A FAN-FAVOURITE music legend has revealed their retirement from touring following five decades of hits.
The keyboard player and composer, 74, is calling time on his chart career in both solo and band form.
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Rick Wakeman is best-known for his role in rock band Yes as well as for his solo work in the Seventies.
The Londoner quit his studies at the Royal College Of Music in favour of becoming a full-time session musician.
He plays the grand piano, electric piano, pipe organ, Hammond organ and Minimoog.
And the switch from music school paid off as he worked on David Bowie’s Space Oddity as well as songs from Elton John and Cat Stevens.
Yet after a prestigious career in the business, he has announced: “It’s time to call it a day.”
It came as he revealed a mini US tour in March.
Rick then announced to loudersound.com: “I always planned to stop touring by my 77th birthday – for those of you who wish to send me a card, it’s May 18th! – but there is so much to fit in before then that I’m having to make plans now, and so my final one-man shows will have to cease by that date.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed performing the various one-man shows, but it’s time to call it a day.”
He added: “I intend to throw in the best of what I have done in the past, plus a few new surprises on the way, and possibly even the odd guest joining me on the odd occasion.”
For his new tour dates, fans are set to enjoy rick’s new 30-minute instrumental piece, entitled Yessonata.
Rick joined rock band Yes in 1971 and, up until 2004, had five tenures with the band and was part of eight studio albums.
These included Fragile (1971), Tales From The Topographic Oceans (1973), Going For The One (1977) and Union (1991).
In 2017 Rick reformed a version of Yes featuring Jon Anderson and Trevor Rabin.
He has 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 a Seventies music legend was tipped for a music comeback – before he was put forward for a Glastonbury slot.
New York rocker Billy Joel, 74, is set to release a brand new single on February 1 – his first new material since 2007.
Meanwhile, fellow music superstar Chaka Khan also revealed their retirement from touring after 50 years.
She candidly told how she has a “rich a** life” without having to hit the road.
Additionally, a pair of iconic music stars look completely unrecognisable after their punk rock heyday.
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