Rick Wakeman speaks to Paul Gallagher on Phonic FM

Legendary performer Rick Wakeman was recently interviewed by Paul Gallagher for his regular show Your Mother Might Like It.

The interview will be first broadcast on Wednesday 29th February 2012, midday to 2pm.

Richard Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter, best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes.

He is also known for his solo albums, contributing to the BBC comedy series Grumpy Old Men and his own radio shows.

Rick was born in West London. He purchased his first electronic keyboard at 12 years of age.

In 1968 he studied the piano, clarinet, orchestration and modern music at the Royal College of Music before leaving after a year in favour of session music work.

He went on to feature on songs by many artists including Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, T. Rex, Elton John and Cat Stevens.

Wakeman joined the folk group The Strawbs in 1970 and played on three of their albums.

He first joined Yes in 1971 to replace Tony Kaye, and left the group in 1974 to work on his solo career.

He returned in 1976 before leaving with lead vocalist Jon Anderson in late 1979.

Wakeman was part of the side project Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, a group of ex-Yes members, formed in 1989, and the eight-member Yes line-up that followed until his third departure in 1992.

He returned for two years in 1995 and once more in 2002, where he was part of the band’s 35th anniversary tour until its end in 2004.

Rick began his solo career during his first run with Yes.

Perhaps his most well known records are his first three: 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).

He has produced over 100 solo albums that have sold more than 50 million copies.

In January 2012, Rick appeared as part of a group backing Jasper Carrott on BBC 1′s The One Jasper Carrott.

Rick was  interviewed by Paul backstage at a charity concert down in Plymouth recently.

Tune in for a chance to hear Rick chat about his interesting career and hear some of his music.

Rick Wakeman’s website: rwcc.com

Your Mother Might Like It, Wednesday 29 February, midday to 2 pm,  only on Phonic FM, 106.8 FM and online at www.phonic.fm