Rick Wakeman brought his kudos to the keyboard on the Chris Evans Breakfast show. Can you tell which well-known composers he's playing in the style of...?
Rick played a corporate gig a few years ago and I stood about 5 feet from him, behind the keyboard, he was astounding, he even chatted to me whilst playing fills during guitar solos etc. A gentleman, and great piano player (not to mention his synth prowess).
I actually gave up music collage when I'd passed every exam with honours ie,,96 pcnt or over ' because I got fast forwarded to a higher level and had one statutory peice to play, and one of my own choice!, Catherine parr wasn't acceptable ' so I left!. I can still see my old tutors face now' the amazing ALAN WARRENDER, when I played it in his company many many years later.During which time he'd suffered a stroke and can no longer play ' but the tears on his cheeks were more than words could ever say!, thanks rick,thanx Alan,, you have made my life.
Yup, I saw him too at our village church last night, front row of a cosy 300-strong audience. His shows are absolutely fantastic, both for his stand-up comedy and his legendary keyboard and compositional talents. He's also one of the nicest and most genuine blokes you could ever hope to meet, and if you get a chance to attend one of his gigs - don't hesitate. For those that don't know (and few do), it was rick that composed and played the beautiful piano piece in 'Morning Has Broken' (sung by Cat Stevens), but it was the piano arrangement that actually made the song. Rick was a session musician at the time, who agreed to perform for the princely sum of £9. Not only was he not credited on the hit single, he wasn't even paid!!! The funniest thing was, as no-one could match his skill and how he actually played the piece, he was asked to perform after it became a hit and the piano accompaniment was needed. Suffice to say, he point-blank refused. Kudos Rick !
+Brendan Townsend Session musician at the time, and is now one of the most respected musicians in the entire industry. Shows how far one can come with incredible talent.
I was at his concert earlier tonight and he told the story with Cat Stevens and apparently there’s a second part. Stevens saw him again and said how he never paid the money and with interest and different times it would now be worth over £300. Stevens got it out his wallet laid it down and Wakeman refused. His answer was- ‘I’ve made a lot of money out of telling people what a cheapskate you are and If I take the money then I can’t tell the joke anymore.’ He’s an amazing guy
Saw Rick at the Towngate theatre Basildon some 30 years ago, the audience was about 100 people and the content was Rick talking about his life and playing a keyboard, one of the best nights I've ever had !
True story....some friends and I had traveled some 500 miles from Charleston, WV to Atlanta, GA (by plane) to see Yes. We had read no press about Yes having made any changes in the position of keyboards from Tony Kaye. So when they appeared on stage, during and throughout the numbers they played before Mr. Wakeman was introduced, I kept thinking (our seats were far enough back that I could not make out facial features) what's Gregg Allman doing playing with Yes?
Rick: você e sua magia em forma de música fizeram a minha vida, desde a adolescência, terem mais sentido. Ajudou a me salvar! Gênio! Obrigada, mago dos teclados. Incomparável.
This man is so good it's "Effing scaring".. if I had the money I would pay him a million quid to show all these pretensions muscians, how to play classical, rock in fact anything on keyboards, and still be one of the lad's! . And moreover he's a brilliant comedian as well. Love ya Rick! Wish you would do am album of Buddy Holly songs! Love ya mate!
At 2:15, he’s barely able to hold in his own amusement. Incredibly, this performance with him just using (what I assume is) an RD piano model fills it equally as much as when he’s using his whole 10-instrument arsenal. He had said before that if he could only choose one instrument, it would be a piano.
When he was with Strawbs, he had to fill in to cover a power cut by doing an improv piece on piano. It got such an ovation, they kept it in the act. It can be found closing the first side of the album Just a collection of antiques and curios. It's called Temperament of mind, and is bloody brilliant. It's probably on you tube.
Rick played a corporate gig a few years ago and I stood about 5 feet from him, behind the keyboard, he was astounding, he even chatted to me whilst playing fills during guitar solos etc. A gentleman, and great piano player (not to mention his synth prowess).
Rick Wakeman, a musical genius and a funny witty intelligent guy. ....top drawer!
I wish my piano instructor had shown me Rick Wakeman when I was kid; maybe I would've stuck with it instead of giving it up.
I actually gave up music collage when I'd passed every exam with honours ie,,96 pcnt or over ' because I got fast forwarded to a higher level and had one statutory peice to play, and one of my own choice!, Catherine parr wasn't acceptable ' so I left!. I can still see my old tutors face now' the amazing ALAN WARRENDER, when I played it in his company many many years later.During which time he'd suffered a stroke and can no longer play ' but the tears on his cheeks were more than words could ever say!, thanks rick,thanx Alan,, you have made my life.
Rick never fails to put a 😃 smile on my face...for hours after listening to ANYTHING he plays.
An absolute Master!!!!
No other word....Legend.
Stunning Sound...¡¡¡
You can tell he had a hard time playing intentionally badly at 2:09. lol !
One of the very few that can make a Roland sound like a grand piano
awesomely played, he made it look easy!
Superb stuff... Love it...
This is how I will always remember him........in time of course.....relax..........love this guy....always have.....
Oh to be able to play like that!
A rediculously amazing keyboardist
No way! Couldn't see his fingers move. I tried, but failed! Surely that's not real?
Kudos to Rick.
The Man Who Never-Ever Played a Wrong Note...
No point in challenging Mr Wakeman, he'll do it !
BRAVO RICKY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Wizard !!!
the master with his organ
I got 2/5 (or 2/4 if we don't count #4 for some reason). Golly, but he is amazing!
Rick Wakeman, will you marry me?!?!?!
And me
Me too!
Madeleine Baier
Cheers!😃
We need other 2 people, so he can play to us every song from the 6 wives of king henry VIII
Ah, I thought Dawson was Satie :D
+Marco Pesenti Hey! Good one!
I thought it was Geoff Downes!:D
Johannes Wiberg LMFAO hahahahahah
Saw him play this at our local church last night, he really is a force of nature and such a genuinely nice person.
Fan since he joined yes...ha.. so he does les dawson too..
Yup, I saw him too at our village church last night, front row of a cosy 300-strong audience.
His shows are absolutely fantastic, both for his stand-up comedy and his legendary keyboard and compositional talents. He's also one of the nicest and most genuine blokes you could ever hope to meet, and if you get a chance to attend one of his gigs - don't hesitate.
For those that don't know (and few do), it was rick that composed and played the beautiful piano piece in 'Morning Has Broken' (sung by Cat Stevens), but it was the piano arrangement that actually made the song. Rick was a session musician at the time, who agreed to perform for the princely sum of £9. Not only was he not credited on the hit single, he wasn't even paid!!! The funniest thing was, as no-one could match his skill and how he actually played the piece, he was asked to perform after it became a hit and the piano accompaniment was needed. Suffice to say, he point-blank refused.
Kudos Rick !
+Brendan Townsend Session musician at the time, and is now one of the most respected musicians in the entire industry. Shows how far one can come with incredible talent.
I was at his concert earlier tonight and he told the story with Cat Stevens and apparently there’s a second part.
Stevens saw him again and said how he never paid the money and with interest and different times it would now be worth over £300. Stevens got it out his wallet laid it down and Wakeman refused. His answer was- ‘I’ve made a lot of money out of telling people what a cheapskate you are and If I take the money then I can’t tell the joke anymore.’
He’s an amazing guy
Saw Rick at the Towngate theatre Basildon some 30 years ago, the audience was about 100 people and the content was Rick talking about his life and playing a keyboard, one of the best nights I've ever had !
I think he also played piano on David Bowie’s life on Mars
Hunky Dory, despite Bowie's incredible writing genius, wouldn't have been the album it was without Mr Wakeman's keyboard skills.
So bloody talented! And a really funny guy too.
True story....some friends and I had traveled some 500 miles from Charleston, WV to Atlanta, GA (by plane) to see Yes. We had read no press about Yes having made any changes in the position of keyboards from Tony Kaye. So when they appeared on stage, during and throughout the numbers they played before Mr. Wakeman was introduced, I kept thinking (our seats were far enough back that I could not make out facial features) what's Gregg Allman doing playing with Yes?
Very nice view point...it`s thru WAKEMAN, very years ago, with long blood air look like Gregg Allman...¡¡¡
Obviously going back a long way. What year was this? 1972?
One of the most interesting people to hear being interviewed.So many amazing stories and a genius on the keyboards.
This guy is a bloody genius.
Rick: você e sua magia em forma de música fizeram a minha vida, desde a adolescência, terem mais sentido. Ajudou a me salvar! Gênio! Obrigada, mago dos teclados. Incomparável.
WTF!!!
Master !!
Great playing, but I only got Les Dawson. The rest all wrong!
I guessed all of them right except Les Dawson...not bad, says I. :)
Insanely talented; just over-the-top.
Rick, you're still the greatest. Thank you for all of your music.
A truly gifted man.
This man is so good it's "Effing scaring".. if I had the money I would pay him a million quid to show all these pretensions muscians, how to play classical, rock in fact anything on keyboards, and still be one of the lad's! . And moreover he's a brilliant comedian as well. Love ya Rick! Wish you would do am album of Buddy Holly songs! Love ya mate!
Lightning
Wild guess, Mozart?
At 2:15, he’s barely able to hold in his own amusement.
Incredibly, this performance with him just using (what I assume is) an RD piano model fills it equally as much as when he’s using his whole 10-instrument arsenal. He had said before that if he could only choose one instrument, it would be a piano.
I loved the Les Dawson part HAAA! Rick is a legend :)
So hilarious mucking it up ' round 2:10 haha
Love Rick
The grumpy old man of rock now occupies the space held in the 70s by such Radio 4 music panel shows such as My Music
Amazing! I don't think his fingers moved that quick either! What a talent.
I've seen Rick imitate Les Dawson's comedy delivery a million times!
I got the Les Dawson
Or then again, Les Dawson. lol
Yeah!
Without false notes, but how very boring ...
Turn the camera on the Best part!! 😅😅😅😅😅😅😢
I could listen to RIck all day.
Only got Mozart, Debussy and Les Dawson. Fantastic trills !
The msster at work..hickory...
Awesome keyboard player
Makes it all look so easy, as always!
Overdubbed to hell.
💕
Abbraccio da Roma e buon caffè
❤️
God!😭
When he was with Strawbs, he had to fill in to cover a power cut by doing an improv piece on piano. It got such an ovation, they kept it in the act. It can be found closing the first side of the album Just a collection of antiques and curios. It's called Temperament of mind, and is bloody brilliant. It's probably on you tube.
I am giving this a thumbs up for the potential, but, and I'm sure all of you would agree, it could have used more cow bell.
4
!!!
I was kinda hoping he would segue into "Catherine of Aragon" 😉
Ladies and gentlemen ... the God of the keyboards!
A very sophisticated take on nursery rhymes.
Well done Rick, absolutely brilliant!
This irritates me to no end .
Doesn't matter dude is a genius
Makes Mozart look bad.
How in the world can he peel so many notes off ??
Wow! WOW WOW!! What a talent in every sense!
Warning, prog genius at work.
What a performance 🙂
Pure brilliance.
Bloody genius !
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻legend
Gift from God
MAN!!!!!!
....Ele errou .....
Troppo forte.. Brav00.
never get sick of hearing this, the guy is a legend
Idk how his fingers make that wonder sound
3 right
wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only man I would kiss the hand of.
makes it look easy
Love 'im!
He's great when there's birds about.