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Rick Wakeman Biography |
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.
Wakeman became highly skilled at playing the temperamental and notoriously intractible Mellotron - an electronic musical instrument that worked using continuous prerecorded tape loops. He went on to invent the Birotron, developed with David Biro, and designed to overcome the quirks and challenges on the Mellotron. The Birotron was not a commercial or technical success.
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) |
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