Hammond is the most recognized name in Organs. Hammond offers portable organs for traveling musicians and venues and as well as the quintessential Hammond B3 Organ that made the Hammond brand so famous.
Hammond B3 has won over musicians and music lovers for decades with it’s quintessential look and sound made famous by the likes of Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jimmy Smith, Greg Allman, Billy Preston, John Medeski, John DeFrancesco and more.
The Hammond brand dates back to 1935 when Hammond founder Laurens Hammond teamed up with John M. Hanert to begin manufacturing alternative organs to the traditional pipe organ, creating an affordable organ option for churches around the United States and eventually the whole world.
As the Hammond Organ grew past the churches into the music industry, it was Jimmy Smith that played a huge part in making the Hammond organ popular as he made the Hammond B3 the staple of his famous Blue Note performances. Using the foot pedals for bass as opposed to hiring a bass player, Jimmy Smith records inspired generations of Hammond organ players.
Musician like Keith Emerson, Steve Windwood and Greg Allman brought the Hammond sound from jazz to rock and roll and it continued to be embraced for it’s beautiful tones in almost every genre of music.
Reggae artists like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Toots and The Maytals brought the Hammond organ to reggae music, The Beastie Boys made it popular in hip hop, even punk bands made use of the amazing Hammond sound.
Today the Hammond is as popular an Organ brand as ever. With musicians like Cory Henry from the band Snarky Puppy, and John Medeski from Medeski Martin and Wood, the Hammond organ is being used and kept alive and well with some of the best keyboardists in the world.
Famous Hammond B3 Organists include:
Jimmy Smith
John Medeski
Cory Henry
Booker T.
John DeFrancesco
Joey DeFrancesco
Barbara Dennerlein
Dr. Lonnie Smith
Wil Blades
Junior Marvin
The Beastie Boys
Greg Allman of The Allman Brothers
Tony Kaye of YES
Rick Wakeman of YES
Santana
Tony Banks of Genesis
Winston Wright of Toots And The Maytals, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Jimmy Cliff
Tyron Downie of Bob Marley and The Wailers
Keith Emerson of Emerson Lake And Palmer
Steve Walsch of Kansas
John Lord of Deep Purple
Matthew Fisher of Procol Harem
Billy Preston
Count Basie
Fats Waller
George Gershwin
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