Shine On You Crazy Diamond

As I write this I am listening to Comfortably Numb, a song made famous for David Gilmour's guitar solos that seem to come from other worlds. However, the airy, mystical, and almost out-of-body sounds that the song is known for would not have come through without the work of Rick Wright on the keyes. I am sad to say that according to CNN and other sources he has passed on today, at age 65, victim to a yet unknown form of cancer.

Most casual fans do not know his name, and may never know. There can be no doubt, however, that he was just as essential to all incarnations of the Floyd sound as the more famous Barrett, Waters, and Gilmour. There is only one album on which Wright did not appear, and interestingly enough this album is often conveniently forgotten by many Floyd fans, as those who do remember it look on it with disdain. The Final Cut was recording while the band was reaching a breaking point in tension and conflict, and Wright actually left Floyd in order to pursue other projects. Wright would return for A Momentary Lapse of Reason.

Floyd was founded by Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason in 1965, and as Barret began to lose his grip on reality David Gilmour was brought in to back him up on stage, and eventually became his replacement. Upon Barret's exit, Waters assumed the role as leader and drove the band in the direction for which they are most famous, producing such albums as Wish You Were Here, The Wall, and Dark Side of the Moon. However, after tensions and an eventual falling out between Waters and the other members, Waters left the band and the remaining three continued to record, with Gilmour at the helm. Their most notable album was A Momentary Lapse of Reason, famous for songs such as Learning To Fly and On The Turning Away. Although the overall style and lyrical themes may have varied in different incarnations of Pink Floyd, the same thematic elements of the music remained uniquely Floyd, thanks in a large part to the contributions of Wright.

His organ and piano often flooded the background, serving as rich layers of texture for harmonies and guitar solos. The sound he added would become a staple for prog rock, making a Hammond Organ a must have for any keyboard player.

Wright can most notably be heard featured on the album Atom Heart Mother, and has lead vocals on one of the more popular songs on the Division Bell album, Wearing the Inside Out.

Other notable Wright songs include Us and Them, Echoes, and the first part of Shine On You Crazy Diamond.