Piano Story Rock
tagStarted 1971Peak 1973-1983Last big hit still active
Located in 1 route
Narrative rock built on the piano as lead instrument - rolling left-hand patterns, gospel and jazz chord voicings, dramatic dynamic swells. The keyboard sets scene and mood the way an acoustic guitar does elsewhere, but with more theatrical range. Vocals are conversational and character-rich; arrangements grow from solo piano to full band as the story peaks.
History
Billy Joel made the piano-driven story song a chart category with 'Piano Man' (1973) and 'Scenes from an Italian Restaurant' (1977); Elton John and Bernie Taupin's character songs and Bruce Hornsby's social vignettes broadened it. The piano's harmonic reach let these writers shift tone within a single narrative more fluidly than guitar allowed.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Man_(song)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scenes_from_an_Italian_Restaurant
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/billy-joel-mn0000639685