Richard Wright

From Pink Floyd

Richard William Wright (July 28, 1943 - September 15, 2008) was the keyboardist and organ player in the English rock band Pink Floyd. He was born in London in 1943 and was a founding member of the band back in 1965, when they were known as Sigma 6 and the Screaming Abdabs. Although never figuring very prominently within any of the band's songs, his distinctive organ playing provides a textured background over which the rest of the music can occur.

During the recording of The Wall, bassist and undesputable leader Roger Waters, angry that Wright didn't return from a Greek holiday to complete the album, fired Wright from the group, but let him finish the album and tour as a salaried session musician. Ironically, Wright became the only member of Pink Floyd to profit from those hugely spectacular shows, since the net financial loss had to be borne by the three remaining "full-time" members.

He released two solo albums, Wet Dream (1978) and Broken China (1996).

Wright died of an undisclosed form of cancer in his home in Britain on 15 September 2008. He was 65 years old. At the time of his death, Wright had been working on a new solo album, which was thought to comprise a series of instrumental pieces.

Bandmate David Gilmour said: "In my view, all the greatest Pink Floyd moments are the ones where he is in full flow. No-one can replace Richard Wright - he was my musical partner and my friend." He added: "In the welter of arguments about who or what was Pink Floyd, Rick's enormous input was frequently forgotten. He was gentle, unassuming and private but his soulful voice and playing were vital, magical components of our most recognised Pink Floyd sound. Like Rick, I don't find it easy to express my feelings in words, but I loved him and will miss him enormously. I have never played with anyone quite like him."