Rick Wakeman was a keyboardist in the band Yes.
Wakeman joined Yes in 1971 after the departure of founding keyboardist Tony Kaye. His arrival helped expand the group’s sound beyond piano and Hammond organ through instruments such as the Mellotron and Moog synthesizer. He first appeared with Yes on the landmark album Fragile, released in 1971, and then played on Close to the Edge in 1972.
His highly technical playing and flamboyant stage costumes made him one of progressive rock’s best-known musicians. Songs such as “Roundabout” and “Heart of the Sunrise” showcase the keyboard textures that became central to Yes’s identity. Wakeman also pursued a successful solo career, releasing elaborate concept albums including The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
The question can cause confusion because Wakeman also played with the Strawbs, David Bowie’s musicians, and many other artists. However, the single canonical answer for his best-known band association is Yes. He left and rejoined the group several times.