Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Rick WAKEMAN (1949-)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Rick Wakeman, keyboardist, composer and songwriter, was surprised by Michael Aspel while recording an edition of the BBC television game show The Generation Game.
Rick, who was born into a musical family in West London, studied at the Royal College of Music but left his studies early to become a full-time session musician. In 1970, he joined The Strawbs, who gained national press coverage as the first folk rock band. He left in 1971 to join the already successful band Yes, with whom he played on some of their most influential albums across two stints until 1980.
He also became an iconic and prominent figure in progressive rock with a solo career which began in 1973. His most acclaimed albums include The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Journey to the Centre of the Earth. He went on to compose for television and film, formed record labels, and produced new-age, ambient music with Country Airs in 1986 and The Gospels the following year. He has worked as a session musician and record producer on over 2000 tracks and sold over 100 million albums.
"Shit! Stunned of the Isle of Man, this is!"
programme details...
- Edition No: 1012
- Subject No: 987
- Broadcast date: Mon 30 Nov 1998
- Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
- Recorded: Tue 17 Nov 1998
- Venue: unknown
- Series: 39
- Edition: 13
- Code name: Keyboard
on the guest list...
- Robin Colvill
- Ramon Remedios
- David Hamilton
- Jess Conrad
- Roger De Courcey
- Nina Carter - wife
- Jemma - daughter
- Oscar - son
- Oliver - son
- Adam - son
- Benjamin - son
- Jim Davidson
- John Inman
- Barbara - aunt
- Alan - cousin
- Keith - cousin
- Bob Walters
- Phil Jones
- Derek Allen
- Ken Holden
- Basil Tschaikov
- Dave Sims
- Ronnie Smith
- Ashley Holt
- Dave Cousins
- Richard Hudson
- Charles Cronk
- Roger Newell
- Richard Findlay
- Graham Long
- Robert Powell
- Tony Fernandez
- Norman Wisdom
- Howard Keel Filmed tributes:
- Jon Anderson
- unnamed members of Yes
- Eric Sykes
related appearances...
- Stuart Henry - Nov 1983
- Gerry Marsden - Dec 1985
- Clive Hornby - Dec 1997
- The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000
- Bill Oddie - Jan 2002
- Ian Lavender - Mar 2002
production team...
- Researcher: Emma Dooley
- Writer: Joe Steeples
- Directors: John Gorman, Steve Docherty
- Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
- Executive Producer: John Longley
- Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
- Producer: Sue Green
- names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
charting the pop stars
a celebration of a thousand editions
Screenshots of Rick Wakeman This Is Your Life
Series 39 subjects
Charles Stewart | Carol Smillie | Roy Walker | Sharron Davies | Christopher Chittell | Barbara Dickson | Frank ThorntonPhillip Schofield | Alastair Stewart | Bob Wilson | Frankie Dettori | Elizabeth Spriggs | Rick Wakeman | Sue Johnston
Lord Deedes | Sylvia Young | Anne Kirkbride | Christopher Biggins | Damon Hill | George Layton | Floella Benjamin
Bill Pertwee | Mark Cook | Gary Mabbutt | Suzi Quatro | Ian Bannen