Rick Wakeman

Rick’s father played piano in a dance band

Rick’s early education on piano included 11 years of private studies with a local teacher

He later studied at the Royal College of Music with full intentions of being a concert pianist. but realizing that most of the students there were at least as good as him if not better, he left the college in 1969 to become a session musician

His first electronic instrument was a Hohner Pianet which he bought with money made from doing local gigs

He had a successful career in session work, and played on several hits, including the piano part on Cat Steven’s “Morning Has Broken”, and the Mellotron part on David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”

Was asked to join YES after Tony Kaye left