Richard Wright Remembered

Last Monday September 15th, 2008 Richard Wright, keyboardist and a founding member of the band Pink Floyd died of cancer at the age of 65.

For many of us who were teenagers in the 70’s, Pink Floyd’s music became the soundtrack of our lives. Who in my generation doesn’t remember listening to Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall? To this day, I can remember the first time I listened to Animals and having a visceral reaction to what I was hearing. Pink Floyd is one of those bands that I have owned every thing they have done, on vinyl, tape and now on CD.  

 The genus of Richard Wright was in his ability to take sounds that were generated by a synthesizer and produce melodic masterpieces. The early synthesizer that was experimental at best. Without a instruction manual to define it use. The early pioneers such as Wright created music that is considered classics of the time. For example Wright could created an illusion of dogs barking in the distance or sound of sheep in a pasture that would laterally create a visual in the minds eye. Pick Floyd created music that was not just an audio experience but for many the experience was an emotional. I recently  heard some say that the fist time they heard Pink Floyd was the fist time they could see music. In large part this was because of the genius of Richard Wright. We have never and will never see the like of someone like Richard Wright again. He will be sadly missed. I am going to spend the next day of so listening to all of my Pink Floyd CD’s and remembering how lucky we were to have Richard Wright share his genius with us.

 

Tags: RichardWright, Pink Floyd