I met Max Crook at his home in New Mexico. He showed me his home studio and even played the piano. I will never forget that day. I'm thankful for having the privilege of meeting a living legend.
That's a nice comment that you have made and a very beautiful clever reference to the other fantastic Del Shannon song, hats off to Larry;thank you so much for saying something that was so beautiful and a joy for us other readers to see. So great that all of you love these musicians and love the song Runaway as much as I do.
You can hear the influence throughout the entire sixties. That bridge is the bridge between the old time rock and roll and the psych prog synth pop rock that defined that generation.
Glad I found out that del was not only a great musician but a great person who did'nt seem too jaded or full of himself...just a good down to earth person...my kind of people
Max Crook graduated from high school in Ann Arbor Michigan, in 1954. He played at some of the class reunions. The class is very proud of what he has accomplished.
Del used to sing Max’s praises all the time. I’ve seen countless interviews where Del used to tell the story of how Runaway was created, and Del had Max right there talking up his contribution to the song and how it all came together. R.I.P. Del & Max Together again chasing the runaway to immortality
This was WAY ahead of it's time! Just in case you didn't realize it, or it's because it (synthesizers) seems so commonplace nowadays. This was high tech, high concept stuff we're talking about here. Very cool. 😎
Thank you, Max Crook, for helping to create the early Del Shannon sound. I wonder if many Del Shannon fans realize your influence on his music and the success of your own career. You were a good influence on Del's personal life as well,, I am sure. His music helped many of us, and though he left us with broken hearts, we will never forget him.
Along w/ Ray Manzarek , Jon Lord and Gary Wright , Max Crook had musical vision. His keyboard was a game changer for rock & pop music. He was also ahead of his time. He electrified rock & pop music.
The hidden geniuses of music. Someone should make a documentary about these guys who were so important and unknown to most people, as happened with the wrecking crew or the funk brothers among so many others.
Wow what a brilliant solo. Still cuts through and sounds amazing 60 years later! Great to see and hear from the man himself. Max Crook we salute you Sir. RiP x
Thank you Max, a true innovator. If if wasn’t for people like you we wouldn’t have synthesisers today. And the Runaway solo you wrote has stood the test of time and is still relevant today.
Thank you for expressing interest in my comment. In a time when rock music was still in It's infancy most of all rock music sounded much the same. With the success of Del Shannon's hit Runaway . In a way Max Crook changed the sound of music w/his Musitron. At that time much importance wasn't given to keyboard music. Del Shannon electrified pop music but Max Crook brought keyboard music to the forefront. When the British Invasion started till the present day. Keyboards have been an important part of Rock & Pop music. Max Crook was the man that made all this possible. Thank you for expressing thanks for my comment. Max Crook you take care.
Thanks again for taking an interest in my comment. Max Crook when you invented the Musitron you Invented something wonderful. It lead to the synthesizers & other great keyboards. Thank you for highlighting my comment & you have a wonderful day. Del Shannon is always w/us in memory. Max Crook you take care.
Hi cousin Max. Still love this song. Trying to make family scrapbook. Could you send some stuff to Aunt Donna , if you don't mind. Sorry to be writing to you here, but I don't know how to get in contact with a lot of the family. This is Stephanie Smith's daughter Elizabeth, your second cousin. Thanks for the music!
I am about to buy a keyboard can anyone recommend a keyboard that would give me as close as possible sound to this song i.e what organ type to look out for would it be a clavoline?
~ I see that your question dates back from two years earlier from when I am writing this reply; but none-the-less I figured that I would give you this response, in-case it might still be of use to you. ~ Let me begin by explaining that there is a company that produces "sample-based software-instruments" named SonicCourture, that makes a model called the "Ondioline" - , which is capable of making an extremely close reproduction of the "Musitron" sound that was used on the classic song "Runaway". As-is-the-case with all "software instruments", in-order to use that software, you have to run it on a computer (a good laptop will suffice); and you also have to connect a "controller keyboard" to the computer so-as to actually play the notes of the song. Since I imagine that you have already bought you earlier-envisioned keyboard by now - , if whatever model you bought has a "USB Out" jack on it, that jack can be used to connect it to the computer running the software so-as to play the software-instrument. ~ Anyway, if this recourse doesn't sound too complicated for you, then please check-out the "link" at the end of this comment to the page at the SonicCourture website for the "Ondioline" software. Scroll down to just-below the photos at the top of that page, and look on the left-hand-side of the page where it says "Audio Demos". If you click-on the "'wedge arrow, in a big dot' start icon" for those "Demos", you'll get a pop-up menu of examples. Use the "fast-forward" control to click-up to the 5th demo, which is one named "Runaway Jenny". If you play _that_ demo example, it is actually the "Runaway" Musitron solo - , which as you will hear, sounds almost _identical_ to the timbre of the Musitron used on the classic recording. ~ SonicCourture ,com - "Ondioline" software instrument page: www.soniccouture.com/en/products/24-vintage/g51-ondioline/
That solo still absolutely leaps out of the song in 2022, can't imagine what that sounded like in the early 60's when it came out. RIP
Max was a friend of mine. He just passed away. He was a really nice guy and a great keyboardist.
Hats off to Max
Very nice guy too I met at Guitar center
RIP Max!
I wish I could've met him- and Robert Moog.
That keyboard solo in Runaway is just so very haunting, it has stuck with me since the first time I heard it. Thank you for sharing this.
I met Max Crook at his home in New Mexico. He showed me his home studio and even played the piano. I will never forget that day. I'm thankful for having the privilege of meeting a living legend.
Thank you for sharing! It memorializes your experiences after one day you’re gone too. These guys truly were legends man.
That was the hardest organ lick I ever learned. Hats off to you sir.
That's a nice comment that you have made and a very beautiful clever reference to the other fantastic Del Shannon song, hats off to Larry;thank you so much for saying something that was so beautiful and a joy for us other readers to see. So great that all of you love these musicians and love the song Runaway as much as I do.
Max will always be remembered as an innovator, RIP Max Crook.
I used to know Max Crook. He is a very humble man but a musical genius and the greatest keyboard player I've ever heard.
Max Crook' s musitron bridge in RUNAWAY may well be the greatest in rock history.
I feel like that’s undisputed in my opinion
I think it is
You can hear the influence throughout the entire sixties. That bridge is the bridge between the old time rock and roll and the psych prog synth pop rock that defined that generation.
Glad I found out that del was not only a great musician but a great person who did'nt seem too jaded or full of himself...just a good down to earth person...my kind of people
Thank you Max for your contribution in creating one of the greatest and most enduring rock and roll songs of all time.
Max Crook graduated from high school in Ann Arbor Michigan, in 1954. He played at some of the class reunions. The class is very proud of what he has accomplished.
I would just like to thank Max Crook for created such a most recognizable keyboard RIFF when I was growing up in the 60s
Thank you Max Crook for all you did for Del..and of course the Musitron...pure genius.
We are all lost in our memories
RIP Del
Thank you & R.I.P Max...... I'd love your Musitron sound......
Though I lost you, you live eternally in my heart.
Del used to sing Max’s praises all the time. I’ve seen countless interviews where Del used to tell the story of how Runaway was created, and Del had Max right there talking up his contribution to the song and how it all came together.
R.I.P. Del & Max Together again chasing the runaway to immortality
This was WAY ahead of it's time! Just in case you didn't realize it, or it's because it (synthesizers) seems so commonplace nowadays. This was high tech, high concept stuff we're talking about here. Very cool. 😎
Thank you, Max Crook, for helping to create the early Del Shannon sound. I wonder if many Del Shannon fans realize your influence on his music and the success of your own career. You were a good influence on Del's personal life as well,, I am sure. His music helped many of us, and though he left us with broken hearts, we will never forget him.
R.I.P., Max...you were a real innovator.
The Musitron® part on Runaway is simply iconic.
RIP Max.
Incredible. That’s why the song is one of a kind he took different instruments and combined them together to make such a beautiful and unique sound.
Along w/ Ray Manzarek , Jon Lord and Gary Wright , Max Crook had musical vision. His keyboard was a game changer for rock & pop music. He was also ahead of his time. He electrified rock & pop music.
Darryl hooper of the seeds...alan price of the animals ...frank rodriguez jr of ? And the mysterians
It never fails me. I loved it then and till I die.
The hidden geniuses of music. Someone should make a documentary about these guys who were so important and unknown to most people, as happened with the wrecking crew or the funk brothers among so many others.
Really enjoyed this video. A little step back in time. Thank you for showing it
Rest In Peace Max Crook
Wow what a brilliant solo. Still cuts through and sounds amazing 60 years later! Great to see and hear from the man himself. Max Crook we salute you Sir. RiP x
Thank you Max, a true innovator. If if wasn’t for people like you we wouldn’t have synthesisers today. And the Runaway solo you wrote has stood the test of time and is still relevant today.
Rip Max. I know you're probably up there jamming with Del.
Runaway is the Best rock n roll song ever--the definition of rock n roll is RUNAWAY
These types of innovators were geniuses at producing music, but never got the credit that they deserved.
So many were geniuses what went wrong?
They weren't in the main spotlight, but, they were respected by their peers in the music business I'm sure.
BRILLIANT! I was not quite 4 years old. I *FELT* the MUSITRON riff. I've always loved EleKtroniK MusiK. Early SYNTH.
History, will remember that you have been a good friend to my friend, thank you!
Gracias Max Crook, por el primer sinte en el pop rock,
con Del Shannon, simplemente genial-
Max Field Crook made his own keyboard out of parts and called it a, "Music-tron." EPIC!!!
3:02 !
One great musien
I think this was filmed at the Coopersville Summerfest back in the early 90's. I was a kid and remember being there.
1996 is my bet, the year of the memorial dedication.
He was pioneer of using synthesizer in rock/pop music
Thank you for expressing interest in my comment. In a time when rock music was still in It's infancy most of all rock music sounded much the same. With the success of Del Shannon's hit Runaway . In a way Max Crook changed the sound of music w/his Musitron. At that time much importance wasn't given to keyboard music. Del Shannon electrified pop music but Max Crook brought keyboard music to the forefront. When the British Invasion started till the present day. Keyboards have been an important part of Rock & Pop music. Max Crook was the man that made all this possible. Thank you for expressing thanks for my comment. Max Crook you take care.
Thanks again for taking an interest in my comment. Max Crook when you invented the Musitron you Invented something wonderful. It lead to the synthesizers & other great keyboards. Thank you for highlighting my comment & you have a wonderful day. Del Shannon is always w/us in memory. Max Crook you take care.
...oh good ol vacuum tube (valves) and an experimenter who knew how to make a clavioline into a musitron! " run-run-run-runaway!"
Hi cousin Max. Still love this song. Trying to make family scrapbook. Could you send some stuff to Aunt Donna , if you don't mind. Sorry to be writing to you here, but I don't know how to get in contact with a lot of the family. This is Stephanie Smith's daughter Elizabeth, your second cousin. Thanks for the music!
Electronic music grandfather
There is no need to please everbody ! Rest in Peace , Del !
wow
Del Shannon was the greatest
Thanks
People still wonder why he ran away!
Am I seasick?
I am about to buy a keyboard can anyone recommend a keyboard that would give me as close as possible sound to this song i.e what organ type to look out for would it be a clavoline?
Paul Whiting a Farfisa organ?
I plugged an electric piano and turned the gain up a bit,it works great!
~ I see that your question dates back from two years earlier from when I am writing this reply; but none-the-less I figured that I would give you this response, in-case it might still be of use to you.
~ Let me begin by explaining that there is a company that produces "sample-based software-instruments" named SonicCourture, that makes a model called the "Ondioline" - , which is capable of making an extremely close reproduction of the "Musitron" sound that was used on the classic song "Runaway". As-is-the-case with all "software instruments", in-order to use that software, you have to run it on a computer (a good laptop will suffice); and you also have to connect a "controller keyboard" to the computer so-as to actually play the notes of the song. Since I imagine that you have already bought you earlier-envisioned keyboard by now - , if whatever model you bought has a "USB Out" jack on it, that jack can be used to connect it to the computer running the software so-as to play the software-instrument.
~ Anyway, if this recourse doesn't sound too complicated for you, then please check-out the "link" at the end of this comment to the page at the SonicCourture website for the "Ondioline" software. Scroll down to just-below the photos at the top of that page, and look on the left-hand-side of the page where it says "Audio Demos". If you click-on the "'wedge arrow, in a big dot' start icon" for those "Demos", you'll get a pop-up menu of examples. Use the "fast-forward" control to click-up to the 5th demo, which is one named "Runaway Jenny". If you play _that_ demo example, it is actually the "Runaway" Musitron solo - , which as you will hear, sounds almost _identical_ to the timbre of the Musitron used on the classic recording.
~ SonicCourture ,com - "Ondioline" software instrument page: www.soniccouture.com/en/products/24-vintage/g51-ondioline/
you are friend of Del Shannon?
Like, if you're from David Bennett’s piano channel