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John Locke

1943 – 2006

American keyboardist

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About John Locke

Lived 1943 – 2006 (aged 62). John Locke was an American musician, pianist, keyboardist and songwriter.

John Tilden Locke (September 25, 1943 – August 4, 2006) was an American keyboardist and a member of the rock group Spirit. In the early 1980s, he was a member of the band Nazareth.

Early life Locke was born in Los Angeles, California. His father was a classical violinist and his mother sang operas and was a composer. Locke's mother, Marty, was a classically trained pianist, who taught John how to play the piano. As a teenager, he played in a band with Robby Krieger, later of The Doors. After a failed reunion of original Spirit members in 1976, Locke vowed to never work with California again, however he would later join California in Spirit, as well as play on some of California's solo albums. In the period 1980–1982 he performed with the Scottish band Nazareth and appeared on three albums: The Fool Circle, 'Snaz, and 2XS. He also played keyboards on the Stray Cats album Gonna Ball, and on Randy California's solo albums Euro-American and Restless.

Death Locke died from Lymphoma in Ojai, California pm August 4, 2006, at the age of 62. He was survived by his son, Alex.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
John Tilden Locke

People in John Locke's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Locke's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Locke?

American keyboardist (1943–2006)

When was John Locke born?

John Locke was born on 25 September 1943 in Los Angeles.

When did John Locke die?

John Locke died on 4 August 2006 in Ojai.

What was John Locke's occupation?

John Locke was a musician, pianist, keyboardist and songwriter.

What nationality was John Locke?

John Locke was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Locke

· Wikidata: Q673638

· DBpedia: John Locke (musician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Locke. https://biography.guide/john-locke-musician/

MLA: "John Locke." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-locke-musician/.

Chicago: "John Locke." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-locke-musician/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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