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.
Wakeman was born in West London. He 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 line-up 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.
solo
Rick Wakeman.1971 - Piano Vibrations
Rick Wakeman.1973 - The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (2014 Deluxe Edition)
Rick Wakeman.1974 - Journey To The Centre Of The Earth
Rick Wakeman.1975 - Lisztomania
Rick Wakeman.1975 - The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table
Rick Wakeman.1976 - No Earthly Connection (2012)
Rick Wakeman.1977 - Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record (2006)
Rick Wakeman.1977 - White Rock
Rick Wakeman.1979 - Rhapsodies (2009)
Rick Wakeman.1981 - 1984 (2006)
Rick Wakeman.1983 - Cost Of Living
Rick Wakeman.1985 - Live At Hammersmith
Rick Wakeman.1985 - Silent Nights (1994)
Rick Wakeman.1986 - Country Airs
Rick Wakeman.1986 - Crimes of Passion
Rick Wakeman.1987 - The Family Album (1989)
Rick Wakeman.1987 - The Gospels - 2CD
Rick Wakeman.1988 - Time Machine (1989)
Rick Wakeman.1989 - Sea Airs
Rick Wakeman.1990 - African Bach (1993)
Rick Wakeman.1990 - Aspirant Sunrise (1993)
Rick Wakeman.1990 - Aspirant Sunset (1993)
Rick Wakeman.1990 - Night Airs
Rick Wakeman.1991 - 2000 A.D. Into The Future (1993)
Rick Wakeman.1991 - Aspirant Sunshadows
Rick Wakeman.1991 - Softsword (King John & The Magna Charter) (1994)
Rick Wakeman.1991 - The Classical Connection (1993)
Rick Wakeman.1991 - The Classical Connection II
Rick Wakeman.1992 - Country Airs (Re-record)
Rick Wakeman.1993 - Heritage Suite
Rick Wakeman.1993 - Prayers
Rick Wakeman.1993 - Rock N' Roll Prophet Plus
Rick Wakeman.1994 - Lure Of The Wild
Rick Wakeman.1994 - The Private Collection
Rick Wakeman.1995 - The New Gospels (2004) - 2CD
Rick Wakeman.1995 - The Piano Album
Rick Wakeman.1995 - The Seven Wonders Of The World
Rick Wakeman.1995 - Visions
Rick Wakeman.1996 - Can You Hear Me
Rick Wakeman.1996 - Fields Of Green
Rick Wakeman.1997 - The Natural World Trilogy (2002) - 3CD
Rick Wakeman.1997 - Tribute (Tribute To The Beatles)
Rick Wakeman.1998 - Themes
Rick Wakeman.1999 - Return To The Centre Of The Earth
Rick Wakeman.2000 - Chronicles Of Man
Rick Wakeman.2000 - Preludes To A Century
Rick Wakeman.2001 - Two Sides Of Yes
Rick Wakeman.2002 - Almost Classical (Rem.)
Rick Wakeman.2002 - Fields Of Green
Rick Wakeman.2002 - The Real Lisztomania (Rem.)
Rick Wakeman.2002 - The Wizard And The Forest Of All Dreams (2004)
Rick Wakeman.2002 - Two Sides Of Yes Vol II
Rick Wakeman.2006 - Retro
Rick Wakeman.2007 - Amazing Grace (CD+DVD)
Rick Wakeman.2007 - Retro 2
Rick Wakeman.2009 - Past, Present And Future - 3CD
Rick Wakeman.2010 - Always With You
Rick Wakeman.2012 - Journey To The Centre Of The Earth ( 2012 Record)
Rick Wakeman.2016 - Starship Trooper
Rick Wakeman.2016 - The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table (2016 Record) - 2CD
Rick Wakeman.2017 - Piano Portraits
Rick Wakeman.2018 - Piano Odyssey
Rick Wakeman.2019 - Christmas Portraits
soundtracks & collaborations
1988 - Rick Wakeman & Ramon Remedios - A Suite Of Gods
1988 - Rick Wakeman & Tony Fernandez - Zodiaque (1989)
1989 - Rick Wakeman & Mario Fasciano - Black Knights At The Court Of Ferdinand IV (1991)
1992 - Wakeman With Wakeman (1993)
1993 - Wakeman With Wakeman - No Expense Spared (1994)
1994 - Rick Wakeman & Adam Wakeman - Romance Of The Victorian Age
1994 - Rick Wakeman And The English Rock Ensemble - Live On The Test 1983
1996 - Rick & Adam Wakeman - Vignettes
1996 - Rick Wakeman & Adam Wakeman - Tapestries
1999 - Rick Wakeman And Mario Fasciano - Stella Bianca. Alla Corte Di Re Ferdinando (2000)
2003 - Rick Wakeman And The New English Rock Ensemble - Out There
2006 - Rick Wakeman And His Band - Cirque Surreal
2006 - Rick Wakeman And The New English Rock Ensemble - Out Of The Blue
2009 - Gordon Giltrap & Rick Wakeman - From Brush & Stone
2010 - Anderson & Wakeman - The Living Tree
2011 - Jon Anderson & Rick Wakeman - The Living Tree In Concert. Part One
2012 - Rick Wakeman & The New English Rock Ensemble - In The Nick Of Time - Live In 2003
2020 - Rick Wakeman & The English Rock Ensemble - The Red Planet
