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Gary Wright
American musician and composer (1943–2023)
Gary Malcolm Wright 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 George Harrison's triple album All Things Must Pass (1970), which began 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.
genres: rock music, hard rock, progressive rock, world music, new age music
plays: organ, voice
member of: Spooky Tooth
Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.
pop rockrock
The Static TimesExtra
Early life
Gary Wright was born and raised in Cresskill, New Jersey. 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. He appeared in TV and radio commercials before being offered a part in the 1954 Broadway production of the musical Fanny. Wright played the role of Cesario, the son of Fanny, who was played by future Brady Bunch matriarch Florence Henderson. He spent two years with the production, during which he performed with Henderson on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Having dedicated much of his time during the 1990s to his family, Wright subsequently resumed a more active musical career. He launched his own record label, Larkio Music, in the fall of 2000 and re-released Human Love in October 2000 on Larkio as the label's first album. He also began to perform again, starting with Spooky Tooth's 2004 reunion. Their album and DVD Nomad Poets Live in Germany (2007) features Wright, Mike Harrison and Kellie from the band's original lineup. 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. Other artists who have used samples from Wright's 1975–1981 recordings include...
American born singer/songwriter & keyboard player and founding member of UK sixties rockers Spooky Tooth.
Born on April 26, 1943 in Cresskill, New Jersey, USA.
Died on September 4, 2023 in Palos Verdes Estates, California, USA.
Brother of Beverly Wright (3) and Lorna Wright
Not to be confused with New York City based producer / mixer Gary Wright (3) (Gary Thomas Wright).
A former child actor, he performed on Broadway in the hit musical "Fanny" before studying medicine and then psychology in New York City and Berlin. In 1959, he made his first commercial recording, with Billy Markle, credited to Gary And Billy. After meeting Chris Blackwell (of Island Records) in Europe in 1967, het moved to London, where he formed Spooky Tooth. He also served as the band's principal songwriter on their recordings. His solo album "292997" in 1971 coincided with the formation of his short-lived band Wonderwheel (2). Wright made classic solo albums in the Seventies and became an in demand session musician with artists like George Harrison, Joe Cocker, Elton John, Steve Winwood as well as Busta Rhymes, Salt 'N' Pepa, Eminem and Joan Osborne. He worked with and as a producer after the break up
Also known as: Cary - Wright, Cary/Wright, G Wright, G. M. Wright, G. Wright
From Discogs (free to use). Their entry
Liner notes
Gary Wright, the records, oldest first
Gary Wright’s Extraction
1971 album
Footprint
1971 album
The Dream Weaver
1975 album
on the air
The Light of Smiles
1977 album
Touch and Gone
1977 album
Headin’ Home
1979 album
The Right Place
1981 album
Who I Am
1988 album
First Signs of Life
1995 album
Human Love
2000 album
Rhino Hi‐Five: Gary Wright
2005 ep
Connected
2010 album
Records from MusicBrainz; covers from the Cover Art Archive.
"Dream Weaver" is a song by the American singer Gary Wright, released as the first single from his third studio album The Dream Weaver in December 1975.
In popular culture
The song has been heard in many films and television programs. According to Wes Craven, the song (and its keyboard intro/outro) inspired the concept behind the 1984 film A Nightmare on Elm Street. Wright re-recorded the song for the soundtrack of the 1992 film Wayne's World.
