Dick Parry, whose interactions with Pink Floyd and lifelong friend David Gilmour created some of the most unforgettable saxophone solos in rock music history, died Friday at the age of 83.
Parry garnered particular attention for his unforgettable solos on the albums “The Dark Side of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here,” including some of his signature songs such as “Money” and “Shine on You Crazy Diamond.” He continued to appear on David Gilmour’s albums and tours in later years, either as a solo artist or as Floyd’s frontman.
Gilmore announced his death on social media Friday afternoon.
“My dear friend Dick Parry passed away this morning,” the singer and guitarist wrote. “Since I was 17, I’ve been playing in bands like Pink Floyd with saxophonist Dick.”
Gilmore continued, “His saxophone playing has an unmistakable feel and tone, a hallmark of immense beauty known to millions, and a vital part of songs like ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond,’ ‘Us and Them,’ and ‘Money.'”
“He played in the last band I was in. [former Floyd keyboardist] Rick Wright joins On An Island Tour [in 2006] At Live 8 with Pink Floyd [the band’s one and only full reunion show, in 2005]”
Gilmour ended his short and sweet message with a photo montage showing how he and Suffolk-born Parry go way back.
Among other projects Parry participated in was the 1994 album The Division Bell, recorded after Gilmour and Roger Waters’ split, which featured his famous saxophone sound on “Wearing the Inside Out.” Parry toured with the newly reconstituted Floyd lineup that same year. Before that, he traveled with Floyd from 1973 to 1977.
An example of Parry’s work can be found at the 2:07 mark of this 1994 concert version of “Money.”
Parry was famous among some fans for playing two saxophones simultaneously on stage, switching between baritone and tenor during the solo on “Shine on You Crazy Diamond.”
Gilmour’s Instagram post was echoed by celebrities including Graham Nash, who wrote: “So sorry for your loss, David.” Merck Mercuriadis said: “Thank you Mr. Parry for the music. My condolences to everyone.”
In a post celebrating Parry’s birthday in December 2024, Gilmore called Parry “one of my oldest friends.”
In 1994, Gilmour talked about bringing Parry back into the band for that year’s album and tour. “I got a Christmas card from Dick. [Parry] “I hadn’t seen him in years, and I think he had completely stopped playing the saxophone, was unemployed, and was living idle in a village near Cambridge. I knew years ago that he had sold his saxophone and became a farrier and a horse shoer,” he said. And he apparently gave up on that too, and about a year ago he bought himself another saxophone and he just sent me a Christmas card…I just called him and asked, “How’s it going?” He was talking to me about it and I was thinking about what to do with the saxophone on tour. I probably didn’t need a lot of saxophone, but I did need a little bit.
“I asked him if he wanted to audition to be on the tour, just to see if his chops were still in place, and he told me he thought he was playing better than he’d ever played before. And I took him out on the boat and gave him a little audition. And he played about three phrases and me and Bob were like, [Ezrin] I said, “Okay, he still has it.” This kind of audition business is ruined. Let’s see if we can stick him on something. ”…The only song we could think of that was really appropriate for saxophone was “Wearing the Inside Out,” so we stuck it on him. Boom, he has that tone. That’s wonderful. Instantly recognizable. So he’s on tour with us too. ”
Other albums Parry has appeared on include John Entwistle’s Mad Dog, Rory Gallagher’s Jinx, and Procol Harum guitarist Mick Grabham’s Mick the Lad.
He can be seen on Gilmour’s home video releases David Gilmour in Concert, Remember That Night, and Live in Gdańsk.
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