Gary Wright Has Weaved His Last Dream

Singer, songwriter and keyboardist Gary Wright passed away this morning of Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. He was 80.

Wright was best known for his massive hits "Dream Weaver" and "Love is Alive" which dominated the charts in 1976. 

He started out as a child actor spending two years in the original Broadway production of Fanny with future Brady Bunch matriarch Florence Henderson. 

Wright planned a career in medicine but turned his attention to music while studying in West Germany. After making his way to London, Wright formed Spooky Tooth along with guitarist Luther Grosvenor, drummer Mike Kellie. Greg Ridley on bass and lead singer Mike Harrison. Spooky Tooth released three albums with little commercial success. With Wright's death, Grosvenor is the group's only original surviving member. 

Notwithstanding the lack of commercial success, Wright had built a reputation as a superb pianist and organist with his contributions to George Harrison's All Things Must Pass which led to a lifelong collaboration and friendship with the former Beatle. Wright also played piano on Nilsson's cover of the Badfinger song "Without You".

After reforming Spooky Tooth with a different lineup in 1972 again with little success, Wright's fortunes would change dramatically after signing as a solo artist with Warner Brothers Records. In December 1975, Wright would release The Dream Weaver, a keyboard and synthesizer driven record with no guitars which spawned his two biggest hits "Dream Weaver" and "Love is Alive".

Wright would never attain the commercial success of The Dream Weaver in his subsequent releases over the next five years and would gradually turn his attention to soundtrack work as well as both world and new age music. In this century, Wright would participate in Spooky Tooth reunions and was also part of Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band. In 2014, Wright released his autobiography Dream Weaver: Music, Meditation, and My Friendship with George Harrison. 

Sadly, Wright has weaved his last dream, but the love will remain alive. R.I.P.