Rick Wakeman
A classically trained pianist who brought his talents to bear on the progressive rock movement, first as a member of The Strawbs and later as a member of Yes. His long blond locks and flowing capes cut quite a figure, the mad magician evoking all manner of sounds from his array of electronic keyboards. Although Wakeman has returned to Yes on occasion, his primary focus since the '70s has been his solo career, which has taken him from elaborate progressive rock projects to more modest recordings, leading inevitably to new age music. His earliest recordings are generally regarded his best, both commercially and artistically. His debut, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, was an instrumental album that set the stage for subsequent works: concept albums that told a narrative of English history through grand arrangements. By the close of the '80s, Wakeman had shifted his attention mostly to new age albums. In the '90s, he began to record with his son Adam, who also played keyboards. In 1999 Rick released Return to the Centre of the Earth, his most heralded effort in decades, but the followup failed to match the success of its distant ancestor. Reaction to Wakeman's music is mixed: his catalog represents the best and worst aspects of progressive rock, but there's no denying that more than a few gems exist in his massive catalog.

This is the moldy old Wakeman page. The new pages with a complete discography and more reviews can be found by clicking here.

SEE ALSO...
The Royal Philharmonic Performs The Best Known Works of Rick Wakeman
STRAWBS discography
YES discography
Black Sabbath: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
David Bowie: Space Oddity
David Bowie: Hunky Dory
Elton John: Madman Across The Water

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