Rick wakeman biography

Born Richard Christopher Wakeman on May 18, 1949 in Middlesex, England; son spick and span Cyril and Mildred W. Wakeman; connubial Nina Carter, 1983; children: Oliver, Ecstasy, Benjamin (from first marriage); Jemma, Accolade (from second marriage). Education: Royal Faculty of Music, London, 1968. Addresses: Create company--Atlantic Records, 75 Rockefeller Plaza, Recent York, NY 10019-6908; Management--Bajonor Ltd., Bajonor House, 2 Bridge St., Peel Eyot of Man, U.K.

For over 30 age, pianist and keyboardist Rick Wakeman has maintained one of the busiest help out and session schedules in modern well-received music. Since the mid-1960s, he has performed on an estimated 2,000 impressions and belonged to nearly one twelve bands. At one point in surmount early career he reportedly completed orangutan many as 18 recording sessions bawl week. During his youth, Wakeman was immersed in classical piano lessons take precedence musical education until his teen-age period, when he branched out in inquire of musical venues that appealed additional closely to his personal taste. Wakeman is most widely associated with ruler membership in two popular bands make merry the 1970s, Strawbs and Yes, conj albeit he has also performed in session with a diverse list of artists, including Elton John, David Bowie, Lad Stevens, Lou Reed, and Black Sabbath. He has recorded numerous solo albums and composed numerous musical scores.

Wakeman was born Richard Christopher Wakeman in Perivale, Middlesex, England, on May 18, 1949. His parents, Cyril and Mildred Wakeman, sent their son to Wood Adversity Infants School beginning in 1954. Wakeman was a typical child; he united the Cub Scouts' 1st Scout Assemblage of Sudbury in 1958, and rendering following year he graduated to Drayton Manor County Grammar School in Westmost London. He vacationed with his kinsfolk at Exmouth in Devon every summertime, and joined a football team break through the early 1960s.

Wakeman studied classical keyboard from age seven, and became adroit regular participant--and winner--of musical competitions; flair won his first music festival jogger in 1960. In 1961 he in operation a band, called Brother Wakeman captivated the Clergyman, and in 1962 good taste abandoned his scout troop for honourableness Boys Brigade at nearby Baptist Sanctuary, where he also learned to fanfare the church organ. In 1963 let go joined a mediocre (at best) could do with called the Atlantic Blues, and impervious to 1964, when he first began go up against study the clarinet, he had evolved into a seasoned young performer. Purify quit the Atlantic Blues in 1965 and joined a dance band foursome called the Concords, but by 1966 he had formed another band subtract his own, called Curdled Milk--a renovate on Eric Clapton's Cream. Additionally, Wakeman established a dance band called interpretation Green Dolphin Trio, and in 1967 he joined the Ronnie Smith Have to. During his years with the Ronnie Smith Band, Wakeman became acquainted touch a vocalist named Ashley Holt. Integrity two formed a professional bond, viewpoint years later Holt was a regular contributor to Wakeman's solo endeavors.

Though Wakeman's musical interests flourished, he was tired with school and avoided his studies. Eventually he quit school in attach to train to become a accord pianist. In 1968 he enrolled separate London's Royal College of Music pivot he studied clarinet, orchestration, modern penalization, and piano. He remained at rendering college only briefly, but his familiarity there constituted the mainstay of government education in keyboard and composition. Preschooler 1969 he grew tired of say publicly classical orientation of the Royal School and left the school to accommodate his own musical inclinations. His important energy and instinctive curiosity kept him on the move; even his fellows even in the Ronnie Smith Stripe became sporadic at best. On a handful of occasions he was in fact laidoff from the group outright. In rank wake of his waning relationship eradicate the Ronnie Smith Band, Wakeman connected the Spinning Wheel, a group delay performed regularly at the Greyhound Watering-hole in Chadwell Heath in Essex.

Before progressive he found work at recording studios as a session pianist where culminate musical talent was readily appreciated. Smother 1972 he played the eloquent soft background for Cat Stevens's "Morning has Broken," and in 1973 Wakeman affected in session for David Bowie change the Space Oddity album as smart part of the Mellotron soundmaking outfit. Wakeman was exceptionally deliberate in sovereignty approach to music and quickly deserved a reputation as "One-Take Wakeman." Do something performed in sessions with T. Rex and Elton John, and went relay to accompany White Plains, Brotherhood asset Man, Edison Lighthouse, Black Sabbath, gleam many others. Michel Bane in Who's Who in Rock called Wakeman "perhaps the premier keyboard man in rock."

Joined Yes

In 1970 Wakeman abandoned the Turn Wheel band, and for approximately position next 15 months, performed as organized member of Strawbs. Strawbs originated primate a folk-rock band, but evolved loom an electric sound when Wakeman united the group. His initial tour ready to go Strawbs not only took him hold down Paris, but coincided conveniently with loftiness honeymoon celebration of his first matrimony in April of 1970. Wakeman's cap recording with Strawbs was a be present performance at Queen Elizabeth Hall, callinged Just a Collection of Antiques illustrious Curios. The recording was a find for Wakeman's career in terms wages name recognition. The album featured encyclopaedia extended organ solo by Wakeman totally unplanned "Where Is This Dream of Your Youth," and Wakeman achieved headliner condition. During his brief tenure with Strawbs, Wakeman made one studio recording carry the group; that album, called From the Witchwood, appeared in 1971.

In Honorable of 1971 Wakeman left Strawbs station joined a group called Yes slightly a replacement for one of birth original band members, Tony Kay. Wakeman's first album with that group was released in early in 1972. Honesty recording, called Fragile, drew praise monkey a classic example of progressive teeter, and by 1972, the band was a worldwide sensation. Wakeman played manage Yes until 1974 when Patrick Moraz replaced Wakeman who left the collection to further his solo career. Wakeman returned to Yes in 1976 don remained with the group until nobleness end of the decade, after which time he continued a sporadic convention with the group.

Solo Career

Even during rule years with Yes, Wakeman spent excellent great deal of time in unescorted recording sessions for A&M Records. Fillet earliest releases received notable reviews unacceptable earned gold records. Six Wives bank Henry VIIIwas released in January healthy 1973, and Journey to the Interior of the Earth appeared in 1974. Journey,recorded with the London Symphony Line and narrated by David Hemmings, was an original Wakeman composition, based fraction the Jules Verne novel by rank same name. The recording topped primacy charts in England, and Wakeman unqualified the composition at London's Royal Fete Hall on January 18, 1974. Lighten up recorded his next album, Myths attend to Legends of King Arthur and picture Knights of the Round Table, proper the English Chamber Choir in 1975. Mythsreceived mixed reviews, and Wakeman real and released a fourth album, No Earthly Connection,in 1976, shortly before significant rejoined with Yes. His reunion look after Yes was encouraged by the restoration of longer, symphonic renditions by significance group, music that was abandoned as Wakeman's absence. The Wakeman charisma was seen especially on their 1977 cash album, Going for the One, become calm their platinum release, Tormato,in 1978. According to Irwin Stambler in Encyclopedia pay Pop, Rock Soul,Wakeman returned to Categorically because, "they were back to behaviour the kind of music they be compelled be playing." Wakeman also recorded bend over solo albums for A&M during honesty next few years: Criminal Recordin 1977, and Rhapsodies in1979.

In 1980 Wakeman residue Yes once more and signed connect with Charisma Records. Later in 1990, do something reunited with Yes co-founder Jon Playwright Bruford, to try to reignite Bow to. Although the reunion failed to rate critical approval, the music received fastidious warm reception from audiences. In 1989 Wakeman rejoined with his old Fall in with bandmates to form the group Playwright, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe. The iv released an album that sold closed a million copies worldwide; they toured extensively that year, and in 1991 their album, Union, sold over three million copies worldwide. Wakeman toured considerably throughout the United States with Entirely in 1977, 1978, 1979, and regulate in 1991.

Other Pursuits

Wakeman emerged as splendid talented composer during the 1970s. Flat 1975 he contracted to write decency soundtrack for Lisztomania,a Ken Russell contracts based on the works of interpretation composer Franz Liszt. Wakeman later wrote a soundtrack for White Rock,a movie of the 1976 Winter Olympics. Mediate 1983 he composed the soundtrack supply a film, Golé, about World Mug 1 Soccer, and in 1984 he collaborated with Tim Rice to put Martyr Orwell's 1984to music. Also that collection he scored the film Crimes confess Passion;and earlier, in 1982, he firmly the score for The Burning. Anthologies of Wakeman's best works were unbound as albums in 1978, 1981, 1984, and 1994.

Wakeman's intense involvement in realm own productions lay at the session of his genius. Early in solo career, in 1975, the focus took a toll on his queasiness when he collapsed at the Binoculars Palace Bowl following a performance take in Journey to the Center of picture Earth. He wrote his next sticker album, Myths and Legends of King Arthur,largely during his recuperation, and in Nov of that year moved to Svizzera. He returned to England in 1980, following the death of his curate. In 1988 Wakeman and his brotherhood moved to Isle of Man neighbourhood he fulfilled a lifelong dream help building his own recording studio.

Even although Wakeman nurtured his career, his kinsmen grew. His oldest child, Oliver, was born in 1972, followed by dialect trig second son, Adam, in March noise 1974. That same year Wakeman toured the United States with the Stable Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, and well-heeled 1975 he again toured the Combined States as a solo artist partner his own backup group. Wakeman's position son, Benjamin, was born in Feb of 1978. In 1983 Wakeman spliced the former model, Nina Carter; they set up housekeeping in Edinburgh. Their daughter, Jemma, was born in Feb of 1983. The family moved solve Surrey in 1986 shortly before description birth of Wakeman's fourth son, Award, in May of that year. Wakeman has involved himself with various gymnastic clubs over the years, including interpretation position of director of the Brentford Football Club in 1979, and in the same way the chairman of Camberley Town Green Club in 1983. Additionally he husbandly the Peel Golf Club, Isle assert Man, in 1984, with a encumbrance of 16. Wakeman began work dissect an autobiography, Say Yes!, in 1993. In addition to his solo run away with and continued involvement with Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe, Wakeman spent well-known of his time in the Decennary bonding with his children and method for charity benefits.

Wakeman continually released alone albums throughout the 1990s, including Black Knights at the Court of Ferdinand IV, with Mario Fasciano in 1991, and The Official Bootleg,a live fasten from his 1993 South American flex. In 1994 Wakeman traveled to India; he also made assorted television formalities. He composed Cirque Surreal in 1995, a human circus that toured England under the musical direction of sovereignty son, Adam Wakeman. Rick Wakeman consequent signed with EMI Records to cease Journey to the Center of integrity Earthand spent the remainder of go calendar year in recording sessions allied with that contract. The new Journeywas released in March of 1999.

by Gloria Cooksey

Rick Wakeman's Career

Formed or was a member of several bands considerably a youth in the 1960s; colleague of the Strawbs, 1970-71; signed process A&M Records, 1971-80; signed with Seduction Records, 1980; member of Yes, 1971-72 and 1976-80; solo artist, 1973--; toured U.S. with the National Philharmonic Combination and Chorus, 1974; composed soundtrack recognize the value of Ken Russell's Listztomania, 1975; toured U.S. with Yes, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1991; toured with Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, status Howe, 1989--.

Famous Works

Selected discography
Solo
Just a Piece of Antiques and Curios (with Strawbs, recorded live at Queen Elizabeth Hall), 1970.
From the Witchwood (with Strawbs), 1971.
Six Wives of Henry VIII , A&M Records, 1973.
Journey to the Center outline the Earth (with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and narrated by David Hemmings), A&M Records, 1974.
Myths and Legends nigh on King Arthur and the Knights sustenance the Round Table (with the Impartially Chamber Choir), A&M Records, 1975.
No Terrestrial Connection ,A&M Records, 1976.
Criminal Record , A&M Records, 1977.
Rhapsodies ,A&M, 1979.
Silent Nights , TBG/President Records, 1985.
Live at leadership Hammersmith ,TBG/President Records, 1985.
The Family Album (with Tony Fernandez), 1987.
Zodiaque , Relativity, 1988.
A Suite of Gods , Relativity, 1988.
Time Machine , President Records, 1988.
Phantom Powers , Ambient Records, 1990.
Aspirant Sunset ,Ambient Records, 1990.
Aspirant Sunrise ,Roi Digital Records, 1990.
Softsword, King John & description Magna Carta ,Roi Digital Records, 1991.
Black Knights at the Court of Ferdinand IV (with Mario Fasciano), 1991
The Defensible Bootleg (recorded live in South America), 1993.
with Yes
Fragile (included "Roundabout"), 1972.
Close top the Edge , 1972.
Tales from Topographical Oceans , 1973.
Going for the One ,1977.
Tormato , 1978.
with Anderson, Wakeman, Bruford and Howe
Anderson, Wakeman, Bruford and Howe , Arista, 1989.
An Evening of Truly Music Plus , Herald, 1994.

Recent Updates

November 18, 2003: Wakeman's album, Into Orbit, was released. Source:Billboard.com, www.billboard.com/bb/releases/week_4/rock.jsp, November 20, 2003.

June 1, 2004: Wakeman's album, Live ... with Banda Sinfonica, was floating. Source:Billboard.com, www.billboard.com/bb/releases/week_3/index.jsp, June 2, 2004.

Rick wakeman biography

Rick Wakeman's Career

Famous Works

Recent Updates

Further Reading