Famous British Pianists

Co-founder of the rock band, Pink Floyd, Roger Waters is celebrated singer, songwriter and composer. Beginning his career with rhythm guitar, he initially served solely as a bassist in Pink Floyd before emerging as their lyricist, co-lead vocalist, and conceptual leader. Later he left the group due to creative difference and embarked on his solo career, releasing numerous albums and singles

Path-breaking British composer, pianist, and conductor Benjamin Britten was known for his fine operas such as Peter Grimes and the War Requiem. He also created countless orchestral works and is known for his long professional partnership with tenor Peter Pears, a collaboration that led to the formation of the Britten-Pears Foundation.

One of the most popular rock keyboardists of the progressive rock genre, Rick Wakeman soared to fame as part of the band Yes and later had an equally successful solo career. He had ditched his initial dream of becoming a pianist to start his career as a session musician.

Legendary Scottish singer-songwriter, bassist, and composer Jack Bruce gained international fame with the British rock band Cream and released iconic tracks such as I Feel Free. He also performed as part of the jazz fusion group the Tony Williams Lifetime. In 2006, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Myleene Klass is a British singer, musician, TV presenter, model, and businesswoman. Klass achieved popularity when she became part of the pop group Hear'Say. Her popularity increased when she started hosting television shows like Popstar to Operastar and BBQ Champ. Myleene Klass is also known for her charity work; she has been the face of charity campaigns like ChildLine.

Dhani Harrison is an English musician, singer-songwriter, and composer. Best known as the son of George Harrison, Dhani started his career by assisting his father record his final album, Brainwashed. He then went on to form his own band called Thenewno2. Dhani Harrison also established himself as a composer, scoring music for TV shows like Good Girls Revolt and Outsiders.

Jools Holland is an English singer, composer, pianist, bandleader, and television presenter. He came into prominence in the mid-1970s, when he became part of the rock band Squeeze. His popularity increased when he co-presented the popular music TV show The Tube from 1982 to 1987. Jools Holland is also known for his collaborations with famous artists like Sting and Bono.

Jack Savoretti is a British musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved popularity in 2015, when he released his fourth studio album, Written in Scars, which peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart. In 2019, Jack Savoretti released his sixth album Singing to Strangers, which became his first album to peak at number one on the UK Albums Chart.

Declan McKenna went from being a high-school drop-out to winning the 2017 BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year Award. He gained fame with his chartbusting debut single, Brazil, which criticized the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He has also participated in major music festivals, such as Coachella and Glastonbury.

James Righton is an English musician credited with co-creating the new rave band Klaxons. Apart from releasing albums and singles, James Righton also works on creating music for films and theatre. In 2015, he scored music for a short film titled William. In 2018, he scored for a comedy-drama feature film titled Benjamin.

Evgeny Kissin is a Russian-born composer and concert pianist. He is renowned for his renditions of the works of great musicians like Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Over the course of his illustrious career, Evgeny Kissin has won many prestigious musical awards, such as the Grammy Awards, Triumph Award, and Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Award.

English composer, pianist, and Hammond organ player Jon Lord is remembered for his fiery performances as the keyboardist of the rock band Deep Purple. Trained in classical piano, he also received a drama school scholarship, which he ditched to focus on music. He was posthumously named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

One likened to legendary musician Jimi Hendrix, Scottish rock guitarist and singer Stuart Adamson was a founder member of the Scottish punk rock/new wave band Skids. He later formed the rock band Big Country. He hanged himself to death in a Hawaiian hotel at age 43.

KT Tunstall is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter. She came into prominence in 2004, when she performed Black Horse and the Cherry Tree in a music TV show called Later... with Jools Holland. KT Tunstall is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the European Border Breakers Award, Ivor Novello Award, Scottish Style Award, and Brit Award.

Tom Odell is a British singer and songwriter. He came into prominence in 2012, when he released his debut EP, Songs from Another Love, which earned him the Critics' Choice Award at the 2013 BRIT Awards. The same year, Tom Odell released his debut studio album Long Way Down, which peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart.

Georg Solti was an operatic and orchestral conductor. He is best remembered for his association with opera companies in London, Frankfurt, and Munich. He also worked with the popular Chicago Symphony Orchestra where he served as a music director for a long time. Solti became the subject of a 1987 biographical TV documentary titled This Is Your Life.

Born to Holocaust survivors, Hungarian-born pianist Andras Schiff began learning the piano at age 5. He is now best known for his interpretations of legends such as of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. His numerous awards include a Grammy. He was also knighted for his achievements.

Experimental musician John Cale is best known as the co-founder of the rock band The Velvet Underground. The son of a coal miner father, he later developed a love for music that earned him a scholarship to the University of London. Prescribed opiates for his bronchial issues, he later struggled with addiction.

Albert Lee is an English guitarist best known for his hybrid picking and fingerstyle technique. Renowned for his technical virtuosity and his speed of playing, Lee was named the Best Country Guitarist by Guitar Player magazine on five consecutive occasions. At the 2017 UK Americana Awards, Albert Lee was awarded the prestigious Trailblazer Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lianne La Havas is a British record producer and singer-songwriter. Apart from releasing award-winning albums like Lianne La Havas and Is Your Love Big Enough, La Havas also headlines concert tours. Her work has received nominations for the prestigious Grammy Awards and Brit Awards.

Bat for Lashes is a British multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. She is best known for releasing albums like Fur and Gold, The Haunted Man, and Lost Girls. Bat for Lashes is the recipient of an ASCAP Award, Ivor Novello Awards, and UK Asian Music Award.

Best known as Princess Diana’s maternal grandmother, Ruth Roche, Baroness Fermoy was also a talented concert pianist. She was also a close associate of Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Her contribution to music included the launch of the King's Lynn Festival, which was patronized by The Queen Mother.

The son of a British Army officer, comedian and musician Neil Innes had begun training in the piano and the guitar since childhood. Part of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah band, he wrote the hit single I’m the Urban Spaceman. He is also remembered for his collaboration with the Monty Python team.

British keyboardist Ayalah Deborah Bentovim, better known as Sister Bliss, is one of Britain’s most successful electronica musicians. Starting her career as a pioneering British DJ, she later established the band Faithless. She has also composed for films such as The Beach and Sex and the City 2.

Russ Ballard is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He came into prominence when he became part of the rock band Argent, where he performed as the guitarist and lead singer. As a songwriter, Russ Ballard is credited with writing hit songs like So You Win Again, Since You Been Gone, and Liar.

Georgie Fame is an English jazz and R&B musician. Fame, who started his career in the 1960s, is still going strong and often works with contemporaries like Bill Wyman, Van Morrison, and Alan Price. He is perhaps best known for his association with the British rhythm and blues group, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames.

Gabrielle Aplin is a British singer and songwriter. After achieving popularity as a YouTuber, Aplin signed a deal with Parlophone in 2012. Subsequently, Gabrielle Aplin released her debut album English Rain, which debuted at the second position on the UK Album Chart. The album has since sold more than 100,000 copies and has been certified Gold in the UK.

Known as the African Mahler for his bi-racial ethnicity, British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor ruled the music scene of the early 20th century. Throughout his illustrious career, he taught music, judged contests, and created many choral and orchestral works. He was best known for the Longfellow trilogy, based on The Song of Hiawatha.

Ken Hensley was an English multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and producer. He is best remembered for his association with the popular rock band Uriah Heep during the 1970s. He wrote many of the band's songs, including hit singles like Easy Livin', Lady in Black, and Look at Yourself. Ken Hensley also released many solo albums, such as Free Spirit and Running Blind.

Best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers, James Dean Bradfield is also known for his solo singles such as An English Gentleman. He has also collaborated with the likes of Tom Jones and Patrick Jones. He is married to the band’s PR agent, Mylène Halsall.

Michael Nyman is an English pianist, musicologist, librettist, filmmaker, and composer of minimalist music. He is best known for scoring music for several films directed by Peter Greenaway during the 1980s. Michael Nyman is also credited with writing numerous operas, such as Letters, Riddles and Writs, Facing Goya, and Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs. 

Jona Lewie is a British singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for his 1980 hits, Stop the Cavalry and You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties. Jona Lewie is also known for his albums, Alias Jona Lewie, Heart Skips Beat, and Optimistic. 

Richard Stilgoe is a British musician, lyricist, songwriter, and broadcaster. He is best known for his frequent television appearances and humorous songs. A keen puzzler, Stilgoe has also written several books on puzzles and hosted several quiz shows. Also known for his charity work, Richard Stilgoe is credited with founding a charity organization called the Alchemy Foundation.

A legend of Celtic music, Phil Coulter was the best-selling Irish music artist of his time. Starting his career as a songwriter for various artists, he later teamed up with songwriter Bill Martin to write hits such as Puppet on a String. He also penned a theme for the Irish rugby team.

Tony Hatch is an English composer best known for composing music for television and musical theatre. He also works as a pianist, arranger, songwriter, and producer. Some of his best known works include compositions for TV series like The Doctors, Emmerdale Farm, and Neighbours. In 2013, Tony Hatch was made an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Ian Stanley is a British musician, record producer, and songwriter. He is best known for his association with the pop rock band Tears for Fears, where he was one of the most important members during the 1980s. Ian Stanley played a key role in the creation of the band's successful album Songs from the Big Chair.