Gary Wright dead: Dream Weaver singer dies from dementia aged 80
Legendary musician Gary Wright has died after a vicious battle with both dementia and Parkinson's disease, his family have confirmed.
Singer-songwriter Gary Wright has died at the age of 80 after a battle with both dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
The singer, whose songs include Dream Weaver, Love Is Alive and Ring Of Changes, passed away on Monday at his home in the South Bay area of California.
According to TMZ, who spoke to Gary’s son Justin, the performer had been first diagnosed with Parkinson’s between five and six years ago.
Shortly after that, he was also diagnosed with dementia, with the family opting to help him privately as the two degenerative diseases progressed.
The site claims the progression of his illnesses developed rapidly over the past year in particular, with the family told a few days in advance that he was entering his final days, after he lost the ability to move and speak.
Fellow musician Stephen Bishop was among the first to share their tributes to the star, posting photos of their days in the studio together.
Alongside the pics, which were uploaded to X (formerly Twitter), Bishop wrote: “It is with great sadness that I received the news of my dear friend Gary Wright's passing.
“The attached photos hold precious memories from the very first and last time we shared the stage together, alongside our mutual musical pal John Ford Coley.”
“Gary's vibrant personality and exceptional talent made every moment together truly enjoyable,” he continued.
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“His legacy will live on for many years to come. I will always cherish the warmth and kindness shown to me by Gary and his wife Rose, and I will forever hold dear the stories he shared with me about days gone by.”
“My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.”
“Miss you Gary,” he concluded. “I’ve had two musical friends pass within a week of each other. Getting old sucks.”
Wright’s musical legacy includes becoming one of the first artists to bring synthesizers and keytars onto the mainstream scene.
He produced 12 albums in his career, and appeared alongside a number of famous stars in the credits of their work - including BB King, Peter Frampton, and Ronnie Spector.
It is with great sadness that I received the news of my dear friend Gary Wright's passing. The attached photos hold precious memories from the very first and last time we shared the stage together, alongside our mutual musical pal John Ford Coley. Gary's vibrant personality and… pic.twitter.com/r7bwnIhKME
— Stephen Bishop (@BishSongs) September 4, 2023
Most notably, he had a longstanding friendship with George Harrison from The Beatles - with Harrison working on his album Footprints and Wright performing as keyboardist on his 1970 album All Things Must Pass.
Wright later co-wrote If You Believe with Harrison, which was released in 1979.
He initially started his career in a band called Spooky Tooth, performing alongside future Mick Jones, who would later create Foreigner.
However, in 2017, in what’s believed to be one of his final interviews, Wright told RockCellar Magazine he had learned to appreciate the quieter things in life.
“I have to say [I love] being out in nature,” he said. “I like to go out and look at spectacular things in nature because it’s a very spiritual experience.
“I love gardening as well. I do that as well; George [Harrison] loved gardening as well. We used to garden together at this house in Hawaii and in England as well. So that gives me a lot of joy.”
“I’m a grandfather now and that’s an amazing experience too,” he added.
