Wakeman in Christmas collaboration

Keyboard icon Rick Wakeman has teamed up with 15 year old soprano Emmie Beckitt for a Christmas single.

The song entitled Welcome A Star will be released via Hope Records on December 4, with a percentage of profits from sales going to the Kids ’N’ Cancer charity.

The teenager is a member of her school’s orchestra and jazz band and also plays tenor saxophone, violin and piano. In 2013, Beckitt appeared at Roy Wood’s show at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and sang Wakeman and Tim Rice’s composition The Hymn at The Sage, Gateshead as part of the Tim Rice Concert Series.

Welcome A Star is available for pre-order.

Wakeman will headline TeamRock’s Stone Free festival at London’s O2 Arena on June 19 next year. He’ll perform his 1975 album The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur & The Knights Of The Round Table in full for the first time in 41 years.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, The Tragically Hip, Marillion and Rush.