Rick Wakeman

Rick Wakeman (born May 18, 1949) is a progressive rock keyboard player. He is a classically trained pianist and has been highly acclaimed for his virtuosity. In his early years he was a pioneer in the use of electronic keyboards[?], and his name has become a byword for a keyboard player surrounded by a vast array of equipment.

He was born in Perivale, Middlesex, England.

Wakeman came to fame in 1970 playing with The Strawbs[?], and joined Yes for the first time in 1971. Wakeman has joined and left Yes at least four times in his turbulent long-term relationship with the group. In 2002, he joined the band for a fifth time.

Wakeman has enjoyed a long, extremely prolific, but only occasionally successful solo career. He has also performed as a guest or session musician for artists as disparate as John Williams, Brotherhood Of Man[?], Elton John, Lou Reed, David Bowie and Black Sabbath.

Once known as one of the hardest-partying rock musicians, he has been calmed down somewhat by an early heart attack, marriage (to a former topless model), children and conversion to Christianity. Despite once being a director of Brentford F.C.[?], he now supports Manchester City F.C. after a disagreement with the board.

Discography

Solo and with his son Adam

• 1973 The Six Wives of Henry VIII
• 1974 Journey To The Centre Of The Earth
• 1975 The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
• 1975 Lisztomania
• 1976 No Earthly Connection
• 1977 Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record
• 1977 White Rock (soundtrack to winter olympics)
• 1978 The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Performs the Best Known Works of Rick Wakeman
• 1979 Rhapsodies
• 1981 The Burning (soundtrack)
• 1981 1984 (soundtrack)
• 1982 Rock 'N' Roll Prophet
• 1983 Cost of Living (soundtrack)
• 1983 G'ole! (soundtrack to 1982 Soccer World Cup[?])
• 1984 Black Nights in the Court of Ferdinand IV
• 1985 Silent Nights
• 1985 Live at Hammersmith
• 1986 Country Airs
• 1986 Crimes Of Passion (soundtrack)
• 1987 The Gospels
• 1987 Family Album
• 1988 Time Machine
• 1988 Suite Of Gods
• 1988 Zodiaque
• 1989 Sea Airs
• 1990 Night Airs
• 1990 Phantom Power (soundtrack)
• 1990 In the Beginning
• 1991 Rock'n'Roll Prophet Plus (reissue of Rock'n'Roll Prophet plus 4 new tracks)
• 1991 Aspirant Sunset
• 1991 Aspirant Sunrise
• 1991 Aspirant Shadows
• 1991 Suntrilogy
• 1991 The Classical Connection (remakes of earlier works)
• 1991 2000 A.D. Into The Future
• 1991 African Bach
• 1991 Softsword: King John and the Magna Charter
• 1993 Heritage Suite
• 1993 Classic Tracks
• 1993 Wakeman With Wakeman
• 1993 No Expense Spared
• 1994 Wakeman With Wakeman: The Official Bootleg (live)
• 1993 The Classical Connection II
• 1993 Prayers
• 1994 Live on the Test (live - recorded in 1976)
• 1994 Rick Wakeman's Greatest Hits (remakes of old works)
• 1995 Seven Wonders of the World
• 1995 Cirque Surreal
• 1995 Romance of the Victorian Age
• 1995 King Biscuit Flower Hour -- In Concert (live - recorded in 1975)
• 1995 Visions
• 1995 Simply Acoustic (known as The Piano Album)
• 1995 The Private Collection
• 1995 Almost Live in Europe (live)
• 1996 Fields of Green
• 1996 Voyage (compilation)
• 1996 The New Gospels
• 1996 Tapestries
• 1996 The Word and Music
• 1996 Orisons
• 1996 Can You Hear Me?
• 1996 Vignettes
• 1997 Tribute (Beatles covers)
• 1998 Themes
• 1999 Return to the Centre of the Earth
• 1999 The Natural World Trilogy
• 1999 The Art in Music Trilogy
• 1999 White Rock II
• 1999 Stella Bianca alla corte de Re Ferdinando
• 2000 Recollections: The Very Best of Rick Wakeman 1973-1979 (compilation)
• 2000 Preludes to a Century
• 2000 Chronicles of Man
• 2000 Christmas Variations
• 2000 Rick Wakeman Live in Concert 2000 (live)

External links

• Rick Wakeman's Communication Centre (http://www.rwcc.com/)
• Yes World (http://www.yesworld.com/)
• Steve Raiteri's Album Recommendations (http://my.voyager.net/~sraiteri/wakeman.htm)
• Rick Wakeman Discography (http://web.onetel.net.uk/~ggj/recollection/disco.html)