Gary Wright was a singer and songwriter known for his hit songs “Dream Weaver” and “Love Is Alive.”
- Died: September 4, 2023 (Who else died on September 4?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California, after fighting Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia at the age of 80.
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Gary Wright’s legacy
Wright was a child actor before he became a professional musician. He worked on Broadway in “Fanny” in the mid-1950s, playing Cesario, the son of the title character, played by Florence Henderson (1934–2016). He went on to study medicine before changing his career plan and forming the band the New York Times. He went on to join the British blues rock group Spooky Tooth, with whom he toured and recorded for several years.
In 1970, Wright went solo, though he didn’t make it big until 1975. His third album, “The Dream Weaver,” yielded his two best known songs, “Dream Weaver” and “Love Is Alive.” Both made it to No. 2 on the Hot 100, and both remained staples of classic rock radio. “Dream Weaver” became a pop culture touchstone, reportedly inspiring the movie “Nightmare on Elm Street” and finding its way into such movies as “Wayne’s World,” “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” and “Toy Story 3.”
While he embarked on his solo career, Wright also worked as a session musician. He played keyboards on several albums for his friend George Harrison (1943–2001), including the epic “All Things Must Pass.” Wright also played with such musicians as Ronnie Spector (1943–2022), Jerry Lee Lewis (1935–2022), and B.B. King (1925–2015). In later years, Wright participated in Spooky Tooth reunions, wrote for such film soundtracks as “Endangered Species” and “Fire and Ice,” and toured with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. He also wrote the memoir “Dream Weaver: Music, Meditation, and My Friendship with George Harrison.”
Wright on his album “The Dream Weaver”
“When I wrote the album, I decided, ‘Wow, this sounds cool just the way it is, with keyboards. I’m going to make it an all-keyboard album.’ That kind of worked in my favor, because the media jumped all over it and said, ‘Wow, an all-keyboard album.’ Especially the title track.” —from a 2011 interview for NJ.com
Tributes to Gary Wright
Full obituary: Variety
