Gary Wright
Gary Malcolm Wright (April 26, 1943 – September 4, 2023) was an American musician and composer best known for his 1976 hit songs "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive". Wright's breakthrough album, The Dream Weaver (1975), came after he had spent seven years in London as, alternately, a member of the British blues rock band Spooky Tooth and a solo artist on A&M Records. While in England, he played keyboards on former Beatle George Harrison's triple album All Things Must Pass (1970), so beginning a friendship that inspired the Indian religious themes and spirituality inherent in Wright's subsequent songwriting. His work from the late 1980s onwards embraced world music and the new age genre, although none of his post-1976 releases matched the same level of popularity as The Dream Weaver. A former child actor, Wright performed on Broadway in the hit musical Fanny before studying medicine and then psychology in New York and Berlin. After meeting Chris Blackwell of Island Records in Europe, Wright moved to London, where he helped establish Spooky Tooth as a popular live act. He also served as the band's principal songwriter on their recordings – among them, the well-regarded albums Spooky Two (1969) and You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw (1973). His solo album Footprint (1971), recorded with contributions from Harrison, coincided with the formation of Wright's short-lived band Wonderwheel, which included guitarist Mick Jones, later known for his work with Foreigner. Also, during the early 1970s, Wright played on notable recordings by B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, and Ronnie Spector, while his musical association with Harrison endured until shortly before the latter's death in 2001. Wright turned to film soundtrack work in the early 1980s, including re-recording his most popular song, "Dream Weaver", for the 1992 comedy Wayne's World. Following Spooky Tooth's reunion tour in 2004, Wright performed live frequently, either as a member of Starr's All-Starr Band, with his own live band, or on subsequent Spooky Tooth reunions. Wright's most recent solo albums, including Waiting to Catch the Light (2008) and Connected (2010), have all been issued on his Larklio record label. In 2014, Jeremy P. Tarcher published Wright's autobiography, Dream Weaver: Music, Meditation, and My Friendship with George Harrison.
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References
Title | Summary | |
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Rick Wakeman | ... we replaced Rick Wakeman with Gary Wright and he began, ... | |
The Dream Weaver Has Died | Gary Wright died at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, ... | |
Nilsson Schmilsson {Quad LP} [1973] | ... Richard Perry | Piano: Gary Wright | Piano: Harry ... | |
Nilsson Schmilsson {Quad 8-track} [1973] | ... Richard Perry | Piano: Gary Wright | Piano: Harry ... | |
Nilsson Schmilsson {UK CD Reissue} [2000] | ... Richard Perry | Piano: Gary Wright | Piano: Harry ... | |
Nilsson Schmilsson {24 Karat Gold Disc CD Reissue} [1995] | ... Richard Perry | Piano: Gary Wright | Piano: Harry ... | |
Nilsson Schmilsson {Mobile Fidelity Gold CD} [1991] | ... Richard Perry | Piano: Gary Wright | Piano: Harry ... | |
Nilsson Schmilsson {Stereophonic LP} [1971] | ... Richard Perry | Piano: Gary Wright | Piano: Harry ... | |
Nilsson Schmilsson {Japanese CD Reissue} [2002] | ... Richard Perry | Piano: Gary Wright | Piano: Harry ... | |
Nilsson Schmilsson {US CD Reissue} [1986] | ... Richard Perry | Piano: Gary Wright | Piano: Harry ... | |
Sin Ti [1971] | ... Richard Perry | Piano: Gary Wright | Piano: Harry ... | |
Nilsson Schmilsson {US Deluxe CD Reissue} [2004] | ... Flowers , Dean Torrence , and Gary Wright . | ... | |
Nilsson Schmilsson {Quad Reel-to-Reel} [1973] | ... Richard Perry | Piano: Gary Wright | Piano: Harry ... |
Connection Chains
- From February 19 to Gary Wright in 16 Steps
- From Daylight Has Caught Me to Gary Wright in 15 Steps
- From Rick Jarrard to Gary Wright in 14 Steps
- From Gary Wright to Michael Chertock in 14 Steps
- From Gary Wright to Yardbirds in 14 Steps
- From Gary Wright to Karen Young in 13 Steps
- From Gary Wright to The Next Day in 13 Steps
- From Gary Wright to Without Him in 13 Steps
- From Gary Wright to You're Breaking My Heart in 13 Steps
- From Gary Wright to A Man and His Castle in 12 Steps
- From LaVern Baker to Gary Wright in 12 Steps
- From Lyle Ritz to Gary Wright in 12 Steps
- From Danny Kortchmar to Gary Wright in 12 Steps
- From Scott Turner to Gary Wright in 12 Steps
- From Six Continents Music to Gary Wright in 12 Steps
- From November 28 to Gary Wright in 12 Steps
- From Ringo Starr to Gary Wright in 12 Steps
- From Gary Wright to Jim Horn in 12 Steps
- From Gary Wright to Michael Hausman in 12 Steps
- From Gary Wright to Agatha Christie in 11 Steps
- From Gary Wright to Baby, I'm Yours in 11 Steps
- From EMI Blackwood Music to Gary Wright in 11 Steps
- From I Know to Gary Wright in 11 Steps
- From Mike Gibbins to Gary Wright in 11 Steps
- From Gary Wright to Miss Butter's Lament in 11 Steps
- From Gary Wright to Pete Townshend in 11 Steps
Connections
- April 26 is the birthday of Gary Wright
- Gary Wright was born on April 26
- Gary Wright played piano for Nilsson Schmilsson
- Gary Wright played piano for Sin Ti
- Nilsson Schmilsson includes piano played by Gary Wright
- Sin Ti includes piano played by Gary Wright