Richard Wright (1943 – 2008) was an English pianist, organist, general keyboard player and singer, most commonly known as the keyboard player from Pink Floyd, during most of the band’s active years.

A founding member of the band, he was the main solo-performer on the earliest Pink Floyd material, and his mastery of musical atmosphere throughout the band’s career made his keyboard playing effectively integral to what is known as the “Pink Floyd sound”.

His first ever writing credit was the song “You’re The Reason Why” for the trio Adam, Mike and Tim.
Though not the most prominent songwriter in the band, Richard Wright penned or co-wrote several Pink Floyd songs throughout the band’s 15-album career and provided lead, co-lead or backing vocals on a number of classic Floyd songs, the most revered including “Echoes”, “Time” and “Us And Them”.

A very accomplished piano, organ and synth artist from the beginning of Pink Floyd in the late sixties, Richard Wright played on a wide range of keyboard instruments, including grand and electric piano, Farfisa and Hammond organs, the Mellotron, Moog, ARP String, Synthi and VCS3 synthesizers, as well as vibraphone and occasionally trombone.

Though his relationship with Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters led to his firing from the band in 1979, he was included back into the act when Waters left and David Gilmour took its lead. Thus, Richard Wright appears on all Pink Floyd albums but one (The Final Cut), including the ultimate The Endless River, a posthumous homage to his unique musical identity.

Since his death in 2008, David Gilmour has stated that there are several Pink Floyd songs that he will never perform again, and that Pink Floyd without Wright makes no sense, therefore putting a definitive end to Pink Floyd’s career.

Outside of Pink Floyd, Wright released two solo albums (in 1978 and 1996) and, in a short-lived duo project, another one in 1984.

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