Biography
Richard William Wright was born on July 28, 1943, in Hatch End, London. His parents, Bridie and Cedric Wright, had two other children, Selina and Guinevere. From an early age, he showed a keen interest in jazz and classical piano.
While studying architecture at Regent Street Polytechnic in London, he met Roger Waters, with whom he formed a band. The lineup included Roger Waters on bass, Nick Mason on drums, Bob Klose on guitar, Syd Barrett on guitars and vocals, and Wright himself on keyboards. They initially played R&B but shifted their style after Bob Klose's departure. The group became one of London's leading art-rock bands, closely linked to the city's underground scene. They named themselves Pink Floyd, inspired by blues artists Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. On their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Barrett was the dominant figure, but Wright sang lead on "Matilda Mother" and provided harmony vocals on "Astronomy Domine."
By 1968, Barrett's mental health had deteriorated due to drug use, leading to David Gilmour joining the band as his replacement. The band then operated democratically, with Wright, Gilmour, Mason, and Waters each contributing their own compositions. Wright's signature sound came from playing piano through a Leslie speaker, which, combined with Gilmour's guitar work, formed the band's musical core. On several tracks, Wright sang alongside Gilmour, adding vocal depth and contrast.
However, by 1977, Waters sought greater creative control and viewed Wright and Gilmour as rivals. After the 1977 Animals tour, Wright withdrew to southern France and recorded his solo album Wet Dream in 1978, coinciding with Gilmour's own solo recording at the same studio. Unsatisfied with Wet Dream, Wright did little to promote it. Waters dismissed Wright in 1979 during the final sessions for The Wall.
During The Wall tour, Waters rehired Wright as a session musician. Wright accepted, needing to support his two children.
Wright later partnered with Dave Harris from Fashion to form the duo Zee. Their sole album, Identity (1984), was both a critical and commercial disappointment.
In 1987, Wright rejoined Pink Floyd, now without Waters, near the end of recording A Momentary Lapse of Reason. Initially a paid employee, Wright was officially reinstated as a band member in 1992. On Pink Floyd's last studio album, 1994's The Division Bell, he co-wrote five tracks and sang lead vocals on a Pink Floyd record for the first time in over two decades. He followed this with another solo album, the ambient Broken China (1996).
In 2005, Wright reunited with Gilmour, Mason, and Waters for Pink Floyd's Live 8 performance.
In 2002, he made a guest appearance at David Gilmour's semi-acoustic London shows and later contributed vocals and keyboards to Gilmour's solo album On an Island. He toured with Gilmour in 2006, alongside his son-in-law Guy Pratt. When Waters invited him to perform at one of his London shows in 2006, Wright declined, citing work on a solo album.
Richard Wright passed away from cancer on September 15, 2008, at the age of 65.
