View source for Gary Wright

{{Short description|American musician and composer (1943–2023)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Gary Wright
| image             = Gary Wright.jpg
| caption           = Wright performing in 2011
| birth_name        = Gary Malcolm Wright
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1943|4|26}}
| birth_place       = [[Cresskill, New Jersey]], U.S.
| death_date        = {{death date and age|2023|9|4|1943|4|26}}
| death_place       = [[Palos Verdes Estates, California]], U.S.
| instrument        = Vocals, keyboards
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Hard rock]]|[[progressive rock]]|[[soft rock]]|[[world music]]|[[New-age music|new age]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|singer|composer|actor}}
| label             = {{hlist|[[20th Century Fox Records|20th Century Fox]]|[[Island Records|Island]]|[[A&M Records|A&M]]|[[Ariola Records|Ariola]]|Goodear|[[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]]|[[Cypress Records|Cypress]]|Triloka/Worldly|High Wave Music|Larkio}}
| years_active      = 1950–2017
}}

'''Gary Malcolm Wright''' (April 26, 1943 – September 4, 2023) was an American musician and composer best known for his 1976 hit songs "[[Dream Weaver]]" and "[[Love Is Alive (Gary Wright song)|Love Is Alive]]". Wright's breakthrough album, ''[[The Dream Weaver]]'' (1975), came after he had spent seven years in London as, alternately, a member of the British [[blues rock]] band [[Spooky Tooth]] and a solo artist on [[A&M Records]]. While in England, he played keyboards on former [[The Beatles|Beatle]] [[George Harrison]]'s triple album ''[[All Things Must Pass]]'' (1970), which began a friendship that inspired the [[Indian religions|Indian]] religious themes and spirituality inherent in Wright's subsequent songwriting. His work from the late 1980s onwards embraced [[world music]] and the [[New-age music|new age]] genre, although none of his post-1976 releases matched the same level of popularity as ''The Dream Weaver''.

A former child actor, Wright performed on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in the hit musical ''[[Fanny (musical)|Fanny]]'' before studying medicine and then psychology in New York and Berlin. After meeting [[Chris Blackwell]] of [[Island Records]] in Europe, Wright moved to London, where he helped establish Spooky Tooth as a popular live act. He also served as the band's principal songwriter on their recordings – among them, the well-regarded albums ''[[Spooky Two]]'' (1969) and ''[[You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw]]'' (1973). His solo album ''[[Footprint (album)|Footprint]]'' (1971), recorded with contributions from Harrison, coincided with the formation of Wright's short-lived band Wonderwheel, which included guitarist [[Mick Jones (Foreigner guitarist)|Mick Jones]], later known for his work with [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]]. Also, during the early 1970s, Wright played on notable recordings by [[B.B. King]], [[Jerry Lee Lewis]], [[Ringo Starr]], [[Harry Nilsson]], and [[Ronnie Spector]], while his musical association with Harrison endured until shortly before the latter's death in 2001.

Wright turned to [[film soundtrack]] work in the early 1980s, including re-recording his most popular song, "Dream Weaver", for the 1992 comedy ''[[Wayne's World (film)|Wayne's World]]''. Following Spooky Tooth's reunion tour in 2004, Wright performed live frequently, either as a member of Starr's [[Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band|All-Starr Band]], with his own live band, or on subsequent Spooky Tooth reunions. Wright's most recent solo albums, including ''Waiting to Catch the Light'' (2008) and ''Connected'' (2010), have all been issued on his Larklio record label. In 2014, [[TarcherPerigee|Jeremy P. Tarcher]] published Wright's autobiography, ''Dream Weaver: Music, Meditation, and My Friendship with George Harrison''.

==Early life==
Gary Wright was born and raised in [[Cresskill, New Jersey]].<ref name="Wright bio/AM">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright|last= Ankeny| first= Jason |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-wright-mn0000191006/biography|publisher=[[AllMusic]]| access-date=March 1, 2014}}</ref> A child actor, he made his TV debut at the age of seven, on the show ''[[Captain Video and His Video Rangers]]'', filmed in New York City.<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094">''The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'', p. 1094.</ref> He appeared in TV and radio commercials before being offered a part in the 1954 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] production of the musical ''[[Fanny (musical)|Fanny]]''.<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> Wright played the role of Cesario, the son of Fanny, who was played by future ''[[The Brady Bunch|Brady Bunch]]'' matriarch [[Florence Henderson]].<ref name="Smashing">{{cite web|url=http://smashinginterviews.com/interviews/musicians/gary-wright-interview-the-dream-weaver-gets-connected-tours-with-ringo-starr|title=Gary Wright Interview: The 'Dream Weaver' Gets 'Connected,' Tours with Ringo Starr| last= Parker |first= Melissa|publisher=Smashing Interviews|date= September 28, 2010|access-date=March 2, 2015}}</ref> He spent two years with the production, during which he performed with Henderson on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]''.<ref name="TheSound" />

Having studied piano and organ,<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> Wright led various local rock bands while attending<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> [[Tenafly High School]] in [[Tenafly, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite news |url=|title=Music Notes |work=[[The Star-Ledger]] |date=November 16, 2000 |page=71|quote=Singer-songwriter-keyboardist Gary Wright, who grew up in Cresskill and went to Tenafly High School, will perform in New York tonight for the first time in 20 years.}}</ref><ref name="Voger/Hippiefest" /> In 1959, he made his first commercial recording, with Billy Markle at [[NBC Radio]]'s New York studios.<ref name="Markle/GW">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright|last=Markle|first=Gil|url=http://www.studiowner.com/essays/essay.asp?books=0&pagnum=99|publisher=Diary of a Studio Owner|website=studiowner.com|access-date=March 1, 2014|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924111155/http://www.studiowner.com/essays/essay.asp?books=0&pagnum=99|url-status=dead}}</ref> Credited to Gary & Billy, the single "Working After School" was released on [[20th Century Fox Records]] in 1960.<ref name="Markle/GW" />

Seeing music as "too unstable" a career choice, as he later put it,<ref name="TheSound" /> Wright studied to become a doctor at the [[College of William & Mary]] in Virginia and [[New York University]] before attending [[SUNY Downstate Medical Center|Downstate Medical College]] for a year,<ref name="Voger/Hippiefest">{{cite web |first= Gary |last= Wright| interviewer= Mark Voger | url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2011/07/hippiefest_gary_wright_intervi.html |title=Hippiefest: Gary Wright Interview |publisher= | website= nj.com |date=July 29, 2011|access-date= March 2, 2014 }}</ref> all the while continuing to perform with local bands.<ref name= "TheSound" /><ref name="Perry/VintageR">{{cite web |first= Gary |last= Wright| interviewer= Shawn Perry|url=http://vintagerock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32:gary-wright&catid=3:interviews&Itemid=4|title=The Gary Wright Interview |publisher= | website= vintagerock.com|access-date=March 2, 2014}}</ref> Having specialized in [[psychology]] in New York,<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> he then went to [[West Germany]] in 1966<ref name= "vonBF/dprp">{{cite web |first= Gary |last= Wright| interviewer= Menno Von Brucken Fock |url= http://www.dprp.net/wp/interviews/?page_id=717|title=Interviews: Gary Wright |publisher= | website= dprp.net|access-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref> to complete his studies at the [[Free University of Berlin]].<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> Within a year, he decided to not continue his schooling.

==Career==
===1967–1970: With Spooky Tooth===
Wright described his initial musical influences as "early [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]" – namely, [[Ray Charles]], [[Aretha Franklin]], [[James Brown]], and [[Bobby Bland]]&nbsp;– along with [[Rock and roll|rock 'n' roll]] artists [[Elvis Presley]] and [[Jerry Lee Lewis]], and [[the Beatles]].<ref name="TheSound">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright Interview (100.3 The Sound)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-As9hdDoDOU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/-As9hdDoDOU| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=YouTube|date=September 23, 2010|access-date=March 2, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> While in Europe in 1967, Wright abandoned his plans to become a doctor<ref name="TheSound" /> and instead toured locally with a band he had formed, the New York Times.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> When the latter supported the English group [[Traffic (band)|Traffic]]&nbsp;– at Oslo in Norway, according to Wright<ref name="Perry/VintageR" />&nbsp;– he met [[Island Records]] founder [[Chris Blackwell]].<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> Wright recalled that he and Blackwell had a mutual friend in [[Jimmy Miller]],<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> the New York-born producer of Island acts such as [[the Spencer Davis Group]] and Traffic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/24/obituaries/jimmy-miller-52-recording-producer.html |title=Jimmy Miller, 52, Recording Producer |work=[[The New York Times|New York Times]]|date=October 24, 1994|access-date=March 2, 2014}}</ref>

Blackwell invited Wright to London, where he joined English singer and pianist [[Mike Harrison (musician)|Mike Harrison]] and drummer [[Mike Kellie]] in their band Art (formerly [[The V.I.P.s (band)|the VIPs]]).<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 938">''The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'', p. 938.</ref> The group soon changed its name to [[Spooky Tooth]],<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> with Wright as joint lead vocalist<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> and [[Hammond organ]] player.<ref>Leng, pp. 90, 91.</ref> While noting the band's lack of significant commercial success over its career, ''The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'' describes Spooky Tooth as "a bastion of Britain's hard-rock scene".<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 938" />

Spooky Tooth's first album was ''[[It's All About]]'', released on Island in June 1968.<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> Produced by Miller,<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> it contained the Wright-composed "Sunshine Help Me" and six songs he co-wrote with either Miller, Harrison or [[Luther Grosvenor]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Spooky Tooth ''It's All About''|author= Anderson, Jason|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r49908|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 3, 2014}}</ref> the band's guitarist.<ref name="MusicHound p 1248">Graff & Durchholz, p. 1248.</ref> ''[[Spooky Two]]'', often considered the band's best work, followed in March 1969, with Miller again producing.<ref name="MusicHound p 1249">Graff & Durchholz, p. 1249.</ref> Wright composed or co-composed seven of the album's eight songs, including "That Was Only Yesterday" and "[[Better By You, Better Than Me]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Spooky Tooth ''Spooky Two''|author= DeGagne, Mike|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/spooky-two-mw0000191912|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 3, 2014}}</ref> ''Spooky Two'' sold well in America but, like ''It's All About'', it failed to place on the UK's top 40 albums chart.<ref name="Salewicz/LIR" />

The third Spooky Tooth album was ''[[Ceremony (Spooky Tooth and Pierre Henry album)|Ceremony]]'', a Wright-instigated collaboration with French [[electronic music]] pioneer [[Pierre Henry]],<ref name="MusicHound p 1248" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Pierre Henry/Spooky Tooth ''Ceremony: An Electric Mass''|author= Allan, Mark|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/ceremony-an-electric-mass-mw0000599906|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 3, 2014}}</ref> released in December 1969.<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 938" /> Songwriting for all the tracks was credited to Henry and Wright,<ref name="Celebration sleeve">[http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=4622268 Sleeve and label credits], ''Celebration'' LP (US promo). [[A&M Records]], 1970; produced by Spooky Tooth & Pierre Henry.</ref> after the latter had passed the band's recordings on to Henry for what ''The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia'' terms "processed ''[[musique concrète]]'' overdubs".<ref>''The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'', pp. 938–39.</ref>

Although Wright had traditionally provided an experimental influence within Spooky Tooth,<ref name="MusicHound p 1248" /> he regretted the change of musical direction, saying in a 1973 interview: "We should have really taken off after ''Spooky Two'' but we got into the absurd situation of letting Pierre Henry make the ''Ceremony'' album. Then he took it back to France and remixed it."<ref name="Salewicz/LIR">Salewicz, Chris (February 1973). "Spooky Tooth Together Again". ''[[Let It Rock (magazine)|Let It Rock]]''. Available at [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/spooky-tooth-together-again Rock's Backpages] (''subscription required'').</ref> With bass player [[Greg Ridley]] having already left the band in 1969 to join [[Humble Pie]],<ref>''The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'', pp. 462, 938.</ref> Wright departed in January 1970 to pursue a solo career.<ref name="Salewicz/LIR" />

===1970–1972: Solo career on A&M Records, Wonderwheel, and London session work===
====''Extraction''====
After signing with [[A&M Records]], Wright recorded ''Extraction'' (1970) in London<ref name="Leng p 108">Leng, p. 108.</ref> with musicians including Kellie, guitarist [[Hugh McCracken]], bassist [[Klaus Voormann]] and drummer [[Alan White (Yes drummer)|Alan White]].<ref name="AM/Extraction credits">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright ''Extraction'': Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/extraction-mw0000460615/credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> Wright co-produced the album with [[Andy Johns]],<ref name="AM/Extraction credits" /> who had been the recording engineer on ''Spooky Two''<ref name="Spooky Two sleeve">[http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=3062838 Sleeve credits], ''Spooky Two'' LP. [[Island Records]], 1969; produced by Jimmy Miller.</ref> and ''Ceremony''.<ref name="Celebration sleeve" /> The album included "Get on the Right Road", which was issued as a single, and "The Wrong Time",<ref name="WrightOnA&M">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright|url=http://www.onamrecords.com/myartists.php?artist=Gary%20Wright|publisher=On A&M Records|access-date=March 4, 2014|archive-date=January 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103145545/http://www.onamrecords.com/myartists.php?artist=Gary%20Wright|url-status=dead}}</ref> co-written by Wright and McCracken.<ref>Sleeve credits, ''Extraction'' LP. ([[A&M Records]], 1970; produced by Gary Wright & Andy Johns).</ref>

====George Harrison's ''All Things Must Pass''====
Through Voormann,<ref name="DailyBeast">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/29/when-gary-wright-met-george-harrison-dream-weaver-john-and-yoko-and-more.html |title=When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and More|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=September 29, 2014 |access-date=March 10, 2015|last1=Wright|first1=Gary}}</ref> Wright was invited to play piano on former Beatle [[George Harrison]]'s 1970 triple album ''[[All Things Must Pass]]''.<ref name="Smashing" /><ref>Leng, p. 91.</ref> Among what author [[Nicholas Schaffner]] later described as "a rock orchestra of almost symphonic proportions, whose credits read like a Who's Who of the music scene",<ref>Schaffner, p. 142.</ref> Wright was one of the album's principal keyboard players, together with former [[Delaney & Bonnie]] organist [[Bobby Whitlock]].<ref>Leng, p. 82fn.</ref> During the sessions, Wright and Harrison established a long-lasting friendship,<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /><ref name="Rodriguez p 87">Rodriguez, p. 87.</ref> based on music and their shared interest in Indian religion.<ref name="Smashing" /><ref>Leng, pp. 91, 108, 124–25, 209.</ref> In a 2009 interview with vintagerock.com, Wright described Harrison as "my spiritual mentor";<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> author Robert Rodriguez writes of Wright's "unique" place among musicians with whom Harrison collaborated at this time, in that Wright wasn't an established star, a friend from the years before Harrison achieved fame as a Beatle, or a "studio pro".<ref name="Rodriguez p 88">Rodriguez, p. 88.</ref>

Wright played on all of Harrison's subsequent solo albums during the 1970s,<ref name="Barnes Interview">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright Interview with Alan Barnes Part 1|author= Barnes, Alan|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnN3Eo96JyI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/FnN3Eo96JyI| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=YouTube|date=December 4, 2010|access-date=March 3, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>Leng, pp. 125, 153, 182–83, 190, 209.</ref> as well as on other releases that the ex-Beatle produced for [[Apple Records]].<ref>Wright, p. 109.</ref> These included two hit singles by Harrison's former bandmate [[Ringo Starr]] over 1971–72, "[[It Don't Come Easy]]" and "[[Back Off Boogaloo]]", and a 1971 comeback single by ex-[[The Ronettes|Ronette]] [[Ronnie Spector]], "[[Try Some, Buy Some]]".<ref>Spizer, pp. 255, 294, 297–98.</ref>{{refn|group=nb|Wright recalled that he had been asked to play on [[John Lennon]]'s ''[[Imagine (John Lennon album)|Imagine]]'' album (1971), but he was unable to attend the sessions.<ref name="Smashing" /><ref name="DailyBeast" />}}

====''Footprint''====
To promote ''Extraction'', Wright formed the band Wonderwheel in April 1971,<ref name="Robinson/Spooky bio">{{cite web|author=Robinson, Alan|title=Spooky Tooth Biography|url=http://www.spookytooth.sk/bio.html|publisher=spookytooth.sk|access-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> with a lineup comprising guitarist [[Jerry Donahue]] – soon replaced by [[Mick Jones (Foreigner)|Mick Jones]] – Archie Legget (bass) and [[Bryson Graham]] (drums).<ref>{{cite web|last=Terol|first=Miguel|url=http://www.oocities.org/sunsetstrip/Diner/2674/bgrah_b.htm |title=Bryson Graham |publisher=The Musicians' Olympus |date=September 17, 2001|access-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>Wright, p. 98.</ref> Donahue was among the many musicians on Wright's second album, ''[[Footprint (album)|Footprint]]'' (1971),<ref>Castleman & Podrazik, p. 201.</ref> along with George Harrison and ''All Things Must Pass'' contributors such as Voormann, White, [[Jim Gordon (musician)|Jim Gordon]], [[Bobby Keys]] and [[John Barham]].<ref name="Leng p 108" /><ref>Wright, pp. 97, 99.</ref> Produced by Wright, the album included "Stand for Our Rights", a call for social unity, song which was originally written for [[Johnny Hallyday]] under the name “Flagrant Délit” and was partly inspired by the [[Vietnam War]],<ref>Liner notes , ''Best of Gary Wright: The Dream Weaver''. [[Rhino Records]], 1998; produced by Gary Wright, Gary Peterson & David McLees.</ref> "Two Faced Man" and "Love to Survive".<ref>Castleman & Podrazik, pp. 105–06.</ref> In November 1971, Wright and Wonderwheel performed "Two Faced Man" on ''[[The Dick Cavett Show]]'' in New York, with Harrison accompanying on [[slide guitar]].<ref name="Rodriguez pp 88, 319-20">Rodriguez, pp. 88, 319–20.</ref>{{refn|group=nb|The performance, along with Harrison's interview with host [[Dick Cavett]], was issued by [[Shout! Factory]] in 2005 on the DVD ''The Dick Cavett Show – Rock Icons''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Galbraith IV|first=Stuart|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/17159/dick-cavett-show-rock-icons-the/ |title=The Dick Cavett Show – Rock Icons |publisher=dvdtalk.com |date=August 16, 2005|access-date=February 28, 2014}}</ref>}} Wright expressed gratitude for Harrison's support during this stage of his career, citing the ex-Beatle's uncredited production on ''Footprint''<ref name="Flucke/Popdose">{{cite web|first=Mojo |last=Flucke |url=http://popdose.com/the-popdose-interview-gary-dream-weaver-wright/ |title=The Popdose Interview: Gary 'Dream Weaver' Wright|publisher=Popdose|date=April 3, 2009 |access-date=March 6, 2015}}</ref> and his arranging the ''Dick Cavett Show'' appearance.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> Despite this exposure,<ref name="Rodriguez pp 88, 319-20" /> like ''Extraction'', the album failed to chart.<ref name="Leng p 108" /><ref>Wright, pp. 99–100.</ref>

Among other recordings over this period, Wright played piano on [[Harry Nilsson]]'s 1972 hit "[[Without You (Badfinger song)|Without You]]"<ref name="Rodriguez p 88" /> and accompanied [[B.B. King]], Starr, Gordon, Voormann and others on ''[[B.B. King in London]]'' (1971),<ref>Randall, Brackett & Hoard, p. 453.</ref> which included Wright's composition "Wet Hayshark".<ref>Castleman & Podrazik, p. 105.</ref> He later participated in London sessions by Jerry Lee Lewis,<ref name="Barnes Interview" /> issued as the double album ''The Session'' (1973).<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerry Lee Lewis ''The Session''|author=Unterberger, Richie |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-session-mw0000650415|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> Wright also produced an eponymous album by [[folk rock]] band Howl the Good,<ref>{{cite web|title=Credits: Howl the Good ''Howl the Good'' |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/howl-the-good-mw0000880367/credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 3, 2014}}</ref> released on the Rare Earth label.<ref>{{cite web|title=Howl the Good – Howl the Good (Vinyl, LP, Album)|date=August 16, 1972 |url=http://www.discogs.com/Howl-The-Good-Howl-The-Good/release/3571421|publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=March 3, 2014}}</ref>

====''Ring of Changes''====
In 1972, Wright moved to [[Devon]] with Wonderwheel to work on songs for a new album, titled ''Ring of Changes''. With Tom Duffey having replaced Leggett on bass, the band recorded the songs at [[Olympic Studios|Olympic]] and [[Apple Studios (recording studio)|Apple]] studios in London.<ref>Wright, pp. 112–13.</ref> After issuing "I Know" as an advance single,<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=4559345 Sleeve text], "Ring of Changes" promotional single. [[A&M Records]], 1972; produced by Gary Wright.</ref> A&M chose to cancel the album.<ref name="Wright p 113">Wright, p. 113.</ref>{{refn|group=nb|While ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' lists ''Ring of Changes'' as a 1972 release,<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> A&M's archives site suggests that the album may have been withdrawn.<ref name="WrightOnA&M" />}} Wright also wrote the soundtrack for a film by former Olympic skier [[Willy Bogner Jr.|Willy Bogner]], ''Benjamin'' (1972),<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Wright – Benjamin – The Original Soundtrack of Willy Bogner's Motion Picture (Vinyl, LP, Album)|date=August 16, 1972 |url=http://www.discogs.com/Gary-Wright-Benjamin-The-Original-Soundtrack-Of-Willy-Bogners-Motion-Picture/release/5256646|publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=March 3, 2014}}</ref> from which the German label [[Ariola Records]] released "Goodbye Sunday" as a single that year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Wright – Goodbye Sunday|date=August 16, 1972 |url=http://www.discogs.com/Gary-Wright-Goodbye-Sunday/release/4094895|publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=March 3, 2014}}</ref> The full soundtrack album, recorded with Jones, Leggett and Graham,<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=5256646 Sleeve credits], ''Benjamin – The Original Soundtrack of Willy Bogner's Motion Picture'' LP. [[Ariola Records]], 1974; produced by Willy Bogner.</ref> was issued by Ariola in 1974.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicknockout.net/Artists/wrightgary.html |title=Gary Wright|publisher=musicknockout.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618032130/http://www.musicknockout.net/Artists/wrightgary.html|archive-date=June 18, 2010 |access-date=March 13, 2015}}</ref>

In September 1972, Wright decided to disband Wonderwheel and re-form Spooky Tooth.<ref name="Rosen/MW">Rosen, Steven (November 1973). "The Return of Spooky Tooth". ''Music World''. Available at [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-return-of-spooky-tooth Rock's Backpages] (''subscription required'').</ref> Shortly before doing so, he participated in sessions for Harrison's ''[[Living in the Material World]]'' (1973),<ref>Leng, pp. 124–25.</ref> an album that Wright describes as "a beautiful masterpiece" and his favorite Harrison album.<ref>Wright, p. 107.</ref> Talking to [[Chris Salewicz]] of ''[[Let It Rock (magazine)|Let It Rock]]'' in early 1973, Wright explained his decision to abandon his solo career: "I think my main talent is getting the music together and arranging it. I'm not a showman and so I couldn't be a [[Cat Stevens]] out front with just backing musicians, which I was expected to be with Wonderwheel."<ref name="Salewicz/LIR" /> In his autobiography, however, Wright says that it was his disappointment at A&M's rejection of ''Ring of Changes'' that led him to contact Blackwell about re-forming Spooky Tooth.<ref name="Wright p 113" />

===1972–1974: Re-forms Spooky Tooth===
The only members from the original lineup, Wright and Mike Harrison relaunched Spooky Tooth with Jones and Graham from Wonderwheel, and Chris Stewart,<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 938" /><ref name="MusicHound p 1248" /> formerly the bassist with English singer [[Terry Reid]].<ref name="Salewicz/LIR" /> Salewicz visited the band while they were recording at [[Island Studios]] and remarked of Wright's role in the group, "it is clear who is the leader of this brand of Spooky Tooth, and, I suspect, of the original, too"; Salewicz described Wright as "urbane, loquacious with the remnants of a New Jersey accent, and a touch of [[Dudley Moore]] about the face".<ref name="Salewicz/LIR" />

On their new album, ''[[You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw]]'' (1973),<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 938" /> Wright composed six of the eight tracks, including "Cotton Growing Man", "Wildfire" originally written for [[Johnny Hallyday]] as the rock song titled « le feu » and "Self Seeking Man", and co-wrote the remaining two.<ref name="You Broke sleeve">[http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=3568894 Label credits], ''You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw'' LP. [[Island Records]], 1973; produced by Gary Wright & Spooky Tooth.</ref> With the group's standing having been elevated since 1970 – a situation that music journalist Steven Rosen likened at the time to [[the Yardbirds]], [[the Move]] and other 1960s bands after their break-up<ref name="Rosen/MW" /> – Spooky Tooth toured extensively to promote the album.<ref name="Robinson/Spooky bio" /> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reviewer [[Jon Tiven]] praised Wright's songwriting on ''You Broke My Heart'', adding: "there is tremendous consistency to these originals&nbsp;... and 'Wildfire' is ample proof that Gary could have written for [[the Temptations]] if he really wanted to."<ref>Tiven, Jon (June 21, 1973). "Spooky Tooth: ''You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw''". ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. Available at [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/spooky-tooth-iyou-broke-my-heart-so-i-busted-your-jawi Rock's Backpages] (''subscription required'').</ref>

{{quote box|quote= [We] could have definitely been like one of those bands, like [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]] and all those people who were our contemporaries. I think [Spooky Tooth] didn't have the steady momentum and upward drive. It stopped and started, broke up and then went back and broke up. It never really got enough behind it to really catapult it to success.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" />|source= – Wright in 2009, reflecting on Spooky Tooth's lack of a commercial breakthrough|width=25%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}
The band released a follow-up, ''[[Witness (Spooky Tooth album)|Witness]]'', in November 1973,<ref name="Robinson/Spooky bio" /> by which point Graham had departed, with Mike Kellie returning on drums.<ref name="Rosen/MW" /> By February 1974, Stewart and Harrison had also left.<ref name="Robinson/Spooky bio" /> In January that year, Wright accompanied George Harrison to India,<ref>Wright, pp. 120–21, 123.</ref> where they journeyed to [[Varanasi]] (Benares), the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] spiritual capital of India, and home to Harrison's friend [[Ravi Shankar]].<ref name="Olivia p 258">Olivia Harrison, p. 258.</ref> The visit would influence the spiritual quality of Wright's lyrics when he returned to his solo career.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" />

In England, he and Harrison worked together on ''[[The Place I Love]]'' (1974),<ref>Leng, pp. 143, 144.</ref> the debut album by English duo [[Splinter (band)|Splinter]].<ref>Schaffner, p. 179.</ref><ref>Wight, pp. 109, 110.</ref> In addition to playing keyboards, Wright served as what author Simon Leng terms "a sounding board and musical amanuensis" on the project,<ref>Leng, p. 144.</ref> which was the first album released on Harrison's [[Dark Horse Records|Dark Horse]] record label.<ref>Castleman & Podrazik, pp. 200–01, 205–06, 311.</ref> Wright regrouped with Spooky Tooth for a final album, ''[[The Mirror (Spooky Tooth album)|The Mirror]]'' (1974), with [[Mike Patto]] as their new vocalist.<ref>''The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'', pp. 938, 939.</ref> Following further personnel changes, ''The Mirror'' was issued by Goodear Records in the UK in October 1974, a month after Wright had disbanded the group.<ref name="Robinson/Spooky bio" />

===1975–1981: Solo career on Warner Bros. Records===
====''The Dream Weaver''====
After Spooky Tooth's break-up, Wright returned to New Jersey and began compiling songs for his third solo album.<ref name="CC//MM" /> Under the guidance of new manager [[Dee Anthony]], he chose to sign with [[Warner Bros. Records]], mainly because the company had no keyboard virtuosos among its other acts.<ref name="CC//MM">Charlesworth, Chris (June 5, 1976). "Gary Wright: Wright at Last". ''[[Melody Maker]]''. Available at [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/gary-wright-wright-at-last Rock's Backpages] (''subscription required'').</ref> Wright says that it was while routining his songs with all his stage equipment set up – [[Hammond organ]], [[Clavinet|Hohner Clavinet]], [[Rhodes piano|Fender Rhodes]] electric piano, [[Minimoog]] and [[ARP String Ensemble]] – together with a [[drum machine]], that he decided to record the album "all on keyboards", without guitars.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> He acknowledges that artists such as [[Stevie Wonder]] had similarly released keyboard-dominated music, but "[Wonder] used brass and he used other things as well".<ref name="Voger/Hippiefest" /> On Wright's debut album for Warner Bros., ''[[The Dream Weaver]]'' (1975),<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> he, [[David Foster]] and [[Bobby Lyle]] played a variety of keyboard instruments, supported only by drummers [[Jim Keltner]] and [[Andy Newmark]],<ref name="DreamWeaver/AM">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright ''The Dream Weaver'': Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-dream-weaver-mw0000193346/credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 19, 2014}}</ref> apart from a guitar part on the track "Power of Love" by [[Ronnie Montrose]].<ref name="DreamWeaverSleeve">[http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=4923686 Sleeve credits], ''The Dream Weaver'' LP. [[Warner Bros. Records]], 1975; produced by Gary Wright.</ref> Jason Ankeny of [[AllMusic]] describes ''The Dream Weaver'' as "one of the first [rock albums] created solely via synthesizer technology".<ref name="Wright bio/AM" />

{{quote box|quote= I mean&nbsp;... I'm an overnight success in ten years, right? I've been through periods of self-doubt, wondering whether or not I wanted to stay an artist&nbsp;... but I guess, like in all things, it's timing. The right timing, the right songs and strong management at last.<ref name="CC//MM" />|source= – Wright commenting in 1976 on the unexpected success of ''The Dream Weaver''|width=25%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}
The album was issued in July 1975 and enjoyed minimal success in America until the release of its second single, "[[Dream Weaver (song)|Dream Weaver]]", in November.<ref name="CC//MM" /> The song, which Wright had written on acoustic guitar<ref name="CC//MM" /> after his visit to India with Harrison,<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Wright > Inspiration|url=http://www.thedreamweaver.com|publisher=thedreamweaver.com|access-date=March 19, 2014}}</ref> went on to peak at number 2 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref name="BB singles">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright: Chart History|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/302637/gary-wright/chart|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|billboard.com]]|access-date=March 19, 2014}}</ref> and number 1 on the ''[[Cash Box]]'' singles chart.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs" /> Becoming Wright's biggest hit, "Dream Weaver" sold over 1 million copies in the US and was awarded a [[Gold (RIAA certification)|Gold disc]] by the [[RIAA]] in March 1976.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">Murrells, p. 365.</ref> The album climbed to number 7 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name="BB albums/AM">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright: Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-wright-mn0000191006/awards|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 19, 2014}}</ref> and was certified double [[Platinum (RIAA certification)|Platinum]].<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> "[[Love Is Alive (Gary Wright song)|Love Is Alive]]", originally the album's lead single,<ref name="CC//MM" /> then hit number 2 on the Hot 100, and "Made to Love You" peaked at number 79.<ref name="BB singles" /> Although neither ''The Dream Weaver'' nor its singles charted in the UK, the album was a big seller in [[West Germany]],<ref name="CC//MM" /> where, Wright says, Spooky Tooth had been "the number one band" during 1969.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" />

Following the album's release, Wright toured extensively with a band comprising three keyboard players and a drummer.<ref name="CC//MM" /> His elder sister Lorna, also a professional singer, joined the tour band as his backing vocalist.<ref>Wright, p. 20.</ref> Subsidized by synthesizer manufacturers [[Moog Music|Moog]] and [[Oberheim Electronics|Oberheim]],<ref name="Voger/Hippiefest" /> Wright became one of the first musicians to perform with a portable keyboard, in the style of [[Edgar Winter]].<ref name="CC//MM" /> Shawn Perry of vintagerock.com credits Wright with being "as responsible for the emergence of the synthesizer as a mainstream instrument as [[Keith Emerson]] and&nbsp;... [[Rick Wakeman]]",<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> while Robert Rodriguez describes Wright as a pioneer in both "the integration of synthesizers into [[analog recording]]s" and the use of the keyboard–guitar hybrid known as the [[keytar]].<ref name="Rodriguez p 88" />

Among his live performances in 1976, Wright shared the bill with [[Yes (band)|Yes]] and [[Peter Frampton]] at the [[United States Bicentennial|US Bicentennial]] concert held at [[John F. Kennedy Stadium|JFK Stadium]], Philadelphia, playing to a crowd estimated at 120,000.<ref name="Welch//MM">Welch, Chris (June 26, 1976). "Yes, Peter Frampton, Gary Wright: JFK Stadium, Philadelphia". ''[[Melody Maker]]''. Available at [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/yes-peter-frampton-gary-wright-jfk-stadium-philadelphia Rock's Backpages] (''subscription required'').</ref> Wright then supported Frampton on a European tour, by which time a fourth keyboard player had been added to the band.<ref name="Salewicz/NME">Salewicz, Chris (October 30, 1976). "Peter Frampton: Empire Pool, Wembley, London". ''[[NME]]''. Available at [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/peter-frampton-empire-pool-wembley-london Rock's Backpages] (''subscription required'').</ref> Amid this success, A&M issued ''That Was Only Yesterday'' (1976)<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 938" /> – a compilation containing tracks from Wright's albums for the label and selections by Spooky Tooth<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Wright/Spooky Tooth – That Was Only Yesterday|date=August 16, 1972 |url=http://www.discogs.com/Gary-Wright-Spooky-Tooth-That-Was-Only-Yesterday/release/4498828|publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref> – which charted at number 172 in America.<ref name="BB albums/AM" />

====''The Light of Smiles''====
Wright started recording his follow-up to ''The Dream Weaver'' in summer 1976, before which [[Chris Charlesworth]] of ''[[Melody Maker]]'' reported that it would be "a logical development" of its predecessor and "again based entirely around what he can do with various types of keyboards".<ref name="CC//MM" /> Titled ''[[The Light of Smiles]]'' (1977), the album included "I Am the Sky", for which Wright gave a songwriting credit to the late Indian [[guru]] and [[Kriya Yoga school|Kriya Yoga]] teacher,<ref>Bowden, p. 629.</ref> [[Paramahansa Yogananda]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Wright ''The Light of Smiles''|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/light-of-smiles-mw0000532173|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 20, 2014}}</ref> The latter's poem "The Light of Smiles", taken from his book ''Metaphysical Meditations'',<ref>{{cite web|title=The Light of Smiles|url=http://lightworkers.org/node/193844|publisher=lightworkers.org|access-date=March 20, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320205801/http://lightworkers.org/node/193844|archive-date=March 20, 2014}}</ref> appeared on the inner sleeve to Wright's new album.<ref name="SmilesrInSleeve">[http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1539260 Inner sleeve], ''The Light of Smiles'' LP. [[Warner Bros. Records]], 1977; produced by Gary Wright.</ref> Wright had acknowledged the guru as his inspiration for the title of ''The Dream Weaver'',<ref name="DreamWeaverSleeve" /> and he later said of Yogananda's ''[[Autobiography of a Yogi]]'': "It's a fantastic book and you won't want to put it down when you start reading it. Even, not from a spiritual point of view, but as a piece of literature, it's a total classic&nbsp;..."<ref name="Perry/VintageR" />

Produced again by Wright, ''The Light of Smiles'' featured Wright, Foster, Peter Relich and others on a range of keyboard instruments, including Moog, Oberheim and ARP synthesizers, and drumming contributions from Art Wood and Keltner.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Wright ''The Light of Smiles'': Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/light-of-smiles-mw0000532173/credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 20, 2014}}</ref> Issued by Warner Bros. in January 1977,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top Album Picks|author=Freedland, Nat (reviews ed.) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YEUEAAAAMBAJ&q=gary+wright|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=January 15, 1977|access-date=March 20, 2014|page=80}}</ref> neither the album nor its lead single, "Phantom Writer", matched the popularity of Wright's earlier releases for the label.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> On the US ''Billboard'' charts, ''The Light of Smiles'' climbed to number 23,<ref name="BB albums/AM" /> while "Phantom Writer" peaked at number 43.<ref name="BB singles" />

====''Touch and Gone'', ''Headin' Home'' and ''The Right Place''====
Wright continued to record albums for Warner Bros. until 1981, with only limited commercial success.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> Released in late 1977, ''[[Touch and Gone]]'' charted at number 117 in America,<ref name="BB albums/AM" /> with its title track reaching number 73.<ref name="BB singles" /> ''[[Headin' Home (Gary Wright album)|Headin' Home]]'', which AllMusic's Joe Viglione describes as "an album seemingly driven by a serious relationship in crisis",<ref name="Viglione/Home" /> peaked at number 147 in 1979.<ref name="BB albums/AM" /> In between these two albums, Wright played on "[[If You Believe (George Harrison song)|If You Believe]]", a song he had co-written with Harrison in England on New Year's Day 1978,<ref>George Harrison, p. 358.</ref> which appeared on Harrison's [[George Harrison (album)|eponymous 1979 album]].<ref>Leng, pp. 199, 209.</ref>

Wright's last chart success in America was in 1981,<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> when his album ''The Right Place'', co-produced with [[Dean Parks]],<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1643529 Label credits], ''The Right Place'' LP. [[Warner Bros. Records]], 1981; produced by Gary Wright & Dean Parks.</ref> climbed to number 79.<ref name="BB albums/AM" /> The single "[[Really Wanna Know You]]", which Wright co-wrote with Scottish singer [[Ali Thomson]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Ali Thomson|author=Stone, Doug |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ali-thomson-mn0000004047|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> peaked at number 16 that year.<ref name="BB singles" /> A second single from the album, "Heartbeat", appeared on ''Billboard''{{'}}s [[Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles|Bubbling Under]] listings, at number 107.<ref>{{cite web|title=Songs that charted under the Hot 100: 1981|url=http://rateyourmusic.com/list/genesis16/songs_that_charted_under_the_hot_100__1981/|publisher=rateyourmusic.com|access-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref>{{deprecated source|certain=y|date=November 2024}}

===1982–2000: Film soundtracks and world music===
Wright's subsequent releases focused on film soundtracks and forays into [[world music]].<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> After writing the score for [[Alan Rudolph]]'s 1982 thriller ''[[Endangered Species (1982 film)|Endangered Species]]'',<ref name="DreamWeaverBio">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright > Biography|url=http://www.thedreamweaver.com|publisher=thedreamweaver.com|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> he supplied the soundtrack to another skiing-themed movie by Willy Bogner,<ref>{{cite web|title=Willy Bogner Film: Action Videos & Sport Movies|url=http://en.bogner.com/Discover/Willy-Bogner-Film|publisher=bogner.com|access-date=March 21, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401162616/http://en.bogner.com/Discover/Willy-Bogner-Film|archive-date=April 1, 2014}}</ref> ''[[Fire and Ice (1986 film)|Fire and Ice]]'' (1986), which hit number 1 on the German albums chart.<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> Wright also contributed the song "Hold on to Your Vision" to the soundtrack of ''[[Cobra (1986 film)|Cobra]]'', a 1986 [[Action film|action movie]] starring [[Sylvester Stallone]] as well as a [[pop rock]] song "Am I the One" for the 1987 [[Surf film|surf movie]], ''[[North Shore (1987 film)|North Shore]]''.<ref name="IMDB/North Shore">{{cite web|title=IMDB North Shore soundtrack| website=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093648/soundtrack/?ref_=tt_trv_snd}}</ref>

Among notable cover versions of Wright's songs during this period, [[Chaka Khan]] recorded "Love Is Alive" (retitled "My Love Is Alive") for her 1984 album ''[[I Feel for You (album)|I Feel for You]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Chaka Khan ''I Feel for You''|author=Henderson, Alex|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/i-feel-for-you-mw0000650354|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> which became an RIAA-certified million-seller.<ref>''The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'', p. 536.</ref> A cover of his Spooky Tooth composition "Better By You, Better Than Me", by English [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Judas Priest]], was at the center of a 1990 court case regarding [[subliminal message]]s in song lyrics, after two [[Nevada]]n teenagers had enacted a [[suicide pact]] five years before.<ref>{{cite web|title=Scientific Consensus and Expert Testimony: Lessons from the Judas Priest Trial|author=Moore, Thomas E.|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/scientific_consensus_and_expert_testimony|publisher=csicop.org|date=November–December 1996|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> From 1989 through to the late 1990s, [[Sampling (music)|samples]] of Wright's "Dream Weaver", "Love Is Alive" and "Can't Find the Judge" variously featured in songs by popular rap and [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] artists [[Tone Lōc]], [[Dream Warriors (band)|Dream Warriors]], [[3rd Bass]] and [[Mýa]].<ref name="WhoSample">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright Music Sampled by Others|url=http://www.whosampled.com/Gary-Wright/sampled/|publisher=whosampled.com|access-date=March 26, 2014}}</ref>

Wright himself re-recorded "Dream Weaver" for the 1992 comedy ''[[Wayne's World (film)|Wayne's World]]'',<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> the soundtrack album for which topped the US charts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Original Soundtrack ''Wayne's World'': Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/waynes-world-mw0000273867/awards|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> The song has since appeared in the films ''[[The People vs. Larry Flynt]]'' (1996) and ''[[Toy Story 3]]'' (2010).<ref name="Wright/Largo">{{cite web|title=City of Largo, Florida / Events Calendar / Gary Wright|url=http://www.largo.com/egov/apps/events/calendar.egov?view=detail;id=9133|publisher=largo.com|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> He later provided "We Can Fly" for another Bogner film, ''Ski to the Max'',<ref name="UtopiaArtists">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright Bio|url=http://www.utopiaartists.com/bio_gary_wright.htm|publisher=utopiaartists.com|access-date=March 25, 2014|archive-date=July 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724032643/http://www.utopiaartists.com/bio_gary_wright.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> released in [[IMAX]] cinemas in October 2000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ski to the Max|url=https://www.imax.com/movies/m/ski-to-the-max/|publisher=imax.com|access-date=March 25, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325191402/https://www.imax.com/movies/m/ski-to-the-max/|archive-date=March 25, 2014}}</ref>

====''Who I Am'', ''First Signs of Life'' and ''Human Love''====
In 1988, Wright released ''Who I Am'' on A&M-distributed<ref>{{cite web|title=Cypress Records|url=http://www.onamrecords.com/Cypress_Records.html|publisher=On A&M Records|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> [[Cypress Records]].<ref name="New RS Encyclopedia p 1094" /> Among the album's contributors were Western musicians such as Harrison, White and Keltner,<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Wright ''Who I Am'': Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/who-i-am-mw0000196319/credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> a group of [[Carnatic music|South Indian]] percussionists,<ref name="UtopiaArtists" /> and [[Indian classical music|Indian classical]] violinists [[L. Subramaniam]] and [[L. Shankar]].<ref name="Wright bio/AM" /> The previous year, Wright had contributed to Harrison's album ''[[Cloud Nine (George Harrison album)|Cloud Nine]]'' (1987), for which he co-wrote "[[That's What It Takes]]" with Harrison and [[Jeff Lynne]],<ref>Leng, pp. 248, 249.</ref> and played keyboards on songs such as "[[When We Was Fab]]".<ref>Kordosh, J. (December 1987). "Fab! Gear! The George Harrison Interview (part 1)". ''[[Creem]]''. Available at [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-return-of-spooky-tooth Rock's Backpages] (''subscription required'').</ref> One of the tracks from ''Who I Am'', "Blind Alley", was used in the 1988 horror film ''[[Spellbinder (film)|Spellbinder]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ringostrack.com/en/movie/spellbinder/43198 |title=Spellbinder Soundtrack (1988) OST |publisher=ringostrack.com |access-date=December 19, 2014}}</ref>

Wright's next solo album was ''First Signs of Life'' (1995), recorded in Rio de Janeiro and at his own<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> High Wave Studios in Los Angeles,<ref name="First SignsSleeve">Album booklet, ''First Signs of Life'' CD. Triloka/Worldly, 1995; produced by Gary Wright & Franz Pusch.</ref> and issued on the Triloka/Worldly record label.<ref name="MusicHound p 1249" /><ref name="Discog/GW site">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright > Discography|url=http://www.thedreamweaver.com|publisher=thedreamweaver.com|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> The album combined [[Music of Brazil|Brazilian]] rhythms<ref name="MusicHound p 1249" /> with elements of African vocal tradition, creating what AllMusic's reviewer describes as "an infectious [[worldbeat]] hybrid", where "the musicians' performances radiate sincerity and joy".<ref name="AM/First Signs">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright ''First Signs of Life''|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/first-signs-of-life-mw0000172265|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> ''First Signs of Life'' featured guest appearances from drummer [[Terry Bozzio]], Brazilian guitarist {{ill|Ricardo Silveira|pt}} and Harrison.<ref name="AM/First Signs" /> The song "Don't Try to Own Me", co-written with Duane Hitchings, was later included on [[Rhino Records]]' ''Best of Gary Wright: The Dream Weaver'' – a 1998 compilation spanning his solo career from 1970 onwards, and featuring extensive liner notes by Wright.<ref name="AM/Best of GW">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright ''Best of Gary Wright: The Dream Weaver''|author=Stone, Doug|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/best-of-gary-wright-the-dream-weaver-mw0000043475|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref>

''Human Love'' (1999) included new versions of "Wildfire" and "The Wrong Time",<ref name="AM/Human Love">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright ''Human Love''|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/human-love-mw0000103074|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 22, 2014}}</ref> as well as "If You Believe in Heaven", a song written with [[Graham Gouldman]] that had first appeared on ''Best of Gary Wright''.<ref name="AM/Best of GW" /> The album was co-produced by German world-music producer [[Marlon Klein]]<ref name="HumanLoveSleeve" /> and released on the High Wave Music label.<ref name="Discog/GW site" /><ref name="AM/Human Love" /> Contributors to the sessions, held at High Wave and at Exil Musik in [[Bielefeld]], included [[Hindustani classical music|Hindustani classical]] vocalist [[Lakshmi Shankar]], Lynne and German composer [[Roman Bunka]].<ref name="HumanLoveSleeve">Album booklet, ''Human Love'' CD. High Wave Music, 1999; produced by Gary Wright, Marlon Klein, Bernhart Locker & Franz Pusch.</ref>

===Later career===
Having dedicated much of his time during the 1990s to his family, Wright subsequently resumed a more active musical career, starting with Spooky Tooth's 2004 reunion.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> Their album and DVD ''Nomad Poets Live in Germany'' (2007) features Wright, Mike Harrison and Kellie from the band's original lineup.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spooky Tooth ''Nomad Poets Live in Germany''|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/nomad-poets-live-in-germany-mw0000485207|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref> Wright's past work has continued to inspire rap and dance tracks in the 21st century; samples of "Heartbeat" appear in songs by [[Jay-Z]] and [[Diam's]], while [[Pulsedriver|Topmodelz]] covered the song in 2007.<ref name="WhoSample" /> Other artists who have used samples from Wright's 1975–81 recordings include [[Dilated Peoples]], [[Atmosphere (music group)|Atmosphere]], [[Infamous Mobb]], [[T.I.]] and [[Armand Van Helden]],<ref name="WhoSample" /> the last of whom incorporated part of "Comin' Apart" (from ''The Right Place'') in his 2004 [[nightclub|club]] hit "[[My My My (Armand Van Helden song)|My My My]]".<ref name="DreamWeaverBio" /> In addition, [[Eminem]] used "interpolations" from Spooky Tooth's "Self Seeking Man" in his song "Spend Some Time" (released on ''[[Encore (Eminem album)|Encore]]'' in 2004).<ref>Album notes, ''Encore'' CD. [[Aftermath Entertainment]], 2004; produced by Dr. Dre, Eminem, Luis Resto, Mike Elizondo & Mark Batson.</ref>

In the summer of 2008, Wright joined [[Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band]] for a North American tour, with Edgar Winter also in the lineup.<ref name="RingoSiteBio">{{cite web |url=http://www.ringostarr.com/biography/ |title=Biography |publisher=ringostarr.com |access-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-date=December 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203231039/http://www.ringostarr.com/biography/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The All-Starr Band's album and DVD ''[[Live at the Greek Theatre 2008]]'' (2010) includes Wright's performance of "Dream Weaver".<ref>{{cite web|last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-greek-theatre-2008-mw0002013992 |title=Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band ''Live at the Greek Theatre 2008'' |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref> Wright later described the tour as "a lot of fun" and "a big boost" for his career.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" />

====''Waiting to Catch the Light'' and ''Connected''====
Two solo releases by Wright followed in late 2008, including the [[New-age music|new-age]] album ''Waiting to Catch the Light''.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> A collection of instrumental pieces from "several years" before, he described it as "an atmospheric, [[ambient music]] kind of an album", performed on "vintage analog synthesizers&nbsp;... all [recorded] on analog tape".<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> Also issued on Larkio,<ref name="Discog/GW site" /> Wright's own record label,<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> the [[Extended play|EP]] ''The Light of a Million Suns'' consisted of unreleased tracks from his previous album projects, together with a new version of "Love Is Alive", sung by his son Dorian.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" />

[[File:Gary Wright, Everett, WA USA 2016-10-14.jpg|thumb|right|Wright performing in 2016]]
In May 2009, Wright rejoined Spooky Tooth to participate in a series of London concerts celebrating the 50th anniversary of Island Records' founding,<ref>{{cite web|title=Island Records 50th Anniversary – A Celebration|url=http://earbender.com/2009/05/27/island-records-50th-anniversary-a-celebration/|publisher=earbender.com|access-date=March 24, 2014}}</ref> before performing further shows with the band in Germany.<ref name="Perry/VintageR" /> In June the following year, he released the album ''Connected'',<ref name="Smashing" /> which marked a return to his more pop- and rock-oriented sound of the 1970s.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /><ref name="Greco/VintageR" /> Starr, [[Joe Walsh]] and [[Jeff "Skunk" Baxter]] made guest appearances on the track "Satisfied",<ref name="Greco/VintageR">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright ''Connected'' – CD Review|author= Greco, Ralph Jr.|url=http://www.vintagerock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=528:connected-gary-wright&catid=8:new-studio-releases&Itemid=38|publisher=vintagerock.com|access-date=March 24, 2014}}</ref> which Wright co-wrote with songwriter [[Boyce and Hart|Bobby Hart]].<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> As a posthumous tribute to his friend George Harrison, the Deluxe Digital Edition of ''Connected'' included "Never Give Up",<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Wright – Connected (Deluxe Digital Edition) (File, Album)|url=http://www.discogs.com/Gary-Wright-Connected-Deluxe-Digital-Edition/release/3660793|publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=March 24, 2014}}</ref> which he and Harrison had recorded in 1989, while the [[iTunes]] version added "To Discover Yourself", a song that the two musicians had written together in 1971.<ref name="Greco/VintageR" /> Wright recorded the latter song on the day of Harrison's death in November 2001.<ref name="Smashing" /><ref name="Greco/VintageR" /> He also contributed to [[Martin Scorsese]]'s 2011 documentary ''[[George Harrison: Living in the Material World]]''<ref>End credits (disc 2), ''[[George Harrison: Living in the Material World]]'' DVD. [[Roadshow Entertainment]], 2011; produced by Olivia Harrison, Nigel Sinclair & Martin Scorsese; directed by Martin Scorsese.</ref> and supplied personal reminiscences and family photographs for [[Olivia Harrison]]'s book of the same title.<ref>Olivia Harrison, pp. 258–59, 398.</ref>

In 2010 and 2011, Wright toured again with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.<ref name="RingoSiteBio" /> Following a summer 2011 tour of Europe with Starr, Wright participated in the Hippiefest US tour with artists such as [[Felix Cavaliere]], [[Mark Farner]], [[Dave Mason]] and [[Rick Derringer]],<ref name="Voger/Hippiefest" /> before returning to Europe for shows with his own band late that year.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" />

==Personal life==
Wright resided in [[Palos Verdes Estates, California]], with wife Rose, whom he married in 1985.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> He was previously married to Christina Uppstrom,<ref>Badman, p. 79.</ref> who, as Tina Wright, received co-writing credits on Wright's songs "I'm Alive" (from ''The Mirror''),<ref name="TheMirror sleeve">[http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1446303 Sleeve credits], ''The Mirror'' LP. [[Island Records]], 1974; produced by Gary Wright, Mick Jones & Eddie Kramer.</ref> "Feel for Me" (''The Dream Weaver'')<ref name="DreamWeaverSleeve" /> and "I'm the One Who'll Be by Your Side" (''Headin' Home'').<ref name="Viglione/Home">{{cite web|title=Gary Wright ''Headin' Home''|author=Viglione, Joe |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/headin-home-mw0000371772|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 19, 2014}}</ref> He had two adult sons, Dorian and Justin.<ref name="vonBF/dprp" /> Justin is a member of the band Intangible.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intangiblemusic.com/ |title=Intangible |publisher=intangiblemusic.com |access-date=November 12, 2012}}</ref> Wright had a sister, Lorna Dune, who recorded the song ''Midnight Joey''. The song was an answer song to Joey Powers's ''Midnight Mary'' in 1962.<ref>Roger Ashby Oldies Show Dec. 3/4, 2022</ref>

Wright spoke out on the importance of creative opportunities for children in the public educational system,<ref name="TheSound" /> and expressed his opposition to the prevalence of free [[music download]]ing and its disadvantage to artists.<ref name="Barnes Interview" /> In 2008, he voiced his support for [[Barack Obama]]'s [[2008 United States presidential election|presidential campaign]], during which "Dream Weaver" was a song adopted for the [[Democratic National Convention]] in [[Denver]], Colorado.<ref name="Klein/HuffPost">{{cite web|title='Dream Weaver' – Why Gary Wright Backs Barack Obama|author=Klein, Howie |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howie-klein/dream-weaver---why-gary-w_b_124674.html|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=September 7, 2008|access-date=March 24, 2014}}</ref> That year, Wright discussed the message behind "Dream Weaver" with ''[[The Huffington Post|Huffington Post]]'' writer and political activist [[Howie Klein]], saying: "With ''Wayne's World'' and all that, the perception of the song's meaning got a little bit changed for a lot of people. It's a very spiritual song. 'Dream Weaver' is really a song whose lyrical content is about the consciousness of the Universe: God moving us through the night&nbsp;– delusion and suffering&nbsp;– into the Higher Realms."<ref name="Klein/HuffPost" />

In August 2014, Wright announced the imminent publication of his autobiography, ''Dream Weaver: Music, Meditation, and My Friendship with George Harrison''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Wright to reveal all about George Harrison friendship in new book|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/498772/Gary-Wright-to-reveal-all-about-George-Harrison-friendship-in-new-book|work=[[Daily Express]]|date=August 13, 2014|access-date=November 11, 2014}}</ref> Coinciding with the book's release, Wright's Warner Bros. albums were reissued for digital download.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/08/27/dream-weaver-singer-gary-wright-weaves-life-story-in-oct-14-memoir/14658587/|title=Gary Wright's 'Dream Weaver' memoir out Oct. 2|last=Gundersen|first=Edna|date=August 27, 2014|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref>

==Death==
Wright died in [[Palos Verdes Estates, California]], on September 4, 2023, at age 80. Although no cause of death was officially reported when Wright's death was first announced,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/gary-wright-dead-dream-weaver-1235713097/|title=Gary Wright, 'Dream Weaver' Singer, Dies at 80|last=Aswad|first=Jem|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=September 4, 2023|access-date=October 9, 2025}}</ref> he had been diagnosed with [[Lewy body dementia]] and [[Parkinson's disease]] around six or seven years earlier.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Madarang |first1=Charisma |last2=Jason |first2=Newman |title=Gary Wright, 'Dream Weaver' Singer and George Harrison Collaborator, Dead at 80 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gary-wright-dream-weaver-dead-obituary-1234818058/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=September 5, 2023 |date=September 5, 2023}}</ref>

Wright was survived by his two sons Justin Wright and Dorian Wright from his first marriage to Christina Uppstrom, by his younger sister Lorna, and by his third wife, Rose (née Anthony).<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Guardian]]|title=Gary Wright obituary|author=Sweeting, Adam|date=September 8, 2023|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/08/gary-wright-obituary}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Albums===
{{div col}}
* ''Extraction'' (1970)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rapp |first=Allison |date=September 5, 2023 |title=How Two Beatles Inspired Gary Wright's 'Dream Weaver' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/gary-wright-beatles-dream-weaver/ |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last1=Madarang |first1=Charisma |last2=Newman |first2=Jason |date=September 5, 2023 |title=Gary Wright, 'Dream Weaver' Singer and George Harrison Collaborator, Dead at 80 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gary-wright-dream-weaver-dead-obituary-1234818058/ |access-date=September 6, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''[[Footprint (album)|Footprint]]'' (1971)<ref name=":0" />
* ''[[The Dream Weaver]]'' (1975) [[Billboard 200|US]] #7 - US: 2× Platinum<ref name="Gold & Platinum">{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|title=Gold & Platinum|website=RIAA|language=en-US|access-date=July 11, 2020}}</ref> CAN #3<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.4104a.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Albums - April 10, 1976}}</ref>
* ''[[The Light of Smiles]]'' (1977) US #23<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2023 |title=Gary Wright, singer of the mid-1970s hit 'Dream Weaver,' dies at 80 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/gary-wright-singer-1970s-hit-dream-weaver-dies-80-rcna103322 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> CAN #68<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5178b.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Albums - March 12, 1977}}</ref>
* ''[[Touch and Gone]]'' (1977) US #117<ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=September 5, 2023 |title=Gary Wright, 'Dream Weaver' Singer Dies at 80 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/gary-wright-dead-dream-weaver-singer-dies-1235406056/ |access-date=September 6, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''[[Headin' Home (Gary Wright album)|Headin' Home]]'' (1979) US #147<ref name=":2" />
* ''The Right Place'' (1981) US #79<ref name=":2" />
* ''Who I Am'' (1988)<ref>{{Citation |title=Gary Wright - Who I Am |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/who-i-am-mw0000196319 |work=AllMusic |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''First Signs of Life'' (1995)<ref>{{Citation |title=Gary Wright - First Signs of Life |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/first-signs-of-life-mw0000172265 |work=AllMusic |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Human Love'' (1999)<ref>{{Citation |title=Human Love - Gary Wright |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/human-love-mw0000103074/credits |work=AllMusic |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Waiting to Catch the Light'' (2008)<ref>{{Citation |title=Gary Wright - Waiting to Catch the Light |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/waiting-to-catch-the-light-mw0001779916 |work=AllMusic |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Connected'' (2010)<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
{{div col end}}

===Collaborations===
* ''Ring of Changes'' (1972) with Wonderwheel<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giles |first=Jeff |date=June 10, 2016 |title=New Gary Wright Album Features Unheard Performances by George Harrison |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/gary-wright-george-harrison-ring-of-changes/ |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |language=en}}</ref>
* ''That Was Only Yesterday'' (1973) with Spooky Tooth<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2023 |title="Dream Weaver" Singer Gary Wright Dead At 80 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2235090/dream-weaver-singer-gary-wright-dead-at-80/news/ |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Down This Road'' (2004) with Leah Weiss<ref>{{Citation |title=Gary Wright & Leah Weiss - Down This Road |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/down-this-road-mw0000331641 |work=AllMusic |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

===Soundtracks===
* ''Benjamin – The Original Soundtrack of Willy Bogner's Motion Picture'' (1974)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blaxploitation.com soundtracks: Benjamin, Gary Wright, 1974 |url=https://blaxploitation.com/s_273.html |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=blaxploitation.com}}</ref>
* ''[[Endangered Species (1982 film)|Endangered Species]]'' (1982)<ref name=":2" />
* ''[[Fire and Ice (1986 film)|Fire and Ice]]'' (1986)<ref name=":2" />

=== Compilations ===

* ''The Best of Gary Wright: The Dream Weaver'' (1998)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Varvaris |first=Mary |title=Gary Wright Passes Away, Aged 80 |url=https://themusic.com.au/news/gary-wright-passes-away-aged-80/vzF909LV1Nc/05-09-23 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=themusic.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
* ''The Essentials'' (2003)<ref name=":3"/>
* ''Greatest Hits'' (2017)<ref name=":3"/>

===Extended play===
* ''The Motion of Hidden Fire'' (2005)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Motion-Hidden-Fire-Gary-Wright/dp/B008K60RB8|website=amazon.com
|title=The Motion of Hidden Fire|access-date=April 2, 2024}}</ref>
* ''The Light of a Million Suns'' (2008)<ref>{{Cite web |last=newvin_admin |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Gary Wright {{!}} The Light Of A Million Suns / Waiting To Catch The Light – New Studio Release Review |url=https://vintagerock.com/gary-wright-the-light-of-a-million-suns-waiting-to-catch-the-light-new-studio-release-review/ |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=VintageRock.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable"
!align=center rowspan=2|Year
!align=center rowspan=2|Song
!align=center colspan=5|Peak chart positions 
! rowspan="2" |Certification
!align=center rowspan=2|Album
|-
!width=60|<small>[[Billboard Hot 100|U.S.<br/>Hot 100]]</small>
!width=60|<small>[[Adult Contemporary (chart)|U.S.<br/>A/C]]</small>
!width=60|<small>[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|U.S.<br/>R&B]]</small>
!width=60|<small>[[Kent Music Report|AUS]]</small><br /><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=343}}</ref>
!width=60|<small>[[RPM (magazine)|Canada]]</small>
|-
|align=left valign=center rowspan=2|1971
|align=left valign=top|"Get on the Right Road"<ref>{{Citation |title=Get on the Right Road by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/get-on-the-right-road-mt0000255785 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|
|align=left valign=center|''Extraction''
|-
|align=left valign=top|"Stand for Our Rights"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wright |first=Gary |date=September 29, 2014 |title=When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and More |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/29/when-gary-wright-met-george-harrison-dream-weaver-john-and-yoko-and-more |access-date=September 6, 2023}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|
|align=left valign=center rowspan=2|''Footprint''
|-
|align=left valign=center|1972
|align=left valign=top|"Two Faced Man"<ref>{{Citation |title=Two Faced Man by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/two-faced-man-mt0003479471 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|
|-
|align=left valign=center rowspan=3|1976
|align=left valign=top|"[[Dream Weaver]]"<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Cain |first=Sian |date=September 5, 2023 |title=Gary Wright, singer of Dream Weaver and Love is Alive, dies aged 80 |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/05/gary-wright-death-singer-dream-weaver-love-is-alive-dies-aged-80 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|2<ref name=":4" />
|align=center valign=center|14<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Gary Wright {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/gary-wright/ |access-date=September 6, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|24<ref name="aus2">{{cite book |last=Kent |first=David |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |publisher=Australian Chart Book |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6 |edition=illustrated |location=St Ives, N.S.W. |page=343 |author-link=David Kent (historian)}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|1<ref>{{cite web |title=Top Singles – Volume 25, No. 01 April 03, 1976 |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4096a&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105204529/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]}}</ref>
|
* US: Gold<ref name="Gold & Platinum"/>
|align=left valign=center rowspan=3|''The Dream Weaver''
|-
|align=left valign=top|"[[Love Is Alive (Gary Wright song)|Love Is Alive]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title='Dream Weaver' Singer Gary Wright Dead at 80 After Health Battle |url=https://www.tmz.com/2023/09/04/dream-weaver-love-is-alive-gary-wright-dead-dies/ |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=TMZ |date=September 4, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|2<ref name=":4" />
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|71<ref name="aus2" />
|align=center valign=center|6<ref name="bac-lac1">{{cite web |date=July 17, 2013 |title=Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4299a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4299a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4299a |accessdate=October 11, 2016 |website=Bac-lac.gc.ca}}</ref>
|
|-
|align=left valign=top|"Made to Love You"<ref>{{Citation |title=Made to Love You by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/made-to-love-you-mt0004699479 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|79<ref name=":2" />
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|
|-
|align=left valign=center rowspan=6|1977
|align=left valign=top|"Phantom Writer"<ref>{{Citation |title=Phantom Writer by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/phantom-writer-mt0008399163 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|43<ref name=":2" />
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|72<br><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5283b.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - April 9, 1977}}</ref>
|
|align=left valign=center rowspan=3|''The Light of Smiles''
|-
|align=left valign=top|"The Light of Smiles"<ref>{{Citation |title=The Light of Smiles by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/the-light-of-smiles-mt0006640427 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|
|-
|align=left valign=top|"Are You Weepin'"<ref>{{Citation |title=Are You Weepin' by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/are-you-weepin-mt0001837245 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|
|-
|align=left valign=top|"Touch and Gone"<ref>{{Citation |title=Touch and Gone by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/touch-and-gone-mt0001245247 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|73<ref name=":2" />
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|
|align=left valign=center rowspan=3|''Touch and Gone''
|-
|align=left valign=top|"Starry Eyed"<ref>{{Citation |title=Starry Eyed by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/starry-eyed-mt0015709400 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|
|-
|align=left valign=top|"Something Very Special"<ref>{{Citation |title=Something Very Special by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/something-very-special-mt0009768848 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|
|-
|align=left valign=center rowspan=1|1979
|align=left valign=top|"I'm the One Who'll Be by Your Side"<ref>{{Citation |title=I'm the One Who'll Be by Your Side by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/im-the-one-wholl-be-by-your-side-mt0033500062 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|—
|
|align=left valign=center rowspan=1|''Headin' Home''
|-
|align=left valign=center rowspan=3|1981
|align=left valign=top|"[[Really Wanna Know You]]"<ref>{{Citation |title=Really Wanna Know You by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/really-wanna-know-you-mt0006682289 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|16<ref name=":2" />
|align=center valign=center|32<ref>{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |title=Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher=Record Research |year=1993 |page=262 |authorlink=Joel Whitburn}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|—
|align=center valign=center|49<ref name="aus2" />
|align=center valign=center|14<ref>{{cite web |date=September 12, 1981 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0383&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0383.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0383 |accessdate=March 5, 2019 |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca}}</ref>
|
|align=left valign=center rowspan=3|''The Right Place''
|-
|align=left valign=top|"Heartbeat"<ref>{{Citation |title=Heartbeat by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/heartbeat-mt0003159374 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|align=center valign=center|107<ref>{{Citation |title=Gary Wright - Heartbeat / Comin' Apart |date=1981 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/6414789-Gary-Wright-Heartbeat-Comin-Apart |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
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|-
|align=left valign=top|"Close to You"<ref>{{Citation |title=Close to You by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/close-to-you-mt0006739419 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
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|-
|align=left valign=center|1988
|align=left valign=top|"Take a Look"<ref>{{Citation |title=Take a Look by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/take-a-look-mt0009394987 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
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|
|align=left valign=center rowspan=2|''Who I Am''
|-
|align=left valign=center|1989
|align=left valign=top|"It Ain't Right"<ref>{{Citation |title=It Ain't Right by Gary Wright - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/it-aint-right-mt0004393147 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
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|
|}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Badman|first=Keith|title=The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After the Break-Up 1970–2001|publisher= Omnibus Press|location=London|year=2001|isbn=978-0-7119-8307-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Bowden|first=Henry Warner|title=Dictionary of American Religious Biography|publisher= Greenwood Press|location=Westport, Connecticut|year=1993|isbn=0-313-27825-3}}
* {{cite book|editor-last1=Graff|editor-first1=Gary|editor-last2=Durchholz|editor-first2=Daniel|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|edition=2nd|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Farmington Hills, Michigan|year=1999|isbn=1-57859-061-2|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612}}
* {{cite book|last=Harrison|first=George|title=I Me Mine|publisher= Chronicle Books |location=San Francisco|year=2002|isbn=0-8118-3793-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Harrison|first=Olivia|title=George Harrison: Living in the Material World|publisher= Abrams |location=New York|year=2011|isbn=978-1-4197-0220-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Leng|first=Simon|title=While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Music of George Harrison|publisher=Hal Leonard|location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin|year=2006|isbn=978-1-4234-0609-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Murrells|first=Joseph|title=The Book of Golden Discs |edition=2nd |publisher=Barrie & Jenkins|location=London|year=1978|isbn=0-214-20512-6|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr}}
* {{cite book|title=The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll|publisher=Fireside/Rolling Stone Press|location=New York|year=1995|isbn=0-684-81044-1|url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonee00patr}}
* {{cite book|editor-last1=Randall |editor-first1=Mac |editor-last2=Brackett |editor-first2=Nathan |editor-last3=Hoard |editor-first3=Christian|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide ''(4th edn)''|publisher=Simon & Schuster|location=New York|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac}}
* {{cite book|last=Rodriguez|first=Robert|title=Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970–1980|publisher=Backbeat Books|location=Milwaukee|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4165-9093-4|url=https://archive.org/details/missodellmyhardd00odel}}
* {{cite book|last=Schaffner|first=Nicholas|title=The Beatles Forever|publisher=McGraw-Hill|location=New York|year=1978|isbn=0-07-055087-5|url=https://archive.org/details/beatlesforever00scha}}
* {{cite book|last=Spizer|first=Bruce|title=The Beatles Solo on Apple Records|publisher=498 Productions|location=New Orleans|year=2005|isbn=0-9662649-5-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Wright |first=Gary|title=Dream Weaver: A Memoir; Music, Meditation, and My Friendship with George Harrison|publisher=Tarcher/Penguin |location=New York|year=2014|isbn=978-0-399-16523-8}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*{{Allmusic}}
*{{Discogs artist}}
*{{imdb name}}
*{{MusicBrainz artist}}

{{Gary Wright|state=expanded}}
{{Spooky Tooth}}
{{George Harrison}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Gary}}
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