Gary Wright has died after a protracted battle along with his well being … TMZ has discovered.
Justin Wright, Gary’s son, tells us his father handed away Monday morning at his house in Palos Verdes Estates, CA — which is within the South Bay. We’re informed he’d been recognized with Parkinson’s about 5 or 6 years in the past, in addition to Lewy physique dementia shortly thereafter.
Gary’s Parkinson’s progressed quickly over the previous yr, and Justin says his dad finally misplaced the flexibility to maneuver round and communicate. Over the previous few days, we’re informed, nurses who have been working at Gary’s house informed the household he was coming into his last chapter.
His household and family members have been by his facet on the time of his loss of life — phrase of which has already began to unfold within the music world, together with to singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop.
It’s with nice unhappiness that I acquired the information of my expensive buddy Gary Wright’s passing. The connected photographs maintain treasured reminiscences from the very first and final time we shared the stage collectively, alongside our mutual musical pal John Ford Coley. Gary’s vibrant character and… pic.twitter.com/r7bwnIhKME
— Stephen Bishop (@BishSongs) September 4, 2023
@BishSongs
Bishop posted 2 pictures of him and Gary, including … “The connected photographs maintain treasured reminiscences from the very first and final time we shared the stage collectively, alongside our mutual musical pal John Ford Coley. Gary’s vibrant character and distinctive expertise made each second collectively actually pleasurable. His legacy will stay on for a few years to return.”
He provides, “I’ll all the time cherish the heat and kindness proven to me by Gary and his spouse Rose, and I’ll endlessly maintain expensive the tales he shared with me about days passed by. My heartfelt condolences exit to his household, associates, and followers throughout this troublesome time.”
Gary will, maybe, greatest be remembered for 2 huge songs he churned out within the mid-Nineteen Seventies — “Dream Weaver” and “Love is Alive” — however his catalog goes properly past simply that.
He ended up producing 12 totally different albums courting again to 1970 … to not point out a ton of compilations and collaborations he did with different musicians. One of many well-known partnerships he was part of for some time was with none aside from former Beatle George Harrison.
Gary served because the keyboardist on George’s album “All Issues Should Move” and is credited with serving to out on different solo songs of George’s too. George returned the favor for considered one of Gary’s albums, having labored on “Footprints.”
Gary has executed loads for music normally — he is also called one of many first mainstream artists to introduce the synthesizer in pop … which has grow to be a staple within the biz at this time.
He was 80. RIP
