Rick Wakeman

Keyboardist Rick Wakeman, whose work with Yes and a run of solo concept albums shaped progressive rock, performs at Usher Hall in Edinburgh.

Rick Wakeman is a keyboardist who played with the folk-rock group Strawbs before joining the progressive rock band Yes in 1971. With Yes, Wakeman contributed to the albums Fragile (1971) and Close to the Edge (1972).

Wakeman's solo career began with The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973), followed by Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974), based on Jules Verne's novel, and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1975). These records, built around historical and literary themes, are central to Wakeman's solo output.

Usher Hall in Edinburgh hosts concerts and shows across a range of genres. The evening suits listeners who follow progressive rock and the keyboard-led music of Yes and Wakeman's solo albums.