FAN FAVORITE music legends have revealed they are retiring from touring after five decades of hits.
The keyboardist and composer, 74, is calling time on his chart-topping career in solo and band form.
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At the keyboards, left, with his band live on stage at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1978. Credit: Getty
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Rick Wakeman is best known for his role in the rock band Yes, as well as his solo workCredits: PA
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Rick, 74, said his ‘last one-man shows will have to stop’ by the time he’s 77Credit: Getty
Rick Wakeman is best known for his role in the rock band Yes, as well as his solo work in the seventies.
The Londoner dropped out of the Royal College of Music to become a full-time musician.
Plays grand piano, electric piano, organ, Hammond organ and Minimoog.
The move from music school paid off as he worked on David Bowie’s Space Oddity, as well as songs by Elton John and Cat Stevens.
However, after a prestigious career in the business, he announced: “It’s time to call it quits.”
It comes after he revealed a small US tour in March.
Rick announced to loudersound.com at the time: “I always planned to stop touring by my 77th birthday – for those of you who want to send me a card, that’s May 18th! – but there’s so much to stop before that I” Now I have plans to make, so my last one-man shows will have to stop by that date.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed performing various one-man shows, but it’s time to call it quits.”
He added: “I intend to throw in the best of what I’ve done in the past, plus a few new surprises along the way and maybe even the odd guest joining me on the odd occasion.”
For his new tour dates, fans will be treated to Rick’s new 30-minute instrumental entitled Yessonata.
Rick joined the rock band Yes in 1971 and by 2004 had been in the band five times and was part of eight studio albums.
These include Fragile (1971), Tales From The Topographic Oceans (1973), Going For The One (1977) and Union (1991).
In 2017, Rick reformed the Yes version featuring Jon Anderson and Trevor Rabin.
He also had five top 10 albums in the UK charts.
Away from the stage, he married his fourth wife Rachel Kaufman in 2011.
We recently reported how the Seventies music legend had been tipped for a musical comeback – before he was tipped for a spot at Glastonbury.
New York rocker Billy Joel (74) is scheduled to release a brand new single on February 1 – his first new material since 2007.
Meanwhile, fellow music superstar Chaka Khan also revealed they are retiring from touring after 50 years.
She honestly told how she has a “rich life” without having to travel.
In addition, a couple of cult music stars look completely unrecognizable after the peak of punk rock.
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Rick Wakeman, seated, in studio. Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
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It came as the Londoner announced new US tour dates
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Rick, left, joined the rock band Yes in 1971. Credit: Redferns
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