Biography

Greg Lake had been a school friend of Robert Fripp, who solicited him as a member of the first King Crimson line-up which had formed out of Giles, Giles and Fripp. Lake was primarily a guitarist, but agreed to switch to bass at Fripp's request. Lake had some involvement in writing the lyrics for King Crimson's debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King, although Peter Sinfield was the primary lyricist. Lake also ended up producing the album after their contracted producer, Tony Clarke, walked away from the project.

In The Court of the Crimson King, released in 1969, made King Crimson far more successful than any of Fripp and Lake's earlier projects (such as the Shy Limbs or Giles, Giles and Fripp). Lake's vocals, which ranged from serene and soothing to acerbic and distorted, were a striking element of the album. However, Lake stayed with King Crimson for only about a year, leaving soon after their debut album to start the rock trio Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Despite this, at Fripp's request, Lake sang on King Crimson's second album, In the Wake of Poseidon, and appeared as well with a pick-up version of King Crimson on the British music program Top of the Pops.

King Crimson played a couple of venues with the Nice, during which Lake struck up a friendship with the Nice's keyboardist Keith Emerson. Lake and Emerson eventually teamed up and brought in the drummer from the Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster, Carl Palmer—forming the progressive rock 'supergroup' Emerson Lake & Palmer (ELP). Lake contributed acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, lyrics, vocals and production work to the band.

In 1975, Lake achieved solo chart success when his single, "I Believe in Father Christmas", reached number two on the UK singles chart. It has become a Yuletide perennial.

Lake subsequently joined Asia for a time, and then co-formed Emerson, Lake & Powell.

In 2005, Lake toured Germany and the United Kingdom with his "Greg Lake Band" which included David Arch, Florian Opahle, Trevor Barry on bass, and Brett Morgan.

Lake performed "Karn Evil 9" with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at several shows. At the album Night Castle (2009) he was a special guest and played guitar on "Nutrocker", a special version of the music number Nut Rocker.

In 2010, he toured with Keith Emerson, from which came the live album Live from Manticore Hall. In 2012, Greg Lake toured England, The United States and Italy with the "Songs Of A Lifetime" show. He played a career retrospective, along with select covers, for small audiences.

In late June 2013 Lake was invited to star at Genoa's Poetry Festival where he performed a reading of "Pirates", a drama piece in music he wrote with Peter Sinfield. Then performed some of his classic songs. On January 9, 2016 he was awarded by the very first Honorary Degree in Music and lyrics composition by Conservatorio Nicolini in Piacenza, Italy. This was the first time ever a Conservatorio gave a Honoris Causa award.

Discography

Solo

• Greg Lake with Gary Moore (1981) US #62; UK No. 62
• Manoeuvres with Gary Moore (1983) US No. 209
• Ride the Tiger with Geoff Downes (2015)

Live albums

• King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Greg Lake in Concert (aka Nuclear Attack/Live/In Concert) with Gary Moore (1995)
• Greg Lake (2007)
• Songs of a Lifetime (2013)
• Live from Manticore Hall with Keith Emerson (2014)

Compilations

• The Greg Lake Retrospective: From The Beginning (1997)
• From The Underground: The Official Bootleg (1998)
• From The Underground 2 : Deeper Into The Mine : An Official Greg Lake Bootleg (2003)

Singles

• I Believe in Father Christmas (1975)
• C'est La Vie (1977)
• Watching Over You (1977)
• Love You Too Much (1981)
• Let Me Love You Once (1981)
• It Hurts/Retribution Drive (1982)
• Famous Last Words (1983)

DVDs

• Greg Lake: Live In Concert (2006)
• Welcome Backstage (2006)

with the Shame: singles

• Don't Go Away Little Girl/Dreams Don't Bother Me (1967)

with Shy Limbs: singles

• Reputation/Love (1968; side B only)

with King Crimson

• In the Court of the Crimson King (October 1969); US No. 28 UK No. 5
• In the Wake of Poseidon (May 1970); US No. 31 UK No. 4
• Epitaph (1997)

with Emerson, Lake and Palmer

Studio albums

Year	Title			RIAA	BPI
1970	Emerson, Lake & Palmer	18	4	Gold	Silver
1971	Tarkus	9	1	Gold	Platinum
1972	Trilogy	5	2	Gold	Platinum
1973	Brain Salad Surgery	11	2	Gold	Gold
1977	Works, Vol. 1	12	9	Gold	Gold
1977	Works, Vol. 2	37	20	Gold	-
1978	Love Beach	55	48	Gold	Silver
1992	Black Moon	78	-	-	-
1994	In the Hot Seat	-	-	-	-

Live albums

Year	Title			RIAA	BPI
1971	Pictures at an Exhibition	10	3	Gold	Silver
1974	Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends... Ladies and Gentlemen, Emerson, Lake & Palmer	4	5	Gold	-
1979	In Concert	73	-	-	-
1993	Live at the Royal Albert Hall	-	-	-	-
	Works Live	-	-	-	-
1997	Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970	-	-	-	-
	Live in Poland	-	-	-	-
	King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: Greatest Hits Live	-	-	-	-
1998	Then & Now	-	-	-	-
2001	The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults: Volume One	-	-	-	-
	The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults: Volume Two	-	-	-	-
2002	The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults: Volume Three	-	-	-	-
2006	The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults: Volume Four	-	-	-	-
2010	High Voltage	-	-	-	-
	A Time And A Place	-	-	-	-
2011	Live at Nassau Coliseum '78	-	-	-	-
	Live at the Mar Y Sol Festival '72	-	-	-	-
2012	Live in California 1974	-	-	-	-
2013	Live in Montreal 1977	-	-	-	-

with Asia

• Enso Kai (2001), Recorded live at the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan, on 6 December 1983.

with Emerson, Lake and Powell

• Emerson, Lake & Powell (1986)
• The Sprocket Sessions (2003(An Official Bootleg), 2010(Reissue))
• Live in Concert (2003(An Official Bootleg), 2010(Reissue))
• Live in Concert & More... (2012), 2CDs Contains 2 previously released official bootlegs, Live in Concert and The Sprocket Sessions

[ Source: Wikipedia ]