Alan Price

Alan Price (born 19 April 1942) is an English musician who first found prominence as the original keyboardist of the English rock band the Animals. He left the band in 1965 to form the Alan Price Set; his hit singles with and without the group include "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear", "The House That Jack Built", "Rosetta" (with Georgie Fame) and "Jarrow Song". Price is also known for work in film and television, taking occasional acting roles and composing the soundtrack of Lindsay Anderson's film O Lucky Man! (1973). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 as a member of the Animals.

Price was born in Fatfield, Washington, County Durham, and educated at Jarrow Grammar School, County Durham. When he left school he worked as a tax officer in the English Civil Service, ironically sitting at the exact same desk that Sting (musician) would occupy later in the same office.

A self-taught musician, Price was a founding member of the Tyneside group the Alan Price Combo, which was later renamed the Animals. Playing organ on the Animals "The House of the Rising Sun", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", and "Bring It On Home to Me", Price was a key element in "the first Animals lineup" success.

As a member of the Animals, Price appeared on numerous television shows including Ready Steady Go!, The Ed Sullivan Show, Hullabaloo, and Top of the Pops. Price left the band in 1965 because of personal and musical differences, as well as his fear of flying while on tour.

In August 1967, he appeared with the Animals at the hippie love-in that was held in the grounds of Woburn Abbey.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.