Roger J Manning, Beck / Jellyfish / Moog Cookbook / Imperial Drag

Roger J Manning keyboard player

Roger Joseph Manning Jr. is a US-based keyboardist, singer, and songwriter renowned for co-founding the bands Jellyfish, the Moog Cookbook, and Imperial Drag. He also happens to be a long-time member of Beck’s backing band, is a member of The Lickerish Quartet and has also collaborated with artists such as Air, Jay-Z, Blink 182, and Johnny Cash. We cover a lot of this amazing territory in our chat with Roger.

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):  

Roger’s past 12 months

Approach to working on music for sleep and/or meditation

Roger’s musical upbringing

Developing a career as a musician: the early days and catching the songwriting bug

Beatnik Beatch in action

The formation of Jellyfish and developing as a musician and an arranger

Learning how to be a successful live band

Roger in action with Jellyfish on Later with Jools Holland – The Ghost at Number One

Jellyfish live on Letterman

Jellyfish – The King is Half Undressed

Love for Burt Bacharach

Roger’s solo albums

Wish it Would Rain – Roger J Manning

Operator – Roger J Manning

Joining Beck’s band

An amazing YouTube playlist for Moog Cookbook

Roger in action with Imperial Drag

Roger playing with Beck – Paisley Park Sessions – Up All Night

Roger with Beck on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert – Colors

Roger’s ever-changing keyboard rig with Beck

Roger playing live with Beck 2023

Tag a Keyboard Player: Thomas Dolby and Jeff Babko

Desert Island Discs: Black Sea – XTC, Imperial Bedroom – Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Steve McQueen – Prefab Sprout, Deceptive Bends – 10CC, The Black Album – The Damned

Key links:

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