Roy Bittan
| Roy Bittan | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Professor |
| Born |
July 2, 1949 Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York, United States |
| Genres | Rock and roll, R&B, folk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Piano, organ, accordion, synthesizer |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Associated acts |
Bruce Springsteen E Street Band Dire Straits David Bowie Meat Loaf Stevie Nicks |
| Notable instruments | |
|
Yamaha grand piano GEM Pro 2 Yamaha Motif Hohner Accordion Kurzweil PC2 |
|
Roy J. Bittan (born July 2, 1949) is an American keyboardist, best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, which he joined on August 23, 1974. Bittan, nicknamed The Professor, plays the piano, organ, accordion and synthesizers. Bittan was inducted as a member of the E Street Band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2014.
Aside from his membership in Springsteen's band, Bittan has played on albums as a session musician, primarily for singer-songwriters and rock and pop artists, including Jon Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Jackson Browne, Tracy Chapman, Chicago, Catie Curtis, Dire Straits, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Ian Hunter, Meat Loaf, Stevie Nicks, Bob Seger, Celine Dion, Nelly Furtado, Patty Smyth, Jim Steinman and Bonnie Tyler.
Bittan was born in Belle Harbor, Queens, New York City. He is a longtime member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, and has performed on the majority of Springsteen's albums, beginning with Born to Run (1975). In Springsteen's band introductions, Bittan's "Professor" moniker was given because (supposedly) he was the only member of the group with a college diploma. Bittan provided background vocals for most of the songs on Born to Run, along with Steven Van Zandt. His voice is also featured slightly on the vocal weaving in "Out in the Street". However, from the Born in the U.S.A. Tour on, his voice was no longer used. When Springsteen decided to break his connection with the E Street Band in 1989, Roy Bittan was the one member he retained, both in studio and on the "Other Band" Tour.
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