| The musical instrument, the piano was invented about | | | | quickly and frantically while singing and sometimes |
| 500 years ago and people from all over the world | | | | yelling his vocals with as much excitement. At the top |
| enjoy playing the wonderful instrument. There are all | | | | of his fame he quit and decided to pursue being a |
| types of pianos and keyboards that people play says | | | | minister after becoming a born again Christian. He |
| an owner of a grand piano cover and grand piano | | | | bounced back and forth between the two areas until |
| covers business. Some of the better known pianists | | | | he figured out a way to blend them both in his life. He |
| that entered the rock and roll era brought the piano to | | | | has received more awards than can be counted |
| life in the 1950's like Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. | | | | including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and his piano |
| Another great performer; is Ray Charles singer and | | | | playing influenced many artists to come. |
| pianist, who is a blind musician who had an instant | | | | Ray Charles combined rhythm and blues with gospel |
| connection to the piano as a child. | | | | and blues to create soul music. He started to lose his |
| Jerry Lee Lewis was born in 1929 and is known as | | | | sight at the age of 5 and was totally blind by the age |
| one of the best rock and roll and country musicians. | | | | of 7 from an untreated eye infection. He developed his |
| He was from a poor family in Louisiana who | | | | musical talent at a school for blind and deaf children in |
| mortgaged their farm to be able to afford a piano for | | | | Florida. When his mother died when he was 15, he did |
| him since he started playing as a young boy with his | | | | not go back to school but played in different bands |
| two cousins. He struggled in his personal life having | | | | and nightclubs to earn money. This is when he started |
| been married six times and caused a scandal when he | | | | to wear his signature sunglasses. He moved to Seattle |
| married his 13 year old second cousin that stopped his | | | | where he got his first recording contract and signed |
| career for a decade. His piano playing ability finally won | | | | with Atlantic records where he had instant success. |
| out though and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll | | | | He was named one of 100 Greatest Artists of all time |
| Hall of Fame in the 80's and is best known for the | | | | by Rolling Stone magazine and greatly influenced |
| song, Great Balls of Fire. | | | | future pianist stars like Billy Joel. |
| Little Richard was best known for making the transition | | | | These three pianists and musicians will go down in |
| of rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950's | | | | history as some of the best that ever lived and ones |
| bringing that kind of music to the masses. His energy | | | | that greatly influenced the music in America. |
| on stage was unbelievable as he played the piano so | | | | |