Gary Wright

Template:Short description {{#invoke:Other people|otherPeople}} Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist

Gary Malcolm Wright (April 26, 1943 – September 4, 2023) was an American musician and composer best known for his 1976 hit songs "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive". Wright's breakthrough album, The Dream Weaver (1975), came after he had spent seven years in London as, alternately, a member of the British blues rock band Spooky Tooth and a solo artist on A&M Records. While in England, he played keyboards on former Beatle George Harrison's triple album All Things Must Pass (1970), so beginning a friendship that inspired the Indian religious themes and spirituality inherent in Wright's subsequent songwriting. His work from the late 1980s onwards embraced world music and the new age genre, although none of his post-1976 releases matched the same level of popularity as The Dream Weaver.

A former child actor, Wright performed on Broadway in the hit musical Fanny before studying medicine and then psychology in New York and Berlin. After meeting Chris Blackwell of Island Records in Europe, Wright moved to London, where he helped establish Spooky Tooth as a popular live act. He also served as the band's principal songwriter on their recordings – among them, the well-regarded albums Spooky Two (1969) and You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw (1973). His solo album Footprint (1971), recorded with contributions from Harrison, coincided with the formation of Wright's short-lived band Wonderwheel, which included guitarist Mick Jones, later known for his work with Foreigner. Also, during the early 1970s, Wright played on notable recordings by B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, and Ronnie Spector, while his musical association with Harrison endured until shortly before the latter's death in 2001.

Wright turned to film soundtrack work in the early 1980s, including re-recording his most popular song, "Dream Weaver", for the 1992 comedy Wayne's World. Following Spooky Tooth's reunion tour in 2004, Wright performed live frequently, either as a member of Starr's All-Starr Band, with his own live band, or on subsequent Spooky Tooth reunions. Wright's most recent solo albums, including Waiting to Catch the Light (2008) and Connected (2010), have all been issued on his Larklio record label. In 2014, Jeremy P. Tarcher published Wright's autobiography, Dream Weaver: Music, Meditation, and My Friendship with George Harrison.

Early life

Gary Wright was born and raised in Cresskill, New Jersey.<ref name="Wright bio/AM">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A child actor, he made his TV debut at the age of seven, on the show Captain Video and His Video Rangers, filmed in New York City.<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094">The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, p. 1094.</ref> He appeared in TV and radio commercials before being offered a part in the 1954 Broadway production of the musical Fanny.<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> Wright played the role of Cesario, the son of Fanny, who was played by future Brady Bunch matriarch Florence Henderson.<ref name="Smashing">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He spent two years with the production, during which he performed with Henderson on The Ed Sullivan Show.<ref name="TheSound" />

Having studied piano and organ,<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> Wright led various local rock bands while attending<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> Tenafly High School in Tenafly, New Jersey.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Voger/Hippiefest" /> In 1959, he made his first commercial recording, with Billy Markle at NBC Radio's New York studios.<ref name="Markle/GW">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Credited to Gary & Billy, the single "Working After School" was released on 20th Century Fox Records in 1960.<ref name="Markle/GW" />

Seeing music as "too unstable" a career choice, as he later put it,<ref name="TheSound" /> Wright studied to become a doctor at the College of William & Mary in Virginia and New York University before attending Downstate Medical College for a year,<ref name="Voger/Hippiefest">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> all the while continuing to perform with local bands.<ref name= "TheSound" /><ref name="Perry/VintageR">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Having specialized in psychology in New York,<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> he then went to West Germany in 1966<ref name= "vonBF/dprp">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to complete his studies at the Free University of Berlin.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> Within a year, he decided to not continue his schooling.

Career

1967–1970: With Spooky Tooth

Wright described his initial musical influences as "early R&B" – namely, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Bobby Bland – along with rock 'n' roll artists Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Beatles.<ref name="TheSound">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> While in Europe in 1967, Wright abandoned his plans to become a doctor<ref name="TheSound" /> and instead toured locally with a band he had formed, the New York Times.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> When the latter supported the English group Traffic – at Oslo in Norway, according to Wright<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> – he met Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> Wright recalled that he and Blackwell had a mutual friend in Jimmy Miller,<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> the New York-born producer of Island acts such as the Spencer Davis Group and Traffic.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Blackwell invited Wright to London, where he joined English singer and pianist Mike Harrison and drummer Mike Kellie in their band Art (formerly the VIPs).<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 938">The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, p. 938.</ref> The group soon changed its name to Spooky Tooth,<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> with Wright as joint lead vocalist<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> and Hammond organ player.<ref>Leng, pp. 90, 91.</ref> While noting the band's lack of significant commercial success over its career, The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll describes Spooky Tooth as "a bastion of Britain's hard-rock scene".<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 938" />

Spooky Tooth's first album was It's All About, released on Island in June 1968.<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> Produced by Miller,<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> it contained the Wright-composed "Sunshine Help Me" and six songs he co-wrote with either Miller, Harrison or Luther Grosvenor,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the band's guitarist.<ref name="MusicHound p 1248">Graff & Durchholz, p. 1248.</ref> Spooky Two, often considered the band's best work, followed in March 1969, with Miller again producing.<ref name="MusicHound p 1249">Graff & Durchholz, p. 1249.</ref> Wright composed or co-composed seven of the album's eight songs, including "That Was Only Yesterday" and "Better By You, Better Than Me".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Spooky Two sold well in America but, like It's All About, it failed to place on the UK's top 40 albums chart.<ref name="Salewicz/LIR" />

The third Spooky Tooth album was Ceremony, a Wright-instigated collaboration with French electronic music pioneer Pierre Henry,<ref name="MusicHound p 1248" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> released in December 1969.<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 938" /> Songwriting for all the tracks was credited to Henry and Wright,<ref name="Celebration sleeve">Sleeve and label credits, Celebration LP (US promo). A&M Records, 1970; produced by Spooky Tooth & Pierre Henry.</ref> after the latter had passed the band's recordings on to Henry for what The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia terms "processed musique concrète overdubs".<ref>The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, pp. 938–39.</ref>

Although Wright had traditionally provided an experimental influence within Spooky Tooth,<ref name="MusicHound p 1248" /> he regretted the change of musical direction, saying in a 1973 interview: "We should have really taken off after Spooky Two but we got into the absurd situation of letting Pierre Henry make the Ceremony album. Then he took it back to France and remixed it."<ref name="Salewicz/LIR">Salewicz, Chris (February 1973). "Spooky Tooth Together Again". Let It Rock. Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required).</ref> With bass player Greg Ridley having already left the band in 1969 to join Humble Pie,<ref>The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, pp. 462, 938.</ref> Wright departed in January 1970 to pursue a solo career.<ref name="Salewicz/LIR" />

1970–1972: Solo career on A&M Records, Wonderwheel, and London session work

Extraction

After signing with A&M Records, Wright recorded Extraction (1970) in London<ref name="Leng p 108">Leng, p. 108.</ref> with musicians including Kellie, guitarist Hugh McCracken, bassist Klaus Voormann and drummer Alan White.<ref name="AM/Extraction credits">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Wright co-produced the album with Andy Johns,<ref name="AM/Extraction credits" /> who had been the recording engineer on Spooky Two<ref name="Spooky Two sleeve">Sleeve credits, Spooky Two LP. Island Records, 1969; produced by Jimmy Miller.</ref> and Ceremony.<ref name="Celebration sleeve" /> The album included "Get on the Right Road", which was issued as a single, and "The Wrong Time",<ref name="WrightOnA&M">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> co-written by Wright and McCracken.<ref>Sleeve credits, Extraction LP. (A&M Records, 1970; produced by Gary Wright & Andy Johns).</ref>

George Harrison's All Things Must Pass

Through Voormann,<ref name="DailyBeast">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Wright was invited to play piano on former Beatle George Harrison's 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass.<ref name="Smashing" /><ref>Leng, p. 91.</ref> Among what author Nicholas Schaffner later described as "a rock orchestra of almost symphonic proportions, whose credits read like a Who's Who of the music scene",<ref>Schaffner, p. 142.</ref> Wright was one of the album's principal keyboard players, together with former Delaney & Bonnie organist Bobby Whitlock.<ref>Leng, p. 82fn.</ref> During the sessions, Wright and Harrison established a long-lasting friendship,<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /><ref name="Rodriguez p 87">Rodriguez, p. 87.</ref> based on music and their shared interest in Indian religion.<ref name="Smashing" /><ref>Leng, pp. 91, 108, 124–25, 209.</ref> In a 2009 interview with vintagerock.com, Wright described Harrison as "my spiritual mentor";<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> author Robert Rodriguez writes of Wright's "unique" place among musicians with whom Harrison collaborated at this time, in that Wright wasn't an established star, a friend from the years before Harrison achieved fame as a Beatle, or a "studio pro".<ref name="Rodriguez p 88">Rodriguez, p. 88.</ref>

Wright played on all of Harrison's subsequent solo albums during the 1970s,<ref name="Barnes Interview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref><ref>Leng, pp. 125, 153, 182–83, 190, 209.</ref> as well as on other releases that the ex-Beatle produced for Apple Records.<ref>Wright, p. 109.</ref> These included two hit singles by Harrison's former bandmate Ringo Starr over 1971–72, "It Don't Come Easy" and "Back Off Boogaloo", and a 1971 comeback single by ex-Ronette Ronnie Spector, "Try Some, Buy Some".<ref>Spizer, pp. 255, 294, 297–98.</ref>Template:Refn

Footprint

To promote Extraction, Wright formed the band Wonderwheel in April 1971,<ref name="Robinson/Spooky bio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with a lineup comprising guitarist Jerry Donahue – soon replaced by Mick Jones – Archie Legget (bass) and Bryson Graham (drums).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Wright, p. 98.</ref> Donahue was among the many musicians on Wright's second album, Footprint (1971),<ref>Castleman & Podrazik, p. 201.</ref> along with George Harrison and All Things Must Pass contributors such as Voormann, White, Jim Gordon, Bobby Keys and John Barham.<ref name="Leng p 108" /><ref>Wright, pp. 97, 99.</ref> Produced by Wright, the album included "Stand for Our Rights", a call for social unity, song which was originally written for Johnny Hallyday under the name “Flagrant Délit” and was partly inspired by the Vietnam War,<ref>Liner notes , Best of Gary Wright: The Dream Weaver. Rhino Records, 1998; produced by Gary Wright, Gary Peterson & David McLees.</ref> "Two Faced Man" and "Love to Survive".<ref>Castleman & Podrazik, pp. 105–06.</ref> In November 1971, Wright and Wonderwheel performed "Two Faced Man" on The Dick Cavett Show in New York, with Harrison accompanying on slide guitar.<ref name="Rodriguez pp 88, 319-20">Rodriguez, pp. 88, 319–20.</ref>Template:Refn Wright expressed gratitude for Harrison's support during this stage of his career, citing the ex-Beatle's uncredited production on Footprint<ref name="Flucke/Popdose">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and his arranging the Dick Cavett Show appearance.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> Despite this exposure,<ref name="Rodriguez pp 88, 319-20" /> like Extraction, the album failed to chart.<ref name="Leng p 108" /><ref>Wright, pp. 99–100.</ref>

Among other recordings over this period, Wright played piano on Harry Nilsson's 1972 hit "Without You"<ref name="Rodriguez p 88" /> and accompanied B.B. King, Starr, Gordon, Voormann and others on B.B. King in London (1971),<ref>Randall, Brackett & Hoard, p. 453.</ref> which included Wright's composition "Wet Hayshark".<ref>Castleman & Podrazik, p. 105.</ref> He later participated in London sessions by Jerry Lee Lewis,<ref name="Barnes Interview" /> issued as the double album The Session (1973).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Wright also produced an eponymous album by folk rock band Howl the Good,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> released on the Rare Earth label.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Ring of Changes

In 1972, Wright moved to Devon with Wonderwheel to work on songs for a new album, titled Ring of Changes. With Tom Duffey having replaced Leggett on bass, the band recorded the songs at Olympic and Apple studios in London.<ref>Wright, pp. 112–13.</ref> After issuing "I Know" as an advance single,<ref>Sleeve text, "Ring of Changes" promotional single. A&M Records, 1972; produced by Gary Wright.</ref> A&M chose to cancel the album.<ref name="Wright p 113">Wright, p. 113.</ref>Template:Refn Wright also wrote the soundtrack for a film by former Olympic skier Willy Bogner, Benjamin (1972),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> from which the German label Ariola Records released "Goodbye Sunday" as a single that year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The full soundtrack album, recorded with Jones, Leggett and Graham,<ref>Sleeve credits, Benjamin – The Original Soundtrack of Willy Bogner's Motion Picture LP. Ariola Records, 1974; produced by Willy Bogner.</ref> was issued by Ariola in 1974.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In September 1972, Wright decided to disband Wonderwheel and re-form Spooky Tooth.<ref name="Rosen/MW">Rosen, Steven (November 1973). "The Return of Spooky Tooth". Music World. Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required).</ref> Shortly before doing so, he participated in sessions for Harrison's Living in the Material World (1973),<ref>Leng, pp. 124–25.</ref> an album that Wright describes as "a beautiful masterpiece" and his favorite Harrison album.<ref>Wright, p. 107.</ref> Talking to Chris Salewicz of Let It Rock in early 1973, Wright explained his decision to abandon his solo career: "I think my main talent is getting the music together and arranging it. I'm not a showman and so I couldn't be a Cat Stevens out front with just backing musicians, which I was expected to be with Wonderwheel."<ref name="Salewicz/LIR" /> In his autobiography, however, Wright says that it was his disappointment at A&M's rejection of Ring of Changes that led him to contact Blackwell about re-forming Spooky Tooth.<ref name="Wright p 113" />

1972–1974: Re-forms Spooky Tooth

The only members from the original lineup, Wright and Mike Harrison relaunched Spooky Tooth with Jones and Graham from Wonderwheel, and Chris Stewart,<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 938" /><ref name="MusicHound p 1248" /> formerly the bassist with English singer Terry Reid.<ref name="Salewicz/LIR" /> Salewicz visited the band while they were recording at Island Studios and remarked of Wright's role in the group, "it is clear who is the leader of this brand of Spooky Tooth, and, I suspect, of the original, too"; Salewicz described Wright as "urbane, loquacious with the remnants of a New Jersey accent, and a touch of Dudley Moore about the face".<ref name="Salewicz/LIR" />

On their new album, You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw (1973),<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 938" /> Wright composed six of the eight tracks, including "Cotton Growing Man", "Wildfire" originally written for Johnny Hallyday as the rock song titled « le feu » and "Self Seeking Man", and co-wrote the remaining two.<ref name="You Broke sleeve">Label credits, You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw LP. Island Records, 1973; produced by Gary Wright & Spooky Tooth.</ref> With the group's standing having been elevated since 1970 – a situation that music journalist Steven Rosen likened at the time to the Yardbirds, the Move and other 1960s bands after their break-up<ref name="Rosen/MW" /> – Spooky Tooth toured extensively to promote the album.<ref name="Robinson/Spooky bio" /> Rolling Stone reviewer Jon Tiven praised Wright's songwriting on You Broke My Heart, adding: "there is tremendous consistency to these originals ... and 'Wildfire' is ample proof that Gary could have written for the Temptations if he really wanted to."<ref>Tiven, Jon (June 21, 1973). "Spooky Tooth: You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw". Rolling Stone. Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required).</ref>

Template:Quote box The band released a follow-up, Witness, in November 1973,<ref name="Robinson/Spooky bio" /> by which point Graham had departed, with Mike Kellie returning on drums.<ref name="Rosen/MW" /> By February 1974, Stewart and Harrison had also left.<ref name="Robinson/Spooky bio" /> In January that year, Wright accompanied George Harrison to India,<ref>Wright, pp. 120–21, 123.</ref> where they journeyed to Varanasi (Benares), the Hindu spiritual capital of India, and home to Harrison's friend Ravi Shankar.<ref name="Olivia p 258">Olivia Harrison, p. 258.</ref> The visit would influence the spiritual quality of Wright's lyrics when he returned to his solo career.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" />

In England, he and Harrison worked together on The Place I Love (1974),<ref>Leng, pp. 143, 144.</ref> the debut album by English duo Splinter.<ref>Schaffner, p. 179.</ref><ref>Wight, pp. 109, 110.</ref> In addition to playing keyboards, Wright served as what author Simon Leng terms "a sounding board and musical amanuensis" on the project,<ref>Leng, p. 144.</ref> which was the first album released on Harrison's Dark Horse record label.<ref>Castleman & Podrazik, pp. 200–01, 205–06, 311.</ref> Wright regrouped with Spooky Tooth for a final album, The Mirror (1974), with Mike Patto as their new vocalist.<ref>The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, pp. 938, 939.</ref> Following further personnel changes, The Mirror was issued by Goodear Records in the UK in October 1974, a month after Wright had disbanded the group.<ref name="Robinson/Spooky bio" />

1975–1981: Solo career on Warner Bros. Records

The Dream Weaver

After Spooky Tooth's break-up, Wright returned to New Jersey and began compiling songs for his third solo album.<ref name="CC//MM" /> Under the guidance of new manager Dee Anthony, he chose to sign with Warner Bros. Records, mainly because the company had no keyboard virtuosos among its other acts.<ref name="CC//MM">Charlesworth, Chris (June 5, 1976). "Gary Wright: Wright at Last". Melody Maker. Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required).</ref> Wright says that it was while routining his songs with all his stage equipment set up – Hammond organ, Hohner Clavinet, Fender Rhodes electric piano, Minimoog and ARP String Ensemble – together with a drum machine, that he decided to record the album "all on keyboards", without guitars.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> He acknowledges that artists such as Stevie Wonder had similarly released keyboard-dominated music, but "[Wonder] used brass and he used other things as well".<ref name="Voger/Hippiefest" /> On Wright's debut album for Warner Bros., The Dream Weaver (1975),<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> he, David Foster and Bobby Lyle played a variety of keyboard instruments, supported only by drummers Jim Keltner and Andy Newmark,<ref name="DreamWeaver/AM">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> apart from a guitar part on the track "Power of Love" by Ronnie Montrose.<ref name="DreamWeaverSleeve">Sleeve credits, The Dream Weaver LP. Warner Bros. Records, 1975; produced by Gary Wright.</ref> Jason Ankeny of AllMusic describes The Dream Weaver as "one of the first [rock albums] created solely via synthesizer technology".<ref name="Wright bio/AM" />

Template:Quote box The album was issued in July 1975 and enjoyed minimal success in America until the release of its second single, "Dream Weaver", in November.<ref name="CC//MM" /> The song, which Wright had written on acoustic guitar<ref name="CC//MM" /> after his visit to India with Harrison,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> went on to peak at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100<ref name="BB singles">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and number 1 on the Cash Box singles chart.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs" /> Becoming Wright's biggest hit, "Dream Weaver" sold over 1 million copies in the US and was awarded a Gold disc by the RIAA in March 1976.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">Murrells, p. 365.</ref> The album climbed to number 7 on the Billboard 200<ref name="BB albums/AM">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was certified double Platinum.<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> "Love Is Alive", originally the album's lead single,<ref name="CC//MM" /> then hit number 2 on the Hot 100, and "Made to Love You" peaked at number 79.<ref name="BB singles" /> Although neither The Dream Weaver nor its singles charted in the UK, the album was a big seller in West Germany,<ref name="CC//MM" /> where, Wright says, Spooky Tooth had been "the number one band" during 1969.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" />

Following the album's release, Wright toured extensively with a band comprising three keyboard players and a drummer.<ref name="CC//MM" /> His elder sister Lorna, also a professional singer, joined the tour band as his backing vocalist.<ref>Wright, p. 20.</ref> Subsidized by synthesizer manufacturers Moog and Oberheim,<ref name="Voger/Hippiefest" /> Wright became one of the first musicians to perform with a portable keyboard, in the style of Edgar Winter.<ref name="CC//MM" /> Shawn Perry of vintagerock.com credits Wright with being "as responsible for the emergence of the synthesizer as a mainstream instrument as Keith Emerson and ... Rick Wakeman",<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> while Robert Rodriguez describes Wright as a pioneer in both "the integration of synthesizers into analog recordings" and the use of the keyboard–guitar hybrid known as the keytar.<ref name="Rodriguez p 88" />

Among his live performances in 1976, Wright shared the bill with Yes and Peter Frampton at the US Bicentennial concert held at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, playing to a crowd estimated at 120,000.<ref name="Welch//MM">Welch, Chris (June 26, 1976). "Yes, Peter Frampton, Gary Wright: JFK Stadium, Philadelphia". Melody Maker. Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required).</ref> Wright then supported Frampton on a European tour, by which time a fourth keyboard player had been added to the band.<ref name="Salewicz/NME">Salewicz, Chris (October 30, 1976). "Peter Frampton: Empire Pool, Wembley, London". NME. Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required).</ref> Amid this success, A&M issued That Was Only Yesterday (1976)<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 938" /> – a compilation containing tracks from Wright's albums for the label and selections by Spooky Tooth<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> – which charted at number 172 in America.<ref name="BB albums/AM" />

The Light of Smiles

Wright started recording his follow-up to The Dream Weaver in summer 1976, before which Chris Charlesworth of Melody Maker reported that it would be "a logical development" of its predecessor and "again based entirely around what he can do with various types of keyboards".<ref name="CC//MM" /> Titled The Light of Smiles (1977), the album included "I Am the Sky", for which Wright gave a songwriting credit to the late Indian guru and Kriya Yoga teacher,<ref>Bowden, p. 629.</ref> Paramahansa Yogananda.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The latter's poem "The Light of Smiles", taken from his book Metaphysical Meditations,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> appeared on the inner sleeve to Wright's new album.<ref name="SmilesrInSleeve">Inner sleeve, The Light of Smiles LP. Warner Bros. Records, 1977; produced by Gary Wright.</ref> Wright had acknowledged the guru as his inspiration for the title of The Dream Weaver,<ref name="DreamWeaverSleeve" /> and he later said of Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi: "It's a fantastic book and you won't want to put it down when you start reading it. Even, not from a spiritual point of view, but as a piece of literature, it's a total classic ..."<ref name="Perry/VintageR" />

Produced again by Wright, The Light of Smiles featured Wright, Foster, Peter Relich and others on a range of keyboard instruments, including Moog, Oberheim and ARP synthesizers, and drumming contributions from Art Wood and Keltner.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Issued by Warner Bros. in January 1977,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> neither the album nor its lead single, "Phantom Writer", matched the popularity of Wright's earlier releases for the label.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> On the US Billboard charts, The Light of Smiles climbed to number 23,<ref name="BB albums/AM" /> while "Phantom Writer" peaked at number 43.<ref name="BB singles" />

Touch and Gone, Headin' Home and The Right Place

Wright continued to record albums for Warner Bros. until 1981, with only limited commercial success.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> Released in late 1977, Touch and Gone charted at number 117 in America,<ref name="BB albums/AM" /> with its title track reaching number 73.<ref name="BB singles" /> Headin' Home, which AllMusic's Joe Viglione describes as "an album seemingly driven by a serious relationship in crisis",<ref name="Viglione/Home" /> peaked at number 147 in 1979.<ref name="BB albums/AM" /> In between these two albums, Wright played on "If You Believe", a song he had co-written with Harrison in England on New Year's Day 1978,<ref>George Harrison, p. 358.</ref> which appeared on Harrison's eponymous 1979 album.<ref>Leng, pp. 199, 209.</ref>

Wright's last chart success in America was in 1981,<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> when his album The Right Place, co-produced with Dean Parks,<ref>Label credits, The Right Place LP. Warner Bros. Records, 1981; produced by Gary Wright & Dean Parks.</ref> climbed to number 79.<ref name="BB albums/AM" /> The single "Really Wanna Know You", which Wright co-wrote with Scottish singer Ali Thomson,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> peaked at number 16 that year.<ref name="BB singles" /> A second single from the album, "Heartbeat", appeared on BillboardTemplate:'s Bubbling Under listings, at number 107.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Deprecated source

1982–2000: Film soundtracks and world music

Wright's subsequent releases focused on film soundtracks and forays into world music.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> After writing the score for Alan Rudolph's 1982 thriller Endangered Species,<ref name="DreamWeaverBio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he supplied the soundtrack to another skiing-themed movie by Willy Bogner,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fire and Ice (1986), which hit number 1 on the German albums chart.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> Wright also contributed the song "Hold on to Your Vision" to the soundtrack of Cobra, a 1986 action movie starring Sylvester Stallone as well as a pop rock song "Am I the One" for the 1987 surf movie, North Shore.<ref name="IMDB/North Shore">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Among notable cover versions of Wright's songs during this period, Chaka Khan recorded "Love Is Alive" (retitled "My Love Is Alive") for her 1984 album I Feel for You,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which became an RIAA-certified million-seller.<ref>The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, p. 536.</ref> A cover of his Spooky Tooth composition "Better By You, Better Than Me", by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, was at the center of a 1990 court case regarding subliminal messages in song lyrics, after two Nevadan teenagers had enacted a suicide pact five years before.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> From 1989 through to the late 1990s, samples of Wright's "Dream Weaver", "Love Is Alive" and "Can't Find the Judge" variously featured in songs by popular rap and hip-hop artists Tone Lōc, Dream Warriors, 3rd Bass and Mýa.<ref name="WhoSample">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Wright himself re-recorded "Dream Weaver" for the 1992 comedy Wayne's World,<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> the soundtrack album for which topped the US charts.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song has since appeared in the films The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) and Toy Story 3 (2010).<ref name="Wright/Largo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He later provided "We Can Fly" for another Bogner film, Ski to the Max,<ref name="UtopiaArtists">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> released in IMAX cinemas in October 2000.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Who I Am, First Signs of Life and Human Love

In 1988, Wright released Who I Am on A&M-distributed<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Cypress Records.<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> Among the album's contributors were Western musicians such as Harrison, White and Keltner,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a group of South Indian percussionists,<ref name="UtopiaArtists" /> and Indian classical violinists L. Subramaniam and L. Shankar.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> The previous year, Wright had contributed to Harrison's album Cloud Nine (1987), for which he co-wrote "That's What It Takes" with Harrison and Jeff Lynne,<ref>Leng, pp. 248, 249.</ref> and played keyboards on songs such as "When We Was Fab".<ref>Kordosh, J. (December 1987). "Fab! Gear! The George Harrison Interview (part 1)". Creem. Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required).</ref> One of the tracks from Who I Am, "Blind Alley", was used in the 1988 horror film Spellbinder.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Wright's next solo album was First Signs of Life (1995), recorded in Rio de Janeiro and at his own<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> High Wave Studios in Los Angeles,<ref name="First SignsSleeve">Album booklet, First Signs of Life CD. Triloka/Worldly, 1995; produced by Gary Wright & Franz Pusch.</ref> and issued on the Triloka/Worldly record label.<ref name="MusicHound p 1249" /><ref name="Discog/GW site">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album combined Brazilian rhythms<ref name="MusicHound p 1249" /> with elements of African vocal tradition, creating what AllMusic's reviewer describes as "an infectious worldbeat hybrid", where "the musicians' performances radiate sincerity and joy".<ref name="AM/First Signs">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> First Signs of Life featured guest appearances from drummer Terry Bozzio, Brazilian guitarist Template:Ill and Harrison.<ref name="AM/First Signs" /> The song "Don't Try to Own Me", co-written with Duane Hitchings, was later included on Rhino Records' Best of Gary Wright: The Dream Weaver – a 1998 compilation spanning his solo career from 1970 onwards, and featuring extensive liner notes by Wright.<ref name="AM/Best of GW">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Human Love (1999) included new versions of "Wildfire" and "The Wrong Time",<ref name="AM/Human Love">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> as well as "If You Believe in Heaven", a song written with Graham Gouldman that had first appeared on Best of Gary Wright.<ref name="AM/Best of GW" /> The album was co-produced by German world-music producer Marlon Klein<ref name="HumanLoveSleeve" /> and released on the High Wave Music label.<ref name="Discog/GW site" /><ref name="AM/Human Love" /> Contributors to the sessions, held at High Wave and at Exil Musik in Bielefeld, included Hindustani classical vocalist Lakshmi Shankar, Lynne and German composer Roman Bunka.<ref name="HumanLoveSleeve">Album booklet, Human Love CD. High Wave Music, 1999; produced by Gary Wright, Marlon Klein, Bernhart Locker & Franz Pusch.</ref>

Later career

Having dedicated much of his time during the 1990s to his family, Wright subsequently resumed a more active musical career, starting with Spooky Tooth's 2004 reunion.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> Their album and DVD Nomad Poets Live in Germany (2007) features Wright, Mike Harrison and Kellie from the band's original lineup.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Wright's past work has continued to inspire rap and dance tracks in the 21st century; samples of "Heartbeat" appear in songs by Jay-Z and Diam's, while Topmodelz covered the song in 2007.<ref name="WhoSample" /> Other artists who have used samples from Wright's 1975–81 recordings include Dilated Peoples, Atmosphere, Infamous Mobb, T.I. and Armand Van Helden,<ref name="WhoSample" /> the last of whom incorporated part of "Comin' Apart" (from The Right Place) in his 2004 club hit "My My My".<ref name="DreamWeaverBio" /> In addition, Eminem used "interpolations" from Spooky Tooth's "Self Seeking Man" in his song "Spend Some Time" (released on Encore in 2004).<ref>Album notes, Encore CD. Aftermath Entertainment, 2004; produced by Dr. Dre, Eminem, Luis Resto, Mike Elizondo & Mark Batson.</ref>

In the summer of 2008, Wright joined Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band for a North American tour, with Edgar Winter also in the lineup.<ref name="RingoSiteBio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The All-Starr Band's album and DVD Live at the Greek Theatre 2008 (2010) includes Wright's performance of "Dream Weaver".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Wright later described the tour as "a lot of fun" and "a big boost" for his career.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" />

Waiting to Catch the Light and Connected

Two solo releases by Wright followed in late 2008, including the new-age album Waiting to Catch the Light.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> A collection of instrumental pieces from "several years" before, he described it as "an atmospheric, ambient music kind of an album", performed on "vintage analog synthesizers ... all [recorded] on analog tape".<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> Also issued on Larkio,<ref name="Discog/GW site" /> Wright's own record label,<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> the EP The Light of a Million Suns consisted of unreleased tracks from his previous album projects, together with a new version of "Love Is Alive", sung by his son Dorian.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" />

File:Gary Wright, Everett, WA USA 2016-10-14.jpg

Wright performing in 2016

In May 2009, Wright rejoined Spooky Tooth to participate in a series of London concerts celebrating the 50th anniversary of Island Records' founding,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before performing further shows with the band in Germany.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> In June the following year, he released the album Connected,<ref name="Smashing" /> which marked a return to his more pop- and rock-oriented sound of the 1970s.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /><ref name="Greco/VintageR" /> Starr, Joe Walsh and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter made guest appearances on the track "Satisfied",<ref name="Greco/VintageR">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which Wright co-wrote with songwriter Bobby Hart.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> As a posthumous tribute to his friend George Harrison, the Deluxe Digital Edition of Connected included "Never Give Up",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which he and Harrison had recorded in 1989, while the iTunes version added "To Discover Yourself", a song that the two musicians had written together in 1971.<ref name="Greco/VintageR" /> Wright recorded the latter song on the day of Harrison's death in November 2001.<ref name="Smashing" /><ref name="Greco/VintageR" /> He also contributed to Martin Scorsese's 2011 documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World<ref>End credits (disc 2), George Harrison: Living in the Material World DVD. Roadshow Entertainment, 2011; produced by Olivia Harrison, Nigel Sinclair & Martin Scorsese; directed by Martin Scorsese.</ref> and supplied personal reminiscences and family photographs for Olivia Harrison's book of the same title.<ref>Olivia Harrison, pp. 258–59, 398.</ref>

In 2010 and 2011, Wright toured again with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.<ref name="RingoSiteBio" /> Following a summer 2011 tour of Europe with Starr, Wright participated in the Hippiefest US tour with artists such as Felix Cavaliere, Mark Farner, Dave Mason and Rick Derringer,<ref name="Voger/Hippiefest" /> before returning to Europe for shows with his own band late that year.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" />

Personal life

Wright resided in Palos Verdes Estates, California, with wife Rose, whom he married in 1985.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> He was previously married to Christina,<ref>Badman, p. 79.</ref> who, as Tina Wright, received co-writing credits on Wright's songs "I'm Alive" (from The Mirror),<ref name="TheMirror sleeve">Sleeve credits, The Mirror LP. Island Records, 1974; produced by Gary Wright, Mick Jones & Eddie Kramer.</ref> "Feel for Me" (The Dream Weaver)<ref name="DreamWeaverSleeve" /> and "I'm the One Who'll Be by Your Side" (Headin' Home).<ref name="Viglione/Home">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He had two adult sons, Dorian and Justin.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> Justin is a member of the band Intangible.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Wright had a sister, Lorna Dune, who recorded the song Midnight Joey. The song was an answer song to Joey Powers's Midnight Mary in 1962.<ref>Roger Ashby Oldies Show Dec. 3/4, 2022</ref>

Wright spoke out on the importance of creative opportunities for children in the public educational system,<ref name="TheSound" /> and expressed his opposition to the prevalence of free music downloading and its disadvantage to artists.<ref name="Barnes Interview" /> In 2008, he voiced his support for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, during which "Dream Weaver" was a song adopted for the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.<ref name="Klein/HuffPost">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> That year, Wright discussed the message behind "Dream Weaver" with Huffington Post writer and political activist Howie Klein, saying: "With Wayne's World and all that, the perception of the song's meaning got a little bit changed for a lot of people. It's a very spiritual song. 'Dream Weaver' is really a song whose lyrical content is about the consciousness of the Universe: God moving us through the night – delusion and suffering – into the Higher Realms."<ref name="Klein/HuffPost" />

In August 2014, Wright announced the imminent publication of his autobiography, Dream Weaver: Music, Meditation, and My Friendship with George Harrison.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Coinciding with the book's release, Wright's Warner Bros. albums were reissued for digital download.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Death

Wright's son, Justin Wright, told TMZ that his father died at home in Palos Verdes Estates on September 4, 2023, at age 80.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

He had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease around six or seven years earlier.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Gary Wright was survived by his two sons Justin Wright and Dorian Wright from his first marriage, to Christina (nee Uppstrom), the mother of his sons, which ended in divorce, by his younger sister Lorna, and by his third wife, Rose (nee Anthony).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Discography

Albums

• Extraction (1970)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

• Footprint (1971)<ref name=":0" />
• The Dream Weaver (1975) US #7 - US: 2× Platinum<ref name="Gold & Platinum">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> CAN #3<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• The Light of Smiles (1977) US #23<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> CAN #68<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Touch and Gone (1977) US #117<ref name=":2">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• Headin' Home (1979) US #147<ref name=":2" />
• The Right Place (1981) US #79<ref name=":2" />
• Who I Am (1988)<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
• First Signs of Life (1995)<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
• Human Love (1999)<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
• Waiting to Catch the Light (2008)<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
• Connected (2010)<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

Collaborations

• Ring of Changes (1972) with Wonderwheel<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• That Was Only Yesterday (1973) with Spooky Tooth<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Down This Road (2004) with Leah Weiss<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Soundtracks

• Benjamin – The Original Soundtrack of Willy Bogner's Motion Picture (1974)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Endangered Species (1982)<ref name=":2" />
• Fire and Ice (1986)<ref name=":2" />

Compilations

• The Best of Gary Wright: The Dream Weaver (1998)<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• The Essentials (2003)<ref name=":3"/>
• Greatest Hits" (2017)<ref name=":3"/>

Extended play

• The Motion of Hidden Fire (2005)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• The Light of a Million Suns (2008)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Singles

Year	Song	Peak chart positions					Certification	Album
		U.S. Hot 100	U.S. A/C	U.S. R&B	AUS <ref name=aus>Template:Cite book</ref>	Canada
1971	"Get on the Right Road"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	—	—	—	—	—		Extraction
	"Stand for Our Rights"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	—	—	—	—	—		Footprint
1972	"Two Faced Man"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	—	—	—	—	—
1976	"Dream Weaver"<ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref>	2<ref name=":4" />	14<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	—	24<ref name="aus2">Template:Cite book</ref>	1<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	US: Gold<ref name="Gold & Platinum"/>	The Dream Weaver
	"Love Is Alive"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2<ref name=":4" />	—	—	71<ref name="aus2" />	6<ref name="bac-lac1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	"Made to Love You"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	79<ref name=":2" />	—	—	—	—
1977	"Phantom Writer"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	43<ref name=":2" />	—	—	—	72 <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>		The Light of Smiles
	"The Light of Smiles"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	—	—	—	—	—
	"Are You Weepin'"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	—	—	—	—	—
	"Touch and Gone"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	73<ref name=":2" />	—	—	—	—		Touch and Gone
	"Starry Eyed"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	—	—	—	—	—
	"Something Very Special"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	—	—	—	—
1979	"I'm the One Who'll Be by Your Side"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	—	—	—	—	—		Headin' Home
1981	"Really Wanna Know You"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	16<ref name=":2" />	32<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	—	49<ref name="aus2" />	14<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>		The Right Place
	"Heartbeat"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	107<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	—	—	—	—
	"Close to You"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	—	—	—	—	—
1988	"Take a Look"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	—	—	—	—	—		Who I Am
1989	"It Ain't Right"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>	—	—	—	—	—

Sources

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External links

• Template:Allmusic
• {{#if:|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs|{{#if:Template:Wikidata|Template:Wikidata Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at DiscogsTemplate:EditAtWikidata|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs}}}}
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