed by their level of prominence with photos when available. This greatest female keyboardists list contains the most prominent and top females known for being keyboardists. There are thousand of females working as keyboardists in the world, but this list highlights only the most notable ones. Historic keyboardists have worked hard to become the best that they can be, so if you're a female aspiring to be a keyboardist then the people below should give you inspiration.

A factual list, featuring people like Holly Knight and Eve Nelson.

While this isn't a list of all female keyboardists, it does answer the questions "Who are the most famous female keyboardists?" and "Who are the best female keyboardists?"
  • Tori Amos

    Tori Amos

    Tori Amos, born as Myra Ellen Amos on August 22, 1963, in Newton, North Carolina, is a celebrated singer-songwriter and pianist who has been a prominent figure in the music industry for decades. Her father, a Methodist minister, and mother, of Eastern Cherokee descent, greatly influenced her early life, fostering a love for music and storytelling. Amos was a child prodigy, playing piano at two years old, composing by five, and earning a scholarship to the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University at just five years old. However, she left the institute at 11 due to her interest in rock and pop music, which was not supported by the school's classical training. Amos started her professional career in the 1980s with the band Y Kant Tori Read, which was unsuccessful but eventually led to her breakthrough as a solo artist. Her debut solo album, Little Earthquakes, released in 1992, was hailed as an instant classic, combining confessional lyrics with a distinctive piano style. The album touched on topics such as religion, sexuality, and personal trauma, reflecting Amos's unique perspective and fearless approach to songwriting. Over her career, she released more than a dozen albums, each displaying her ability to blend different musical genres and maintain her distinct voice as an artist. Beyond her music, Amos is known for her activism, particularly regarding issues related to women's rights, sexual assault, and the environment. She co-founded RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), a toll-free help line linking callers nationwide with anti-sexual assault resources. Her active involvement in various social causes has made her an influential figure both in and outside the music industry. Despite the challenges and changes in her career, Tori Amos's unwavering commitment to her art and her activism continues to inspire and resonate with audiences worldwide.
    • Age: 61
    • Birthplace: Newton, North Carolina, USA
  • Norah Jones

    Norah Jones

    Norah Jones, born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar on March 30, 1979, is recognized internationally as a distinguished singer, songwriter, and pianist. Born in New York City and raised in Texas, her distinctive blend of jazz, pop, and soul music has earned her substantial acclaim across her career. She is the daughter of famed Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar and concert producer Sue Jones, a lineage that undoubtedly contributed to her profound musical talent. Jones's stellar career began in earnest with the release of her debut album, Come Away with Me, in 2002. This critically acclaimed album skyrocketed her to fame, selling over 27 million copies worldwide. Her unique fusion of genres and her soulful voice struck a chord with listeners globally. The album procured her five Grammy Awards in 2003, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist, a feat that solidified her status as a musical powerhouse. Over the years, Jones has continued to experiment with diverse musical styles, from country to folk, thereby expanding her repertoire and reaching new audiences. Her discography includes seven studio albums, each charting its distinct musical course yet always echoing her signature smooth and sultry sound. Apart from her solo work, Jones has also collaborated with a wide array of renowned artists, showcasing her versatility and capability to transition seamlessly across musical landscapes. As she continues to evolve and express her artistry, Norah Jones remains an integral figure in the global music scene, captivating audiences with her timeless talent.
    • Age: 45
    • Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York
  • Kate Bush

    Kate Bush

    Born into a musical household in Bexleyheath, a suburb of London, on July 30, 1958, Catherine Kate Bush displayed a prodigious talent from an early age. Bush's upbringing was steeped in creativity, her mother an amateur traditional dancer and her father a pianist, both of whom nurtured her inherent artistic abilities. With the encouragement and training from her family, and later guidance from David Gilmour of Pink Floyd who helped her secure a record deal with EMI at just 16, Bush embarked on a career that would redefine pop music. Kate Bush's debut album, The Kick Inside, released when she was just 19, made her an overnight sensation. Her unique blend of progressive rock, operatic vocals, and avant-garde performance aesthetics resonated deeply with listeners. The lead single, "Wuthering Heights," inspired by Emily Bronte's novel of the same name, topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks, making Bush the first woman to have a UK number one with a self-written song. This album paved the way for a series of innovative and eccentric works, establishing her as one of Britain's most original and influential singer-songwriters. Over the course of her career, Kate Bush has consistently challenged the boundaries of pop music. From the theatrical storytelling of Hounds of Love to the inventive soundscapes of Aerial, Bush's discography is marked by a relentless pursuit of artistic innovation. Despite the significant gaps between her album releases, her impact on popular music has remained profound. She has influenced a generation of artists from Tori Amos to Florence Welch, and continues to be revered for her singular vision and unyielding dedication to her craft.
    • Age: 66
    • Birthplace: United Kingdom
  • Diana Krall
    • Photo:
      • Gracenote

    Diana Krall

    Diana Krall always preferred to sing old jazz tunes, but her strong, yet feminine voice tells a modern story. Throughout her career, she immersed herself in her musical community, with friends and connections as diverse as Barbra Streisand, Ray Brown, and Elvis Costello, whom she married in 2003. Krall is one of the best-selling female jazz musicians of all time, and one of Canada's greatest musical exports. She was born on November 17, 1964 to musical parents in Nanaimo, British Columbia. She began playing piano at age four, and she was performing jazz in a hockey bar when she was fifteen. She received a scholarship to Boston's Berklee College of Music, where she graduated in 1983. She later moved back to Canada, where her talents were discovered by jazz icons Ray Brown and Jeff Hamilton. The beginning of Krall's career involved a lot of travelling, moving to Los Angeles, Toronto, and New York and eventually adding her voice to her jazzy repertoire. Krall released her first album, Stepping Out, in 1993, but it was 1996's All For You, a tribute to The Nat King Cole Trio, that brought Krall success. It reached #3 on Billboard's top jazz albums chart, and her success grew with each subsequent release. In 1998, Jazz Report named Krall Musician of the Year, and in 2000, she embarked on a massive tour with Tony Bennett. Krall's music also began appearing in commercials and movies, such as "The Score" (2001), a thriller starring Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro. Krall married famed rock star Elvis Costello in 2003, in a service that took place at the estate of Elton John. The couple gave birth to twin boys in 2006. In 2009, Krall produced Barbra Streisand's album Love is the Answer, a fitting production choice for an album of jazz standards. Krall released her album Glad Rag Doll in 2012. On the cover, the nearly 50-year-old singer is striking in lingerie; the songs she covered on the album came from her father's old record collection.
    • Age: 60
    • Birthplace: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
  • Brenda Russell

    Brenda Russell

    Brenda Russell (née Gordon; born April 8, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter and keyboardist. Russell has a diverse musical style which encompasses pop, soul, dance, and jazz. She has received a sum of five Grammy nominations altogether.
    • Age: 75
    • Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
  • Hiromi
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    Hiromi

    Hiromi Shinhata (新畑 博美, Shinhata Hiromi, born March 21, 1990 in the Philippines), better known simply as Hiromi, is a Japanese fashion model who has been active in the professional and commercial modeling fields since late 2000s. Formerly a popular model for the Egg magazine, she is known for her androgynous looks and is particularly known in the gal scene.
    • Age: 34
    • Birthplace: Philippines

  • Akiko Yano

    Akiko Yano (矢野 顕子, Yano Akiko, born Akiko Suzuki (鈴木 顕子 Suzuki Akiko); February 13, 1955) is a Japanese pop and jazz musician and singer born in Tokyo and raised in Aomori and later began her singing career in the mid-1970s. Her vocals and singing style have been compared to British singer Kate Bush.She has recorded with Yellow Magic Orchestra and its members Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, as well as with Swing Out Sister, Pat Metheny, The Chieftains, Lyle Mays, members of Little Feat, David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Kenji Omura, Gil Goldstein, Toninho Horta, Mino Cinelu, Jeff Bova, Charlie Haden, Peter Erskine, Anthony Jackson, David Rhodes, Bill Frisell, Thomas Dolby, the band Quruli, Rei Harakami as yanokami and her daughter Miu Sakamoto.
    • Age: 69
    • Birthplace: Japan, Tokyo
  • Eliane Elias

    Eliane Elias

    Eliane Elias (Portuguese: [ɛliˈani eˈliəʃ]; born 19 March 1960) is a Brazilian jazz pianist, singer, composer and arranger. She has won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album (2016) and the Latin Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album (2017).
    • Age: 64
    • Birthplace: São Paulo, Brazil
  • Mari Iijima

    Mari Iijima

    Mari Iijima (飯島 真理, Iijima Mari, born May 18, 1963 in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki) is a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer. She writes and produces most of her own music, and plays the piano and other instruments. After being signed to JVC Victor in 1982, Mari first became known for her voice-acting role as Lynn Minmay in the anime Macross. Her debut original album, Rosé, was released in 1983, which was produced by composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. She also later collaborated with other world-renowned musicians, such as Van Dyke Parks. She lives in Los Angeles, California.
    • Age: 61
    • Birthplace: Japan, Tsuchiura
  • Christine McVie
    • Photo:
      • Unknown

    Christine McVie

    Christine McVie, born Christine Anne Perfect on July 12, 1943, in Bouth, Lancashire, England, is an iconic British singer, songwriter, and keyboardist, best known for her work with the legendary rock band Fleetwood Mac. She has been a key component of the band's distinctive sound since joining them in 1970, contributing the perfect blend of bluesy soulfulness and pop sensibility. Her musical prowess and artistic skills were nurtured from an early age, having been born into a musically inclined family; her father was a concert violinist and her mother, a medium replete with psychic abilities. McVie initially began her musical career in the late 1960s with a blues band called Chicken Shack, where she honed her skills as a keyboardist and vocalist. However, it wasn't until her transition to Fleetwood Mac that her talent truly blossomed. With the band, she penned some of their most enduring hits including "You Make Loving Fun," "Little Lies," and "Everywhere." Her soft-rock style and ability to capture the complexities of love and relationships resonated with audiences worldwide, helping to cement Fleetwood Mac as one of the most successful bands of their generation. Despite facing personal and professional challenges, including a tumultuous romantic relationship with bandmate John McVie and a struggle with substance abuse, Christine McVie's contributions to the music industry are immeasurable. After a temporary withdrawal from the public eye in the late 1990s, the talented musician made a triumphant return to Fleetwood Mac in 2014. Throughout her career, McVie's voice and songwriting have remained a constant, affirming her status as a true icon in the world of rock and roll. Her legacy in the music industry continues to influence generations of musicians and listeners alike.
    • Age: Dec. at 79 (1943-2022)
    • Birthplace: Bouth, United Kingdom

  • Holly Knight

    Holly Knight is an American songwriter, musician and singer. She was a member of the 1980s pop rock groups Spider and Device, and wrote or co-wrote several hit singles for other artists, such as "Rag Doll", "Obsession", "Love Is a Battlefield", "The Best", "Invincible", "Better Be Good To Me", "The Warrior", and "Change". In 2013, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She has won thirteen ASCAP Awards, and has co written hits for numerous successful musicians, including Tina Turner and Pat Benatar who each won Grammy Awards for their recordings of her co written songs.
    • Birthplace: New York City, New York

  • Eve Nelson