School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Rick Wakeman

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Rick Wakeman is an English keyboard player and composer, born on 18 May 1949 in west London. He wanted to become a concert pianist, but left the Royal College of Music in 1969 and became a sought-after session musician. Of an estimated two thousand sessions, he did several for David Bowie, on Space Oddity and Life on Mars?, for Cat Stevens on Morning Has Broken, and for Elton John, Marc Bolan and Lou Reed. After a short spell with the Strawbs he joined Yes in 1971. There he played on Fragile in 1971, Close to the Edge in 1972 and Tales From Topographic Oceans in 1973.

Music and breakthrough

His own work began with The Six Wives of Henry VIII in 1973, followed by Journey to the Centre of the Earth in 1974 and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table in 1975. They are concept albums full of progressive rock. In 1974 he formed the English Rock Ensemble, and in 1975 he wrote the music for Ken Russell's film Lisztomania. His discography runs to more than a hundred solo albums, including new age and Christian music, such as Country Airs in 1986 and The Gospels in 1987.

Influence

He plays Hammond organ, Moog and Mellotron with technical virtuosity and is known for the capes he wears on stage. In the 1980s and 1990s he also worked for smaller markets, in broadcasting and with a label of his own, and he kept performing, including one-man shows in which he combines music and anecdotes. Wakeman brought the sound of classical music into rock.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Close to the Edge by Yes and focus on the organ parts and Wakeman's synthesizer. Can you hear how the keyboards are just as important as the guitar?

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: Artists