Jordan Rudess (born Jordan Charles www.nytimes.com/1989/06/26/style/nancy-kornfeld-becomes-a-bride.html?sec=&spon=www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=502354670&search_in=i&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=30&start=1 Rudes on November 4, 1956) is a progressive rock keyboardist best known as a member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater.

Biography

Rudess was born in 1956 into a Jewish family. He was recognized by his 2nd grade teacher for his piano playing and was immediately given professional tuition. At nine, he entered the Juilliard School of Music Pre-College Division for classical piano training, but by his late teens he had grown increasingly interested in synthesizers and progressive rock music. Against the counsel of his parents and tutors, he turned away from classical piano and tried his hand as a solo prog rock keyboardist.Stefanis, J. "Interview with Jordan Rudess", Get Ready to ROCK!, 2004