Al Greenwood
His shimmering keyboard lines defined the sound of Foreigner's early, multi-platinum hits, making him a foundational architect of 1970s arena rock.
Born 1951 (age 75)·American musician·Birthday: October 20·Baby Boomers
Biography
Al Greenwood stepped onto the rock stage not as a frontman, but as a sonic colorist. Joining forces with Mick Jones and Lou Gramm in the formative days of Foreigner, his keyboards provided the atmospheric sheen and melodic hooks that distinguished the band's sound from its harder-rocking peers. On the trio of albums he helped create—the self-titled debut, 'Double Vision,' and 'Head Games'—Greenwood's work was integral, from the icy synth intro of 'Cold as Ice' to the lush textures of 'Waiting for a Girl Like You.' His tenure with the band was relatively brief, ending in 1980, but its impact was permanent, helping to forge a blueprint for sophisticated, radio-dominating rock. In 2024, his contribution was formally recognized with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Foreigner's classic lineup, cementing his role in one of the era's most successful musical enterprises.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Al was born in 1951, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Al Was Born
The biggest hits of 1951
#1 Movie
Quo Vadis
Best Picture
An American in Paris
#1 TV Show
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Al's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1951Born
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1956Started school
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1964Became a teenager
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1967Could drive
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1969Could vote
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Turned 21
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1981Turned 30
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 40
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 50
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 60
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 70
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 75 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As a founding member and keyboardist of Foreigner, he performed on the band's first three albums, which have sold tens of millions of copies worldwide.
- His keyboard work is featured on enduring rock anthems including 'Cold as Ice,' 'Hot Blooded,' and 'Double Vision.'
- He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 as a member of Foreigner.
Did You Know?
Before joining Foreigner, he was a member of the band Spooky Tooth.
He is left-handed but plays keyboards right-handed.
The famous synth intro to 'Cold as Ice' was created using a Yamaha CS-80 polyphonic synthesizer.
“The keyboard is the color in the band's black-and-white photograph.”
