Dick Parry, Saxophonist Who Played Classic Solos on Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ and ‘Wish You Were Here’ Albums, Dies at 83

Dick Parry, the saxophonist whose soulful playing defined some of rock's most iconic moments, has passed away at the age of 83. His death was confirmed on Friday by his lifelong friend David Gilmour via social media. Parry's contributions to Pink Floyd's landmark albums "The Dark Side of the Moon" and "Wish You Were Here" are legendary, with his saxophone solos on tracks like "Money" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" becoming instantly recognizable to millions of listeners worldwide. Born in Suffolk, England, Parry's musical journey began long before his work with the progressive rock giants, having first performed with Gilmour as teenagers in Cambridge during the early 1960s.

In a heartfelt tribute posted on Instagram, Gilmour described Parry as "my dear friend" and highlighted the unmistakable quality of his saxophone playing. "His feel and tone make his saxophone playing unmistakable, a signature of enormous beauty," the guitarist wrote. The post included a touching photo montage showing the pair's decades-long friendship, with one image capturing them performing for the ABC Minors program at the Victoria Cinema in Cambridge back in 1963. Industry figures and fellow musicians were quick to offer their condolences, with Graham Nash expressing his sympathy and Merck Mercuriadis posting a simple but poignant "Thank you Mr. Parry for the music."

Parry's career with Pink Floyd spanned several eras, from his initial touring with the band between 1973 and 1977 to his return for the 1994 album "The Division Bell." That album, recorded after the acrimonious split between Gilmour and Roger Waters, featured Parry's unmistakable saxophone on "Wearing the Inside Out." He also performed at the historic Live 8 reunion show in 2005—the band's only full performance with all classic members—and joined Gilmour's 2006 On An Island tour, which notably included the late Rick Wright. Fans often marveled at Parry's stagecraft, particularly his habit of wearing two saxophones at once, allowing him to seamlessly switch instruments mid-solo during performances of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond."

Remarkably, Parry had stepped away from music entirely for a period, selling his saxophones and working as a farrier—a specialist in horseshoeing—before rediscovering his passion. In a 1994 interview, Gilmour recounted how a simple Christmas card from Parry led to his musical comeback. "I got him down to the boat to have a little audition. And he played about three phrases and myself and Bob [Ezrin] said, 'Fine, he's still got it,'" Gilmour recalled. "Boom, he's got that tone. It's fantastic. You can recognize it straight away." This reunion not only brought Parry back to the stage but also reintroduced his singular sound to a new generation of Pink Floyd fans, cementing his legacy as one of rock's most distinctive and beloved sidemen.