Julian Colbeck

Julian Colbeck (born 1952) is current CEO of Keyfax NewMedia and a former professional keyboard player of over 25 years, author of several music-related books and guides, the creator of Twiddly.Bits MIDI loops, the concept designer for the PhatBoy MIDI controller, and producer of several music technology DVDs and websites. He has played/collaborated with Greep, The New Seekers, Charlie, John Miles, Yes offshoot Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, and Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. He also worked as a session player on numerous recordings, including the debut Vitamin Z album, produced by Alan Parsons, with whom he would later collaborate on the 2009 DVD set, Alan Parsons' The Art & Science of Sound Recording.

His business specialties include: Analysis of the music technology industry, past, present, future, and MIDI recording. His goal has always been to preserve, champion, and enhance the music experience in all music technology endeavors.

Born in 1952 in Aldershot, Julian began boarding school in Malvern, later attending Monkton Combe School in Bath, where he played in the band 'Springtime Child'.

He began playing piano at age 8 when his parents purchased a 1910 Broadwood upright piano, on which he composed more or less everything he has ever written. He still owns it to this day.

Julian later attended Inchbald School of Design 1970-1971

In 1973 after a brief stint in college, and a spell in the left-wing rock choir Co-operation, Julian was fortunate enough to sign a record deal with Charisma Records with the band ‘Greep’. After releasing a number of singles, the group disbanded and Julian found himself working in fringe theater, London’s Albany Theatre, Deptford.

The New Seekers needed a keyboard player and Julian landed the gig, playing many live concerts and TV shows in UK and Europe including the group’s famed Drury Lane concert in 1974. During this time he met their lighting director, who coincidentally was also the manager for a band called ‘Charlie.’ Hired initially as a session player for the recording of the group’s No Second Chance album at Trident Studios, London, he was subsequently asked to join the band as a full-time member.

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