Dick Parry, Saxophonist on Pink Floyd's Iconic Albums, Dies at 83
Dick Parry, the saxophonist whose iconic solos graced Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, has passed away at the age of 83. His contributions to tracks like "Money" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" cemented his...
Dick Parry, whose saxophone work is instantly recognizable on some of Pink Floyd’s most beloved songs, has died at 83.
The news was shared by David Gilmour on Friday (May 22) in a heartfelt social media tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator.
"My dear friend Dick Parry died this morning," Gilmour, 80, wrote alongside a series of photos on Instagram. "Since I was seventeen, I have played in bands with Dick on saxophone, including Pink Floyd."
The cause of death has not been disclosed.
During his extensive career, Parry became known for his saxophone solos on 1973’s The Dark Side of the Moon and 1975’s Wish You Were Here. He played on tracks such as "Money" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond."
"Money" reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973, while The Dark Side of the Moon topped the Billboard 200 that same year. Wish You Were Here also reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 1975.
"His feel and tone make his saxophone playing unmistakable, a signature of enormous beauty that is known to millions and is such a big part of songs such as ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond,’ ‘Wish You Were Here,’ ‘Us and Them’ and ‘Money,’” Gilmour added in his tribute.
Born in Kentford, Suffolk, in 1942, Parry and Gilmour met as teenagers and played in bands together around Cambridge. Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in the late 1960s after Syd Barrett’s departure.
After Pink Floyd, Parry continued to collaborate on albums and tours with Gilmour as a solo artist and as the band’s frontman. This included his performance on “Wearing the Inside Out” from Pink Floyd’s The Division Bell (1994), recorded after Gilmour and Roger Waters split. He also toured with the group that year and in the mid-1970s.
Outside of Pink Floyd, Parry collaborated with artists including Rory Gallagher, John Entwistle, and Lightnin’ Slim.
See Gilmour’s full tribute to Parry on Instagram here.
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