The Keyboard Chronicles

The Keyboard Chronicles


David Sancious, Solo Artist / Peter Gabriel / Sting / Bruce Springsteen (Part 1)

May 13, 2023

David Sancious is a pianist / organist / keyboard player of reknown. Known for his contributions to the fields of rock, jazz, and fusion, Sancious gained prominence in the early 1970s as a founding member of  Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. He played keyboards and guitar for Springsteen’s first three albums, “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” (1973), “The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle” (1973), and “Born to Run” (1975). Sancious’ innovative and soulful keyboard work, as well as his songwriting contributions, helped shape the sound of these seminal recordings.


After leaving the E Street Band in 1974, Sancious embarked on a solo career and formed his own band called “Tone.” He released several albums under his name, including “Forest of Feelings” (1975) and “Transformation (The Speed of Love)” (1976), with regular releases until the present. He’s also worked with artists such as Stanley Clarke, Peter Gabriel, Jack Bruce, and Sting, contributing his keyboard and composition skills to their projects. In Part 1 we cover a huge swathe of territory, from his current projects to his more recent work with Bruce Springsteen and a whole lot more.


To listen / watch:


  1. Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:
  2. Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel


Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  


David’s 2023 so far – working on new album Prisoners of Consciousness


Re-mastering Dance of the Age of Enlightenment and it’s original troubled beginnings, and knowing when you’ve gotten it right 40 years later.


David’s 2019 release Eyes Wide Open


Discussion on song Urban Psalm #3 and David’s experience of overt racism at college


Working on Bruce Springsteen’s Western Stars in 2019


Working with Bruce Springsteen on his latest release Only The Strong Survive and its follow-up


David performing with Bruce on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon


David Sancious and Will Calhoun – Open Secret


David’s favourite keyboard


Leaving the E Street Band


Thanks to our supporters for this episode: Brother Paul Brown, Midnight Mastering, Tammy Katchur’s Musical Stew, Musicplayer.com forums, and Radio Grande


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The post David Sancious, Solo Artist / Peter Gabriel / Sting / Bruce Springsteen (Part 1) appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.