Renowned singer-songwriter Gary Wright, famous for his groundbreaking album “The Dream Weaver,” has passed away at the age of 80.He reportedly died on Monday at his residence in Palos Verdes Estates. This sad news was confirmed by his sons, Justin and Dorian. According to Justin, his father had been courageously battling Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia for the past six years.
Born in April 1943 in New Jersey, Gary Wright initially found success as the keyboardist for the British hard rock band Spooky Tooth. Following the dissolution of the group, he shifted his focus to his solo music career, releasing the albums “Extraction” in 1970 and “Footprint” in 1971.
Wright’s breakthrough moment came with his 1975 album “The Dream Weaver,” which featured two chart-topping singles in 1976: “Dream Weaver” and “Love is Alive.” This soft rock masterpiece was also notable for being one of the first rock albums to exclusively utilize synthesizers.
Reflecting on this creative shift, Wright said in a 2011 interview with The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “It was a big deal creatively because I had been working with basically a guitar-oriented band, which was Spooky Tooth. I had never consciously sat down and said, ‘I’m going to do an all-keyboard album.’ It just fell into place as I was writing the songs for the album.”
“The Dream Weaver” went on to sell an impressive 2 million copies, and its iconic title track, “Dream Weaver,” found its way into several films, including “Wayne’s World,” “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” and “Toy Story 3.”
In addition to his solo career, Gary Wright also collaborated with other musical legends. He contributed his keyboard skills to Beatles guitarist George Harrison’s 1970 album “All Things Must Pass.”
The music world mourns the loss of Gary Wright, a talented artist whose legacy will continue to resonate through his timeless contributions to music.
