Gary Wright, singer of mid-70s hits “Dream Weaver” and “Love Is Alive” as well as a close collaborator of George Harrison, has died at the age of 80.
Wright passed away Monday, September 4th, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Wright spent the early part of his musical career in Europe, where he fronted the blues rock outfit Spooky Tooth. While working on his debut solo album in the early 1970s, his bassist Klaus Voormann introduced him George Harrison, The two ended up becoming close friends and collaborators, with Wright playing keyboard on Harrison’s solo album All Things Must Pass and all subsequent releases during the 1970s. In turn, Harrison contributed to Wright’s 1971 solo album, Footprint.
Wright’s most successful solo release came in 1975 with The Dream Weaver. Both the title track and the song “Love Is Alive” hit No. 2 in the US, while the album itself peaked at No. 7. Two decades later, “Dream Weaver” was featured on the soundtrack to Wayne’s World.
Wright continued to release solo albums throughout the 1970s. The following decade saw him pursue soundtrack work and release several albums of world music.
Beginning in the late 2000s, Wright toured with Ringo Starr as a member of His All-Starr Band. In 2014, he published his memoir, Dream Weaver: Music, Meditation, and My Friendship with George Harrison.