“some kind of a wizard!”

[ RACHEL Z ]

I met Lyle when I was in high school, having gone to a Pat Metheny Group concert when I was 15. I went up on stage and asked to see his keyboards (OBERHEIM!!!). He told me someday we won’t have to drag around these large keyboards, they will be tiny in a little box due to circuit boards becoming more powerful or something. I was already impressed with his beautiful artistry and chops (Lakes = Giant Steps).

Now, I was also impressed with his scientific knowledge. This man was clearly some kind of a wizard!

Lyle was one of my favorite keyboardists because he was also a genius pianist, orchestrator, and sound designer.

The Oberheim sound that had become Lyle‘s signature always inspired my own sound design and I refer to his vibe to this day.

Later on, when I grew up and became a professional musician  (I was then playing with Al Di Meola) I saw Lyle play trio and also got to work with him when he produced composer, Alvaro Cordero’s recording sessions. I was playing keyboards ( a rhodes chroma). We carefully crafted orchestral sounds for the piece and his incredible warm spirit, his talent, and his kindness made us all feel comfortable in the studio! He was a supportive, encouraging, highly intelligent and creative person.  A true role model!

I feel a true sense of loss of Lyle because he was a keyboard brother. He always treated me with kindness and with the vibe that I could do this keyboard thing too. Like he assumed that we were part of a big keyboard family. His warm persona came out in his unique style of trio playing using piano AND lovely synth colors. This concept was the foundation for many of my own musical dreams as a musician.

The world lost a great artist but I know that his life force will live on not only in the music he left behind but also in the stars, the moon, the sun, the sounds of a rushing river, in all things beautiful...

I’ll be remembering you always Lyle for your complete musical genius as well as the kindness that you showed me as a little kid and then the respect you gave me as a woman in this business.  I luv u man.