Happy 75th birthday to keyboardist Roy Bittan, “The Professor” of the E Street Band (born 7/2/49, which he joined on August 23, 1974. Bittan has served as the trusty keeper of the keys for many a Springsteen epic song, and his piano intro, along with that of its various other key members, past and present, has helped define the E-Street sound. Bittan has also worked with David Bowie, Jackson Browne, Dire Straits, Peter Gabriel, Meat Loaf, Stevie Nicks, Bob Seger- so he’s one of the most respected keyboard session players around in a jury from his musical peers. Watch Bittan lay his memorable ivory parts on “Backstreets” live in 1975..
