Richard Wright

Biography

Richard William Wright (July 28, 1943 – September 15, 2008) was a prominent English musician renowned for being a co-founder of the iconic progressive rock group Pink Floyd. As a keyboardist and vocalist, Wright played a vital role in the band's sound, contributing to nearly every Pink Floyd album and participating in all their tours. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside his bandmates in 1996.

Born in Hatch End, Middlesex, Wright met future band members Roger Waters and Nick Mason while pursuing architecture at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London. The trio, along with Syd Barrett, formed Pink Floyd, achieving early commercial success in 1967. Following Barrett's departure in 1968, David Gilmour joined, and Wright transitioned from primarily a singer-songwriter to focusing more on arrangement alongside Waters and Gilmour.

After a decline in his contributions during the late 1970s, he left Pink Floyd post their "The Wall" tour in 1981. However, he returned as a session musician for the 1987 album "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" and rejoined the band fully for "The Division Bell" in 1994. His sessions during this era were later featured in the 2014 release "The Endless River." Outside of Pink Floyd, Wright produced two solo albums and briefly formed the pop duo Zee with Dave Harris. After Pink Floyd's performance at Live 8 in 2005, he toured with Gilmour, occasionally taking lead vocals. Wright passed away from lung cancer in London in September 2008, leaving behind a legacy marked by his unique jazz-infused keyboard style and contributions to songs like "Time" and "Wearing the Inside Out."