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in: 1949 births

Rick Wakeman

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Richard Christopher Wakeman (Perivale, WestLondon, 18 may 1949) is considered one of the most virtuoso pianists (and player of other keyboards) in pop music.

Content[]

[hide]*1 Biography

Biography[Edit][]

The beginning[Edit][]

His musical life begins with a study piano, clarinet and orchestration and modern music at the Royal College of Music in London. But after a year and a half he found it enough and he became a session musician. He is the man who provided the intro of Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens, plays along with albums by Brotherhood of Man, t. Rex, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne and David Bowie ('Mellotron' on Space Oddity). He makes there knowledge with first arranger and later producer Tony Visconti.

Strawbs[Edit][]

As a studio musician he plays along to the first own album by Strawbs. That he can participate is coincidence, the first version of the album is frowned upon. His first achievement in The Battle the final version on the album. He is however not mentioned. This is different from the second album Dragonfly; There he plays on ' The vision of the lady of the lake ', but is barely audible. He gets salary for that track, thanks Dave Cousins, shall enter into force immediately and should direct to the bucket at a concert in the Royal Albert Hall in July 1970 for the album Just a Collection of Antiques and Curios. Two soli fall on: his ownTemperament of mind and Where is this dream of your youth. The first is still a messy series of classic-style fragments, the second is heard where Wakeman is capable of.

Yes[Edit][]

In 1971, after having recorded his first solo album, Yesbeckons. Yes was already known worldwide and the Strawbs were still in its infancy. The choice was simple and Cousins gave retrofitting that it's a good decision of Wakeman was. He succeeds Tony Kaye , which left only the "classic" Yes because he wanted to play instruments. Wakeman has everything: the evolution within the synthesizers and related instruments is huge and the current progressive rock is hugely popular. His first contributions can be found on the album Fragile, then come Close To The Edge (his favourite album) and Tales From Topographic Oceans; all leading to one of the most famous live albums: the Yessongs triple lp.

Wake, however, differs from the other mans habits in Yes-members, that a strict macrobiotic regimen persist. The other members were also new-age early supporters, while Wakeman (later very pious) is a protestant[source?]. The real reason why Wakeman left the group, however, was musical: during the recording of the extremely ambitious double LP Tales of Topographic Oceans he alienated by the combination of grandiose but superficial thought out concept ("a double LP based on one footnote about the Holy Scriptures of the Hindus, where Anderson is an expert in imagined"), lack of preparation ("writing songs do you rehearse in the local, not in the studio ", dixit Wakeman in an interview), and lack of public participation in the process. [source?]

Solo[Edit][]

[1][2]Rick Wakeman: Portrait- Augusto De Luca

Already during his stay at Yes starts to record more solo albums Wakeman. His second The Six Wives of Henry VIII is actually an obligation from his time with Strawbs ' record company A & M Records; they had gambled on more albums with him. Wakeman had to deliver a fourth. The album is performed by members of Strawbs and Yes.

Top is his album The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, which was a huge spectacle, with ice dancers, chorus and Orchestra. Wakeman is almost bankrupt and sells part of its antique fleet.

The problems are piling up for Wakeman: bankrupt and as good as addicted to alcohol he gets a heart attack.

Yes part 2[Edit][]

The career of Wakeman is, however, not yet on: in 1977 is Wakeman again at Yes, for their comeback album from 1977, Going For The One. He also plays on Tormato still with it, but then the weather is over. Not only has problems, there is also a Wakeman battle los in Yes itself. At one point, the situation is in that band so much that there legal battle erupts around the rights of the name. The reunion with Yes-members is then also released under the name Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (also called ABWH). With them he brings a titelloos studio album and a live album out. Anderson turns back to Yes and everything starts all over again.

Solo 2[Edit][]

Rick Wakeman, who in the meantime little afgekraakte albums sold and sometimes by the press is negative, from that moment has a flasher relationship with Yes. Sometimes he plays with it, then again he's not there.

Private Life[Edit][]

Like his life in and outside Yes, he also has a stormy married life. His first wife was Roz Woolford with whom he had three children Oliver Wakeman, Adam Wakeman and Benjamin Wakeman (1978). He then married in 1980 with Dani elle Corminboeuf from Switzerland, a marriage that lasted less than a year. In 1981 he met Nina Carter, a fashion model, whom he married in 1984. From that marriage Jemma Wakeman and Oscar Wakeman (1986). In the latter year he also gets Amanda a child out of wedlock from a relationship with Denise Girard. In 2000 are Nina and Wakeman divorce, but only in 2004 is that final. Wakeman meet Rachel Kaufmann, a journalist who researches how people with a disease can continue to exercise their profession. Wakeman has arthritis, but remains virtuoso piano playing. Rick Wakeman and Rachel getting married in 2006. Oliver and Adam have already put the first steps in their own music career. Both played or play in Strabws, the band with which the ancestor Wakeman began.

Wakeman may occur regularly in all kinds of programs on British television. In pop music quiz Never Mind the Buzzcocks once asked if he found a fragment from his early days wants to play. Rehearsed or not, participants, presenter and audience are amazed.

Discography[Edit][]

Solo[Edit][]

On some of the following albums son Adam plays with it.

With Strawbs[Edit][]

Live Album[Edit][]

Studio albums[Edit][]

With Yes[Edit][]

Studio albums[Edit][]

Live Albums[Edit][]

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