'Dream Weaver' Vocalist Gary Wright Has Died at 80

’70s rock star Gary Wright has died on the age of 80. TMZ reported the information after the singer’s son Justin Wright confirmed his father has handed away Monday morning (Sept. 4) at his Palos Verdes, California property. Wright is greatest recognized for his ’70s hit “Dream Weaver.”

Along with Justin Wright’s affirmation, fellow musician Stephen Bishop shared the information of Wright’s dying on social media, commenting, “It’s with nice disappointment that I acquired the information of my pricey pal Gary Wright’s passing. The hooked up photographs maintain valuable reminiscences from the very first and final time we shared the stage collectively, alongside our mutual musical pal John Ford Coley. Gary’s vibrant persona and distinctive expertise made each second collectively really gratifying. His legacy will dwell on for a few years to return. I’ll all the time cherish the heat and kindness proven to me by Gary and his spouse Rose, and I’ll endlessly maintain pricey the tales he shared with me about days passed by. My heartfelt condolences exit to his household, pals, and followers throughout this troublesome time.”

Per TMZ, Wright had been recognized with Parkinson’s and Lewy physique dementia lately. Justin Wright revealed that the singer’s household and family members have been by his facet on the time of his dying.

Wright was born April 26, 1943 in Cresskill, New Jersey. He really began within the leisure trade as a baby star, showing on the age of seven on Captain Video and His Video Rangers and later taping each TV and radio commercials earlier than touchdown a job within the 1954 Broadway manufacturing of Fanny.

READ MORE: Stone Temple Pilots Carry out With Singer Justin Wright, Son of ’70s Star Gary Wright

He studied piano and organ in highschool, however determined that music was not a secure sufficient profession and opted to check to develop into a health care provider whereas attending school. However he by no means misplaced the love for music, persevering with to carry out in bands whereas getting his training. Whereas in Europe, he determined to forego being physician and pursue music, together with his group on the time, The New York Instances, getting a assist slot opening for Site visitors.

From there, Chris Blackwell launched the singer to a bunch known as Artwork, who finally modified their title to Spooky Tooth upon Wright’s addition to the band. Whereas a member of the band, he appeared on three albums because the group’s singer and keyboardist. They launched a canopy of The Band’s “The Weight” and the singles “Sunshine Assist Me” and “Feelin’ Dangerous.” However by 1970, the group was contemplating a change in route and Wright opted for a solo profession.

He recorded 12 albums as a solo artist, with 1975’s Dream Weaver album being his greatest success, climbing to No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart and occurring to a double-platinum certification within the U.S. Along with the Dream Weaver title monitor that hit No. 2 on the Billboard Scorching 100, Wright additionally scored a ’70s hit with “Love Is Alive,” which additionally hit No. 2. And, in 1981, “Actually Wanna Know You” climbed to No. 16 on the Billboard Scorching 100.

Wright additionally took a short and notable detour from his solo profession within the ’70s to work with George Harrison on Harrison’s 1970 album All Issues Should Go. Wright performed keyboards on the file after which went on to play on all of Harrison’s ’70s albums in addition to on hits for Ringo Starr and Ronnie Spector as properly.

Because the years handed, Wright began to get extra concerned with movie work, having contributed the rating to 1982’s Endangered Species and dealing on music for the movies Hearth and Ice and Cobra. The 2000s noticed Wright tour with Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band and he additionally recorded a brand new age album in 2008.

Revisit a few of Gary Wright’s musical works and see just a few extra tributes from his friends under. Our condolences to the Wright household.