Rick Wakeman’s Campaign To Create “Live Portraits” Seeks Backers via PledgeMusic

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Joseph Timmons in Artist News, classic rock, Classical, Label News, Music Masters, Music News, New Albums, New Music, news // 0 Comments

Keyboard legend Rick Wakeman will be recording a live version of his critically acclaimed album “Piano Portraits” at the Lincoln Cathedral in London on March 7th, 2018. “Live Portraits” be released on CD/DVD later this year. A new PledgeMusic campaign has been started to help fund the recording & filming of the event!

New PledgeMusic Campaign To Support the Recording & Filming of Rick Wakeman’s “Live Portraits”

Pre-order experiences, albums, merchandise and much more!

We have a special message from Rick Wakeman about this project:

Hello everyone.

Last year I released the studio album Piano Portraits which was really well received and went Top 10 in the UK for several weeks. . Over the past year I have been touring “Live Portraits” to sell out audiences, so as a lasting record I have decided to film and record a very special performance of “Live Portraits” at Lincoln Cathedral on 7th March 2018.

After the success of the “The Myth & Legends of King Arthur” campaign in 2016 here on PledgeMusic I have decided to again work directly with you the fans on bringing this one off concert and recording to life.

By working this way I can offer so much more in the way of experiences, signed memorabilia and different formats, and create exactly what I would like everybody to see and hear.

The concert will be based on many of the tracks from the Piano Portraits album plus many additional pieces, all embellished as can only be achieved in a staged live setting,.

Thank you in advance for supporting the campaign and I hope you enjoy what we create together.

-Rick

The Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln, England is the seat of the Anglican bishop. Building commenced in 1088 and continued in several phases throughout the medieval period. It was the tallest building in the world for 238 years (1311–1549), and the first building to hold that title after the Great Pyramid of Giza. The cathedral is the third largest in Britain (in floor area) and is highly regarded by architectural scholars. Part of the blockbuster film “The Davinci Code” was filmed there.

Upcoming Performances:

Sunday, June 17, 2018 Stone Free Festival YES featuring Anderson Rabin Wakeman

Buy Tickets Here

Listen to Rick Wakeman on Spotify

For more information and special packages being offered visit

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/rick-wakeman-live-portraits

Also Visit Rick Wakeman’s official website: http://www.rwcc.com

About Rick Wakeman

Born in Perivale, Middlesex, England, Rick Wakeman’s interest in music manifested itself very early, and from the age of seven on he studied classical piano. At the age of 14, he joined a local band, Atlantic Blues, the same year he left school to enroll in the Royal College of Music. He had his eye on a career as a concert pianist, but Wakeman was dismissed from the college after it became clear that he preferred playing in clubs to studying technique.

By his late teens, he was an established session man, playing on records by such diverse acts as Black Sabbath, Brotherhood of Man, and Edison Lighthouse. At the end of the ‘60s, his name also began appearing on the credits of albums by such artists as Al Stewart and David Bowie, and one set of sessions with a folk-rock band called the Strawbs led to his joining the group in 1970. After two albums with the Strawbs, Wakeman joined Yes, a post-psychedelic hard rock band that had attracted considerable attention with their first three albums. Wakeman played a key role in the final shape of the group’s fourth record, Fragile, creating a fierce, swirling sound on an array of electric and acoustic pianos, synthesizers, and Mellotrons. Fragile was a hit, driven by the chart success of the single “Roundabout,” and Wakeman was suddenly elevated to star status.

Yes’ next album, Close to the Edge, expanded his audience and his appeals, for his instruments were heard almost continually on the record. During the making of Close to the Edge in 1972, Wakeman also recorded his first solo album, an instrumental work entitled The Six Wives of Henry VIII, which consisted of his musical interpretations of the lives and personalities of the said six royal spouses. Released early in 1973 on A&M Records, it performed respectably on the charts. Public reception of Yes’ 1974 album, Tales From Topographic Oceans, was mixed, and the critics were merciless in their attacks upon the record. Wakeman exited the group before the album’s supporting tour. His new solo album, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, adapted from the writings of Jules Verne and featuring a rock band, narrator (David Hemmings), and full orchestral and choral accompaniment, was released to tremendous public response in both America and England, where it topped the charts. In 1975, his next album, The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, was given a grand-scale premiere at Wembley’s Empire Pool, although it also cost Wakeman a fortune to stage the event on ice. During this same period, Wakeman began working on film scores with the music for Ken Russell’s Lisztomania, which was a modest hit.

In 1977, Wakeman returned to Yes, with which he has continued recording and touring. His solo career continued on A&M into the end of the ‘70s, with Criminal Record and Rhapsodies, which were modestly successful. Wakeman’s biggest media splash during this period, however, came through his alleged role in getting the Sex Pistols dropped by A&M Records soon after being signed. None of this bothered his fans, which rapidly expanded to encompass those he picked up through his work with lyricist Tim Rice on a musical adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984, and his burgeoning film work, which included the music to movies about the 1976 Winter Olympics and the 1982 soccer World Cup competition. Additionally, he became a regular on Britain’s Channel 4. Wakeman’s audience and reputation survived the 1980s better than almost any progressive rock star of his era, as he continued releasing albums on his own label. He also remained associated with Yes into the ’90s.

In January 2016, Trevor Rabin announced he plans to perform with Wakeman and Jon Anderson as Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman (ARW), later in the year. Anderson revealed the three wrote “some unique songs together”. Also in January, following requests from fans, Wakeman recorded piano versions of “Life on Mars?”, “Space Oddity”, and “Always Together” as a tribute to David Bowie following his death with proceeds from the songs donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Discography / Albums by Rick Wakeman

	Piano Vibrations – Originally released 1971
	The Six Wives of Henry VIII – Originally released 1973
	Journey to the Centre of the Earth – Originally released 1974
	The Myths & Legends of King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table – Originally released 1975
	Lisztomania – Originally released 1975
	No Earthly Connection – Originally released 1976
	White Rock – Originally released 1977
	Rick Wakeman’s Criminal Record – Originally released 1977
	Rhapsodies – Originally released 1979
	The Burning (Film Soundtrack) – Originally released 1981
	1984 – Originally released 1981
	Rock n Roll Prophet – Originally released 1982
	Cost of Living – Originally released 1983
	G’ole! – Originally released 1983
	Crimes of Passion – Originally released 1984
	Silent Nights – Originally released 1985
	Live at Hammersmith – Originally released 1985
	Country Airs (Original) – Originally released 1986
	The Family Album – Originally released 1987
	The Gospels – Originally released 1987
	Time Machine – Originally released 1988
	A Suite of Gods – Originally released 1988
	Zodiaque – Originally released 1988
	The Word and The Gospels – Originally released 1988
	Black Knights at the Court of Ferdinand IV – Originally released 1989
	Sea Airs – Originally released 1989
	Night Airs – Originally released 1990
	Phantom Power – Originally released 1990
	In The Beginning – Originally released 1990
	Rock n Roll Prophet Plus – Originally released 1991
	Aspirant Sunrise – Originally released 1991
	Aspirant Sunset – Originally released 1991
	Aspirant Sunshadows – Originally released 1991
	The Classical Connection – Originally released 1991
	2000AD Into The Future – Originally released 1991
	African Bach – Originally released 1991
	Softsword – Originally released 1991
	Country Airs – Originally released 1992
	The Classical Connection 2 – Originally released 1993
	Wakeman with Wakeman – Originally released 1993
	The Heritage Suite – Originally released 1993
	No Expense Spared – Originally released 1993
	Prayers – Originally released 1993
	Unleashing The Tethered One – The 1974 North American Tour – Originally released 1993
	Wakeman with Wakeman – The Official Bootleg – Originally released 1994
	Live On The Test – Originally released 1994
	Wakeman with Wakeman Live – Originally released 1994
	Almost Live in Europe – Originally released 1995
	The Piano Album – Originally released 1995
	The Private Collection – Originally released 1995
	Romance of the Victorian Age – Originally released 1995
	The Seven Wonders of the World – Originally released 1995
	Rick Wakeman In Concert – Originally released 1995
	Visions – Originally released 1995
	Cirque Surreal – Originally released 1995
	Fields of Green – Originally released 1996
	The New Gospels – Originally released 1996
	Tapestries – Originally released 1996
	Can You Hear Me? – Originally released 1996
	Vignettes – Originally released 1996
	Orisons – Originally released 1996
	The Word and Music – Originally released 1996
	Tribute – Originally released 1997
	Simply Acoustic – The Music – Originally released 1997
	Fields of Green ’97 – Originally released 1997
	Themes – Originally released 1998
	Return To The Centre Of The Earth – Originally released 1999
	White Rock II – Originally released 1999
	The Natural World Trilogy – Originally released 1999
	The Art in Music Trilogy – Originally released 1999
	Official Live Bootleg – Originally released 1999
	Stella Bianca alla corte de Re Ferdinando – Originally released 1999
	Preludes to a Century – Originally released 2000
	Chronicles of Man – Originally released 2000
	Christmas Variations – Originally released 2000
	Rick Wakeman Live in Concert 2000 CD – Originally released 2000
	Morning Has Broken – Originally released 2000
	Out of the Blue – Originally released 2001
	Classical Variations – Originally released 2001
	Two Sides of Yes – Originally released 2001
	Treasure Chest Volume 1 – The Real Lisztomania – Originally released 2002
	Treasure Chest Volume 2 – The Oscar Concert – Originally released 2002
	Treasure Chest Volume 3 – The Missing Half – Originally released 2002
	Treasure Chest Volume 4 – Almost Classical – Originally released 2002
	Treasure Chest Volume 5 – The Mixture – Originally released 2002
	Treasure Chest Volume 6 – Medium Rare – Originally released 2002
	Treasure Chest Volume 7 – Journey to the Centre of the Earth + – Originally released 2002
	Treasure Chest Volume 8 – Stories – Originally released 2002
	Two Sides of Yes – Volume 2 – Originally released 2002
	The Yes Piano Variations – Originally released 2002
	Wakeman & Cousins – Hummingbird – Originally released 2002
	The Wizard And The Forest Of All Dreams – Originally released 2002
	Out There – Originally released 2003
	Rick Wakeman at Lincoln Cathedral – Originally released 2005
	Retro – Originally released 2006
	Live At The BBC – Originally released 2007
	Retro 2 – Originally released 2007
	The Six Wives of Henry VIII Live at Hampton Court Palace – Originally released 2009
	Always With You – Originally released 2010
	Past, Present and Future – Originally released 2010
	Anderson/Wakeman – The Living Tree – Originally released 2010
	Anderson/Wakeman – The Living Tree In Concert Part One – Originally released 2012
	In The Nick of Time – Originally released 2012
	Journey to the Centre of the Earth 2012 – Originally released 2012
	The Myths & Legends of King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table 2016 – Originally released 2016
	Piano Portraits – Originally released 2017
	The Phantom of the Opera – Originally released 2017