Pink Floyd’s Rick Wright

Richard Wright, keyboardist and founding member of Pink Floyd, passed away today at the age of 65. The news came from his spokesman, who released in a statement that “The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness, that Richard died …

Richard Wright, keyboardist and founding member of Pink Floyd, passed away today at the age of 65. The news came from his spokesman, who released in a statement that “The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness, that Richard died … after a short struggle with cancer. The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”

Wright was a part of Pink Floyd from the beginning, performing with Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, and Nick Mason in the group’s various incarnations before their 1967 release of The Piper at the Gates of Dawn as The Pink Floyd. Wright’s most well known work as a member included co-writing “Us & Them,” and “The Great Gig in the Sky” off of seminal 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon, and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” from 1970’s Atom Heart Mother.

Due to tensions with Waters, Wright left the band after the release of The Wall in 1979, but returned to contribute vocals and keyboards to the 1987 release A Momentary Lapse of Reason, and co-wrote five songs on 1994’s The Division Bell. Wright performed alongside the remaining members of Pink Floyd in 2005 at Live 8, and played last year at a tribute concert to founding member Syd Barrett. Recently, Wright had joined David Gilmour-who replaced Barrett-on his solo tour.