1 week ago
Dick Parry, whose saxophone solos connected Pink Floyd‘s classical albums The Dark Side of nan Moon and Wish You Were Here helped places specified songs arsenic “Money”, “Us and Them” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” successful nan classical stone firmament, died today, May 22. He was 83.
His decease was announced by David Gilmour, nan singer-guitarist of Pink Floyd’s iconic line-up and a lifelong friend. No origin of decease was stated.
“My beloved friend Dick Parry died this morning,” Gilmour wrote connected Instagram (see nan station below). “Since I was seventeen, I person played successful bands pinch Dick connected saxophone, including Pink Floyd. His consciousness and reside make his saxophone playing unmistakable, a signature of tremendous beauty that is known to millions and is specified a large portion of songs specified arsenic Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Wish You Were Here, Us and Them and Money. He played successful nan past set I had that included Rick Wright for nan On An Island Tour and astatine Live 8 pinch Pink Floyd.”
In his post, Gilmour shared photos of nan 2 friends done nan years, including 1 astatine a capacity successful Cambridge 1963.
In summation to 1973’s Dark Side of nan Moon and 1975’s Wish You Were Here, Parry contributed saxophone connected specified albums arsenic Let’s Make Up and Be Friendly by Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band (1972), Mad Dog by The Who’s John Entwistle (1975), Love Is a Five Letter Word by Jimmy Witherspoon (1975), and Jinx by Rory Gallagher (1982), among others.
He appeared connected different Pink Floyd albums The Division Bell (1994) and Pulse (1995), arsenic good arsenic respective Gilmour solo albums successful nan early 2000s. A signaling of a 1974 Floyd performance was released successful 2023 arsenic The Dark Side of nan Moon Live astatine Wembley 1974. He besides played sax for The Who during nan band’s tours successful 1979 and 1980.
Born successful Kentford, Suffolk connected December 22, 1942, Parry launched his profession arsenic a master musician successful nan early- to mid-1960s arsenic portion of nan Cambridge-based set The Soul Committee. It was successful Cambridge wherever he met Gilmour, who played for different section band. Gilmour would later induce Parry to Pink Floyd’s signaling sessions, wherever Parry would create nan sax solos that brought a mesmerizing, dreamy value to “Us and Them” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and a down-and-dirty grit to “Money,” sounds that became an indelible portion of nan decade’s progressive FM scenery and stay truthful connected today’s classical stone radio.
Information connected survivors was not instantly available.
