It's certainly no secret that I'm a fan of Pink Floyd, especially "The Dark Side of the Moon". There are references- a-plenty to their music throughout this website, from direct ones to subtle post titles as well. So it was with sadness yesterday that I heard the news of the death of Rick Wright, one of the founding members of the group, and a strong contributor to many of their most recognizable selections.
It's an odd feeling to be getting old enough to have people who's work played some role of relevance in my lifetime, passing away. It was one thing to be younger and hear about the deaths of people like Dean Martin or even Elvis Presley, because I didn't feel a personal experience or connection to them in my generation. That's slowly changing, and the names in the musicians obituary column are striking more familiar chords as the years march forward.
One of my favorite musical documentaries is Classic Albums: The Making Of The Dark Side Of The Moon". In this, Rick Wright discusses his affection for Jazzand how a chord from Miles Davis's "Kind of Blue" was instrumental in writing the song "Breathe", and how a few initial chords turned into their masterpiece, "The Great Gig In The Sky". Here is that "Great Gig" clip, for your enjoyment, in memory of a substantial musician who's creative efforts have left their mark on my life.
