Gary Wright Dies

Gary Wright was an English musician, singer, and songwriter known for his contributions to the rock and pop music genres. He was born on April 26, 1943, in Cresskill, New Jersey, USA, but he grew up in England. Gary Wright’s musical career spans several decades, and he is best known for his solo work as well as his involvement in various bands and collaborations.

A child actor, he made his TV debut at the age of seven, on the show Captain Video and His Video Rangers, filmed in New York. He appeared in TV and radio commercials before being offered a part in the 1954 Broadway production of the musical Fanny. Wright played the role of Cesario, the son of Fanny, who was played by future Brady Bunch matriarch Florence Henderson. He spent two years with the production, during which he performed with Henderson on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Having studied piano and organ, Wright led various local rock bands while attending Tenafly High School in Tenafly, New Jersey. In 1959, he made his first commercial recording, with Billy Markle at NBC Radio’s New York studios. Credited to Gary & Billy, the single “Working After School” was released on 20th Century Fox Records in 1960.

Gary Wright’s interest in music began at an early age. He started playing piano and keyboards as a child and showed a natural talent for music. In the 1960s, he moved to London, where he became involved in the vibrant music scene and began his professional music career.

Wright gained recognition as a member of the British rock band Spooky Tooth. He joined the band in 1967 and played a crucial role as a keyboardist and vocalist. Some of the notable albums he contributed to during his time with Spooky Tooth include “Spooky Two” (1969) and “Ceremony” (1969).

These included two hit singles by Harrison’s former bandmate Ringo Starr over 1971–72, “It Don’t Come Easy” and “Back Off Boogaloo”, and a 1971 comeback single by ex-Ronette Ronnie Spector, “Try Some, Buy Some”. His most notable work is the 1975 album “The Dream Weaver.”This album featured the hit title track “Dream Weaver,” which became a chart-topping single and a classic rock staple.

The album showcased Gary Wright’s unique blend of rock, pop, and electronic elements. It was well-received by both critics and fans, establishing him as a solo artist of note. In addition to the title track, the album included other standout songs like “Love Is Alive” and “Let It Out.”

As a posthumous tribute to his friend George Harrison, the Deluxe Digital Edition of Connected included “Never Give Up”, which he and Harrison had recorded in 1989, while the iTunes version added “To Discover Yourself”, a song that the two musicians had written together in 1971. Wright recorded the latter song on the day of Harrison’s death in November 2001.

He also contributed to Martin Scorsese’s 2011 documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World and supplied personal reminisces and family photographs for Olivia Harrison’s book of the same title. Gary Wright released 12 solo albums between 1970 and 2010. He released three collaborations, one each with Spooky Tooth and Wonderwheel in 1972 and the last with Leah Weiss in 2004.

Gary released 3 soundtracks, Benjamin – The Original Soundtrack of Willy Bogner’s Motion Picture (1974), Endangered Species (1982), and Fire and Ice (1986). There are 3 official comilations, The Best of Gary Wright: The Dream Weaver (1998), The Essentials(2003), and Greatest Hits (2017).

Gary Wright died September 4, 2023, at the age of 80, in his Palos Verdes Estates home in California. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s^[1] six to seven years ago and was later diagnosed with Lewy body dementia^[2]. For both Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia, it’s generally a complication from the conditions that takes a person’s life, such as falling or pneumonia, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation, or immobility or swallowing issues, per Cleveland Clinic. He is survived by his two sons, Justin and Dorian, and his wife, Rose.