THE NEWS
The saxophone lines that made “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and “Money” unmistakable — that tone millions of people hear in their heads when they think of Pink Floyd — belonged to Dick Parry, who died Friday morning at 83 *. David Gilmour announced the loss on social media, calling Parry a dear friend he’d played with since he was seventeen *†. Parry’s work on *The Dark Side of the Moon*, *Wish You Were Here*, and *The Division Bell* defined what a saxophone could do in progressive rock *†.
THE LEGACY
- Played saxophone on “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Us and Them,” and “Money” — the tracks that put his tone in front of tens of millions of listeners *†
- Appeared on *The Dark Side of the Moon* (1973), *Wish You Were Here* (1975), and *The Division Bell* (1994), plus the 1995 live album *Pulse* *†
- Toured with Pink Floyd from 1973 to 1977, again in 1994, and at Live 8 in 2005 *†
- Had given up saxophone entirely and was unemployed near Cambridge when Gilmour invited him back for *The Division Bell* — played three phrases and got the gig on the spot *
- Session work included recordings with Rory Gallagher, John Entwistle, Bloodstone, and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band *†
- Toured with The Who’s brass section in 1979-1980 and with Violent Femmes in 2009 †
WHY IT MATTERS
Parry wasn’t a full-time member, but his saxophone is as essential to Floyd’s sound as any guitar solo — the kind of session player whose feel became part of the band’s identity *†. His tone is what made those songs breathe, and for fans who’ve heard “Shine On” a thousand times, that sound is irreplaceable.