Pink Floyd’s Keyboardist, Richard Wright, Dies of Cancer at Age 65

According to his spokesman, Richard Wright, a founding member and keyboardist of Pink Floyd, died yesterday at the age of 65 after a short battle with cancer.

Wright not only played keyboards in the band, but also wrote and sang several songs from their most popular albums during the mid-70’s, such as “Dark Side of the Moon “ and Wish You Were Here.” Some of he better-known songs include “The Great Gig In The Sky,” and “Us And Them.”

David Gilmour, Pink Floyd’s guitarist and singer, referred to Wright as “gentle, unassuming and private but his soulful voice and playing were vital, magical components of our most recognized Pink Floyd sound.

“Like Rick, I don’t find it easy to express my feelings in words, but I loved him and will miss him enormously. I have never played with anyone quite like him,” he said.

Gilmour goes on to express his belief that Pink Floyd’s greatest moments were with Wright “in full force.”

Richard Wright’s death comes just two years after Syd Barrett, the founding member and former singer and guitarist of Pink Floyd. Since that time, many tributes have popped up in his honor, such as the upcoming album Like Black Holes In The Sky: The Tribute to Syd Barrett, which includes bands like Jesu Kylesa and can be streamed in full on myspace. I’m sure it is only a matter of time before we see similar tributes to Wright.

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