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Rick Wakeman

Rick Wakeman

Acting

Born: May 18, 1949Perivale, London, England

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Richard Christopher Wakeman (born 18 May 1949) is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes. He is also known for his solo albums, contributing to the BBC comedy series Grumpy Old Men and for Rick's Place, his former radio show on Planet Rock that aired until December 2010. Born in west London, Wakeman purchased his first electronic keyboard at 12 years of age. In 1968, he studied the piano, clarinet, orchestration and modern music at the Royal College of Music before leaving after a year in favour of session music work. He went on to feature on songs by artists including Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, T. Rex, Elton John and Cat Stevens. Wakeman joined the folk group Strawbs in 1969 and played on three of their albums. He first joined Yes in 1971 to replace Tony Kaye, and left the group in 1974 to work on his solo career. He returned in 1976 before leaving with lead vocalist Jon Anderson in 1980. Wakeman was part of the side project Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, a group of ex-Yes members formed in 1989, and the eight-member Yes lineup that followed until his third departure in 1992. He returned for two years in 1995 and once more in 2002, where he was part of the band's 35th anniversary tour until its end in 2004. Wakeman began his solo career during his first run with Yes. His perhaps most known records being his first three, The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973), Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974) and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1975). He has produced over 100 solo albums that have sold more than 50 million copies. In November 2010, Wakeman was awarded the Spirit of Prog award at the annual Marshall Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards. Description above from the Wikipedia article Rick Wakeman, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.​

Known For
Filmography
Rick Wakeman: The Return of the Caped Crusader Part 2

Rick Wakeman: The Return of the Caped Crusader Part 2

Self

2025
Synopsis (This is not music)

Synopsis (This is not music)

Self

2024
David Bowie: London Boy

David Bowie: London Boy

Self

2021
David Bowie: Finding Fame

David Bowie: Finding Fame

Self

2019

Rick Wakeman - Live Portraits

2019
Yes - Live at the Apollo

Yes - Live at the Apollo

Keyboards

2018
BowieNext - Nascita di una galassia

BowieNext - Nascita di una galassia

2018
Beside Bowie - The Mick Ronson Story

Beside Bowie - The Mick Ronson Story

Self

2017
When Pop Went Epic: The Crazy World of the Concept Album

When Pop Went Epic: The Crazy World of the Concept Album

Self - Presenter

2016
Top Gear: From A-Z

Top Gear: From A-Z

Self

2015
Rick Wakeman on Vivaldi's Four Seasons

Rick Wakeman on Vivaldi's Four Seasons

2015
Tales from the Tour Bus: Rock 'n' Roll on the Road

Tales from the Tour Bus: Rock 'n' Roll on the Road

Self - Presenter

2015
Ozzy Osbourne: Memoirs of a Madman

Ozzy Osbourne: Memoirs of a Madman

2014
Celebrating Jon Lord - Live at The Royal Albert Hall

Celebrating Jon Lord - Live at The Royal Albert Hall

Self

2014
Oh! You Pretty Things: The Story of British Music and Fashion

Oh! You Pretty Things: The Story of British Music and Fashion

Self

2014
Celebrating Jon Lord

Celebrating Jon Lord

Keyboards

2014
Yes: Close to the Edge

Yes: Close to the Edge

Organ, Grand Piano, Mellotron, Synthesizer

2013
The Sunflower Superjam 2012

The Sunflower Superjam 2012

Self

2013
Yes - Union Live

Yes - Union Live

Self - Keyboards

2011
Rick Wakeman: The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Live at Hampton Court Palace

Rick Wakeman: The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Live at Hampton Court Palace

2009
Rick Wakeman: The Six Wives Of Henry VIII

Rick Wakeman: The Six Wives Of Henry VIII

Himself

2009
Prog Rock Britannia

Prog Rock Britannia

Self

2009
Prog Rock at the BBC

Prog Rock at the BBC

Self

2009
Yes: The New Director's Cut

Yes: The New Director's Cut

2008
Yes: Classic Artists

Yes: Classic Artists

Himself

2007
Yes: Live at Montreux 2003

Yes: Live at Montreux 2003

Keyboards

2007
Rick Wakeman: Made in Cuba

Rick Wakeman: Made in Cuba

2006
Yes: Greatest Video Hits

Yes: Greatest Video Hits

2005
Yes - Songs From Tsongas - 35th Anniversary Concert

Yes - Songs From Tsongas - 35th Anniversary Concert

Keyboards

2005
Yes Acoustic: Guaranteed No Hiss

Yes Acoustic: Guaranteed No Hiss

Keyboards

2004

Eco Rock Festival

2004
Moog

Moog

Self

2004

Yes: Acoustic

2004
Rick Wakeman: Out There

Rick Wakeman: Out There

2004
Yes: Yesspeak

Yes: Yesspeak

Keyboards

2003
Keyboard Wizards - The Ultimate Anthology

Keyboard Wizards - The Ultimate Anthology

2003
YES: Fragile

YES: Fragile

Keyboards

2002

Roger Dean: Views

2001
Rick Wakeman & English Rock Ensemble Live From Buenos Aires

Rick Wakeman & English Rock Ensemble Live From Buenos Aires

2001
Rick Wakeman: The Legend - Live in Concert 2000

Rick Wakeman: The Legend - Live in Concert 2000

Self - Keyboard

2000
Yes: Keys To Ascension

Yes: Keys To Ascension

Keyboards

1996
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck

An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck

Self - Audience Member

1994
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe: An Evening of Yes Music Plus

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe: An Evening of Yes Music Plus

Himself - Keyboard

1993
Rick Wakeman: The Classical Connection

Rick Wakeman: The Classical Connection

1991
YesYears

YesYears

1991
Yes - Union Tour Denver

Yes - Union Tour Denver

Self

1991
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe In The Big Dream

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe In The Big Dream

1989
A Week In The Life Of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe

A Week In The Life Of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe

Keys

1989
Crimes of Passion

Crimes of Passion

Wedding Photographer (uncredited)

1984
Yes: Live In Philadelphia 1979

Yes: Live In Philadelphia 1979

1979

The New Sound of Music

Self

1979
Lisztomania

Lisztomania

Thor

1975
Rick Wakeman - Journey To The Centre Of The Earth

Rick Wakeman - Journey To The Centre Of The Earth

Keyboard

1975
Yessongs

Yessongs

Himself - Keyboards

1975
Rick Wakeman | Snape