Richard Christopher Wakeman, born on May 18, 1949, is a celebrated English keyboardist, composer, and songwriter, renowned primarily for his tenure with the iconic progressive rock band Yes. His multifaceted career also encompasses a successful solo journey, contributions to BBC’s comedy series Grumpy Old Men, and hosting his own radio program, Rick's Place, on Planet Rock until December 2010.
Hailing from west London, Wakeman's musical journey began at the age of twelve when he acquired his first electronic keyboard. He briefly studied at the Royal College of Music in 1968, focusing on piano, clarinet, orchestration, and modern music, before venturing into the world of session musicianship. His keyboard talents can be heard on numerous hit tracks for artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, T. Rex, Elton John, and Cat Stevens.
Wakeman joined the folk rock band Strawbs in 1969, contributing to three of their albums. In 1971, he joined Yes, replacing Tony Kaye, and later left in 1974 to pursue solo projects. He returned to Yes in 1976, departed with Jon Anderson in 1980, and was involved with the side project Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe in 1989. His association with Yes continued through various lineups until his final departure in 1992, with additional returns in 1995 and 2002.
His solo career is highlighted by landmark albums such as 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). Over his prolific career, Wakeman has released more than 100 solo albums, selling over 50 million copies globally. In recognition of his contributions to progressive rock, he received the Spirit of Prog award at the Marshall Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards in November 201
