Dick Parry

English saxophonist Richard Parry, a lifelong friend of David Gilmour who defined the sound of Pink Floyd's live and studio classics from 1973 through 2009.

Richard Parry (22 December 1942 – 22 May 2026) was an English saxophonist born in Kentford, Suffolk. He began his musical journey with the Cambridge-based Soul Committee in the mid-1960s and maintained a lifelong friendship with David Gilmour, though he notably never played in Gilmour's band, Jokers Wild. Parry served as a key session musician on landmark Pink Floyd albums such as The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), and The Division Bell (1994). He participated in every Pink Floyd live performance between 1973 and 1977, plus the entire 1994 world tour. His contributions extended beyond saxophone; on the 1977 In the Flesh Tour, he played additional keyboards during 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' Parts I, VI, and IX. He also toured with The Who's brass section in 1979–1980, returned for David Gilmour's solo tours in 2001, 2002, and the 2006 On An Island tour, and played at the Live 8 reunion.

Quick Facts

Birth name

Richard Parry

Born

22 December 1942

Birthplace

Kentford, Suffolk, England

Died

22 May 2026

Instrument

Saxophone, keyboards

Occupation

Musician

Years active

1964–2026

Associated acts

Pink Floyd
David Gilmour
The Soul Committee

Lore & Background

Richard Parry's career was deeply rooted in the Cambridge music scene before he became synonymous with Pink Floyd. While often rumored to have played in Jokers Wild alongside David Gilmour, the source explicitly clarifies that this is incorrect; they were friends from that era but Parry remained outside that specific group. His integration into Pink Floyd began when Gilmour invited him to record on studio albums starting with The Dark Side of the Moon in 1973. This collaboration evolved into a permanent live fixture, as he appeared at every show between 1973 and 1977. During this period, his role expanded creatively; for the 1977 In the Flesh Tour, he added keyboards to specific sections of 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond'. He also lent his talents to other major acts, touring with The Who's brass section in 1979–1980 and playing saxophone on Banco de Gaia's 'Celestine' in 1997. His longevity was remarkable, spanning from the mid-60s Soul Committee days through a 2009 tour with the Violent Femmes.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Richard Parry's specific contributions, the source provides a clear timeline of his essential recordings. His first major Pink Floyd appearance was on The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), specifically on 'Money' and 'Us and Them'. He returned for Wish You Were Here (1975) to play on 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part V)' and later contributed saxophone to 'Wearing the Inside Out' on The Division Bell (1994). Live documentation is extensive: he appears on the 1995 Pulse album, the 2002 David Gilmour in Concert DVD, the 2007 Remember That Night DVD (where he also played keyboards), and the 2008 Live in Gdańsk DVD (featuring glass harmonica). His discography also includes the Bloodstone album Riddle of the Sphinx (1974) and Banco de Gaia's Big Men Cry (1998). When exploring his work, note that he played saxophone on 'Celestine' for Banco de Gaia in 1997. His death occurred on 22 May 2026 at the age of 83.