I wanted to do something different for this video so I decided since the theme of my new M3 sound collection was “Vintage Synths” that I would pay tribute to some of my favorite synthesizer players.

One thing that I had forgotten and was made obvious while assembling the video footage, is how difficult is used to be for synth players back in the 70’s and 80’s to keep their keyboards in tune during a live performance. The early analog synths while sounding great did have their problems getting through a gig. You never knew what was going to happen when you turned them on!

While the synths that they were using back then were primitive compared to the modern keyboards of today, the music certainly was not. Some of the greatest music ever made was created during those years. It’s fantastic that YouTube has been able to document it all so that anyone who is interested can see it all with just a few clicks of a mouse!

I’m sure I left out many great ones, but It would take an hour long video to list them all. Here they are – in order of appearance…..

Steve Wonder, Thomas Dolby, Herbie Hancock, Howard Jones – 1985 Grammys

George Duke with Frank Zappa 1973

Joe Zawinul – Weather Report Offenbach 1978

Herbie Hancock – Head Hunters 1975 Nice bracelets

Chick Corea with RTF 1977

Yan Hammer with Mahavishnu Orchestra 1972

Keith Emerson – ELP Knife Edge 1970

Rick Wakeman – Cool Cape – Yes 1971

Stevie Wonder – Funk Master 1971

Herbie, Stevie, Dolby  @ 85′ Grammys

Keith Emerson with Theriman 1970

Edger Winter – Frankenstein Midnight Special 1973

Billy Preston – Round In Circles – Amazing hair! 1973

Billy Preston – Concert For Bangladesh 1971

Peter Gabriel – Red Rain 1986

Tony Banks – Early 70’s

Bob Moog demos Mini Moog 1981

Jean Michel Jarre with ARP2600 – no date

Edgar Winter beating the hell out of a ARP2600 during Frankenstein 1973