Richard Wright

Richard Wright, often known as Rick Wright, was an English keyboardist, vocalist, and songwriter who was a founding member of Pink Floyd. Though best known for his longtime membership in the legendary progressive rock band, he also released a couple solo albums. Born July 28, 1943, in Hatch End, Middlesex, England, he co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 with Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, and Nick Mason. The band made its full-length album debut in 1967 with the psychedelic classic The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Wright is credited on the album with organ, piano, and vocals (most notably singing "Astronomy Domine"); he is also credited as a songwriter. Pink Floyd released a long line of albums in subsequent years, including the masterpiece Dark Side of the Moon (1973), before splintering in the early '80s. During the early years of Pink Floyd, Wright was an integral member, though his creative input lessened over the years as Waters increasingly assumed control of the band. Ultimately, Wright was kicked out of the band by Waters during the recording of The Wall (1979), and while he toured with the band in support of the album, he didn't participate in the recording of The Final Cut (1983), the final Waters-era Pink Floyd album. In the wake of Waters' departure from Pink Floyd, Wright returned to the band for the latter-day albums A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994). He also toured with the band and is featured on the live albums The Delicate Sound of Thunder (1988) and Pulse (1995). As a solo artist, Wright released two albums, Wet Dream (1978) and Broken China (1996). He also co-founded the short-lived band Zee, which released one album, Identity (1984). He died of cancer on September 15, 2008. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi