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- Charles-Marie Widor. Charles-Marie Widor is by far one of the most formidable and recognizable organists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Case in point, during his lifetime, he served as an organist of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, which was the most prestigious position an organist could hold in France.
- Albert Schweitzer. The Renaissance man and certified genius Albert Schweitzer was one of Charles-Marie Widor’s many students. Aside from being an ardent organist, he was also a renowned theologian that received the Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophies in Christianity in 1952.
- Olivier Messiaen. Olivier Messiaen was a fervent Roman Catholic that was selected organist at La Trinité Church in Paris when he was only 22 years old. His early compositions and improvisations gave rise to new ways of utilizing the instrument that made compositions a lot more rhythmically complex.
- Marie-Claire Alain. When people think of world famous organists, one of the very first names that pops up is Marie-Claire Alain’s. Widely regarded as one of the finest organists of the mid 20 century, she was a pioneer in the application of organic principles thanks to more than the 260 organ recordings she made in her lifetime.
- Jimmy Smith
- Joey Defrancesco
- Cory Henry
- Lonnie Smith
- Jimmy Mcgriff
- Ethel Smith
- Booker T. Jones
- Jon Lord
- Richard Groove Holmes
- John Medeski
One of the greatest of all time, JimmySmith is a revered jazz organist who grew up in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Originally taught how to play piano by his parents, he took to the piano quickly and even began performing with his father when he was still young. In 1948, Smith attended the Hamilton School of Music and then continued at Ornstein’s Scho...
Many people credit the resurgence of the jazz organ in the 80s to Joey DeFrancescoafter its popularity dipped in the mid-70s. Raised in Philadelphia, Joey began playing the organ very young as his father was also an organist. Through his father,DeFrancesco met many other influential organists who encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Over the...
Next on the list, we have well-known modern musician Cory Henry who grew up in Brooklyn, New York. His mother raised him and shared her love of music with him. She is an incredibly prolific musician who plays five instruments and serves as the choir director at their church. Thanks to her influence, he began playing music for his church’s various m...
Lonnie Smithwas born in Buffalo, New York, and he was steeped in music from day one by his mother. He sang in a few vocal groups when he was in his teens. Later on, he learned how to play the Hammond organ and soon caught the attention of some famous musicians in the Buffalo jazz scene, including famous guitarist George Benson who selected him to b...
Born in Philadelphia in 1936, Jimmy McGriff is another important Hammond organist who started early with piano lessons from his parents. He later became inspired by Richard “Groove” Holmes to try the organ. After returning from the military,McGriff bought a Hammond B-3 and contacted Holmes, asking for lessons. He then practiced diligently for six m...
Born in Pittsburgh, another famous organist with the surname Smith, EthelSmith studied music at Carnegie Tech and became the “First Lady of the Hammond Organ.” Finding herself in California at the end of a spontaneous 28-week Schubert show tour, she was asked at the last second to play the Hammond organ for the first time. She became a sensation im...
Booker T. Jones was born in Tennessee. By chance, his neighbor famous jazz pianistPhineas Newborn exposed him to music. Every time he passed by Newborn’s home on his paper route, he became inspired by the music he heard. Booker got his break when Rufus and Carla Thomas asked him to play the saxophone for their recording. When Rufus and Carla decide...
No list of famous organists would be complete without a spotlight on Jon Lord who was born in Leicester, England and began playing the piano at only six years old. Lord got his first organ in his 20s and played with Red Blood and his Bluesicians and the Atwoods. Progress was slow with the Atwoods, so he pivoted to working as a session musician, rub...
Born in New Jersey, Richard “Groove” Holmes was a self-taught organist known for his incredibly diverse range and quick transitions, switching between vastly different moods in his music with ease. This ability earned him quite a bit of notoriety in the New Jersey and Philadelphia jazz scenes. In the early 60s,Holmes signed with Pacific Jazz and be...
John Medeskiis a pianist, keyboardist, and organist known for his skill in improv music and delving into all manner of genres. Medeski was born in Kentucky, and his father was the first to expose him to the piano as a child. After years of lessons, he began his music career by playing for local theaters. After he moved to NYC in 1988 he helped form...
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The following is a list of notable organists from the past and present who perform organ literature This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources .
Feb 15, 2024 · The musicians listed here are known for being the absolute best and have received a place of prominence in the world of music because of their incredible talent on the organ. They are among some of the most famous organists in popular music today. This list has been ranked by the community's votes to determine the absolute best organists alive.
May 20, 2024 · Organists have been an integral part of the music world for centuries, and many have achieved great fame and recognition for their talents. From classical composers like Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel to contemporary musicians like Cameron Carpenter and Olivier Latry, the list of famous organists is long and impressive.
3. Johann Pachelbel. (One of the Most Influential Composers and Organists of the Middle Baroque Era) Birthdate: 1653 AD. Birthplace: Nuremberg, Germany. Died: March 7, 1706. Johann Pachelbel was a German composer, teacher, and organist who is credited with helping the south German organ schools achieve their peak.
May 8, 2023 · Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German organist and composer whose work is today regarded as amongst the finest of mature baroque music (c. 1600-1750). More famous as an organist than as a composer in his own lifetime, Bach's rich legacy encompasses sacred and secular works, notably cantatas, organ pieces, and concertos which influenced ...
