Dick Parry, the saxophonist best known for his work with Pink Floyd, has died at the age of 83.
The news was confirmed by David Gilmour yesterday (May 22), who shared a touching tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator on social media.
“My dear friend Dick Parry died this morning,” Gilmour wrote. “Since I was seventeen, I have played in bands with Dick on saxophone, including Pink Floyd. 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’.”
No cause of death has yet been publicly confirmed.
In a career that saw him play rock, blues and jazz, Parry is best remembered for lending his distinctive saxophone parts to some of Pink Floyd’s most celebrated recordings, with his solos on ‘Money’ from 1973’s ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ and ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ from 1975’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ ranking among the most famous instances of saxophone in classic rock.
Born in Kentford, Suffolk in 1942, Parry first met Gilmour as a teenager, with the pair playing together in local bands around Cambridge, with GIlmour later joining Pink Floyd in 1967 shortly before the departure of Syd Barrett.
As well as his studio contributions to Pink Floyd records, Parry also became a regular presence at their live shows in the ‘70s. Nearly two decades later, he reunited with the Gilmour-led version of the band for 1994’s ‘The Division Bell’ world tour, also contributing to ‘Wearing The Inside Out’ from that album.
Gilmour added in his tribute: “He played in the last band I had that included Rick Wright for the ‘On An Island’ tour and at Live 8 with Pink Floyd”.
Outside of Pink Floyd, Parry also recorded and performed with artists including Rory Gallagher, John Entwistle and Lightnin’ Slim, carrying with him a highly respected reputation as a session saxophonist.
