Gary Wright, singer-songwriter known for 70s hits 'Dream Weaver' and 'Love Is Alive,' dies at 80

[rogerballard]

Source: ABC 7 Los Angeles

PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. (KABC) -- Gary Wright, best known for his 1976 hit songs "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive," died after long health battle, his son told Eyewitness News. He was 80.

His son, Justin, said his father had been suffering with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia for the past six years.

The singer-songwriter died Monday morning at his home in Palos Verdes Estates surrounded by his family and loved ones.

Word of his death spread on social media with many fans and fellow musicians sharing their memories of Wright, including singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop.

Read more: https://abc7.com/gary-wright-dream-weaver-singer-celebrity-deaths-2023-love-is-alive-dies/13736354/

[RSherman]

1. Oh darn, sheesh, I loved Dream Weaver when I was in high school.

[rogerballard]

3. I was in 11th grade

Laying in my room, smoking herb and headphones on.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

"Dreamweaver" was one of my favorite songs!

R.I.P.

ETA - gotta add this -

[turbinetree]

4. Oh no....................best album ever made in my opinion......

[The Polack MSgt]

18. I was about to break out the Spooky Tooth as well

Such a great talent.

[turbinetree]

26. This album and the The Mirror ..........

are just amazing ......they were all amazing talent......

[NBachers]

24. Yep, Spooky Tooth has always been high on my listening list.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Bummer!

Gary could play. He was a driving force in Spooky Tooth, and for a long time was Ringo's first call for his all-star tours.
He went to medical school, but always turned back to music.

[hlthe2b]

6. Oh, geez. I just can't take all these music icons leaving us!

He was very talented and Dream Weaver was such a classic.

[LoisB]

7. Oh, no. I really liked his voice. Sympathy for his family and friends.

[dalton99a]

8. R.I.P.

[byronius]

21. Great post.

Thanks.

[Drum]

9. R.I.P. and props to this artist from my youthful and impressionable days!

[LenaBaby61]

10. Lord have MERCY Jesus, my youth is dying out on me ......

RIP Gary

[RobinA]

34. Tell Me About It

My college career is passing before my eyes.

[TeamProg]

11. Talented guy, interesting career. American invited to England and had some hits!

Rest in peace.

[BOSSHOG]

12. Can we stop the Madness?

By my decree, anyone who performed music in the 60s, 70s and 80s can not die for another 50 years. Those who have died in the last week will come back to life and continue performing.

[orangecrush]

22. +1

[Rebl2]

13. First concert

I ever went to at age 18. Met a young man at community college and he liked his music as did I. His uncle took us because neither of us knew how to get to concert venue. We did enjoy the concert as I remember.

[catbyte]

14. He was a talented guy, but...

he was the biggest jerk I've ever worked with. I worked stage/backstage security at the university I attended back in the day and met members of some of the biggest bands in the early 70s like Aerosmith, Genesis, Santana, Frank Zappa (the coolest, nicest guy on the planet), Jimmy Buffet (RIP -- nice guy), Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, Steve Miller Band, Leon Russell, J. Geils Band, Ike and Tina Turner (she was a force of nature), the list goes on.

I'm sad that it's the only way I'll ever remember him. Condolences to his family.

[Fresh Water Falling]

15. Another great song, albeit not as famous

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[StClone]

17. Thank you! Gem of a long time ago that has power and appeal

[StClone]

16. On a late night drive from Iowa to the MN Boundary Waters Canoe Area

In May 1976 we drove all night listening to "Love Hangover," "More, More, More," and "Shake You Booty." Our party in five vehicles finally rolled into the canoe rental at 3:15 AM. It was a magic week spent fishing, experiencing the wilds, and sharing each others company of the 18 people on the trip.

Most memorable on the ride home again in the dark, sealing the mystique of that week on a still impressionable 18 yer-old, was Gary Wright's two hits "Dream Weaver," and "Love is Alive." Both to this day take me back to that time of mosquito bites, crazy campfire stories, and comradery. Good bye Gary you talented man!

[Bengus81]

31. It's crazy what you can remember from decades and decades ago.............

and there is many times a song connected to it. I remember in late Feb 1976 taking a new Corvette I bought back to the dealership for some minor warranty work. It was early morning,it was dark,it was snowing and Dream Weaver was playing on the radio adding to the effect of snow swirling around in my headlights.

I remember that like it was yesterday for some reason and forget other stuff from a week ago. The brain storage system is strange indeed.

[StClone]

32. Can be profound or forgotten...strange indeed.

[The Polack MSgt]

19. I stole Spooky Tooth records from my Uncle. I had the Dream Weaver 8-Track in my plymouth

Damn. RIP Mr. Wright

[byronius]

20. I loved his voice.

Dream on, Dreamweaver.

[Ligyron]

23. Gawds, I hated that song.

A roomie used to play that damned thing every chance he got, that and Frampton Comes Alive which I also learned to hate. We were two couples who shared a house.

Me and Girlfriend, (and boy, was she gorgeous too) would reach back a few years and counter with Get Yer Ya Ya's Out, the Rolling Stone's classic live recording made during their '69 tour. Yeah, there were overdubs but so what? The idea is to create art and after I'd played Sympathy for the Devil enough times, Mick Taylor, and Keith's guitar parts finally educated him to what real Rock n Roll was supposed to sound like.

I think that guy ended up as a prison guard at Raiford.

Figures.

[area51]

25. RIP

[DemocraticPatriot]

27. "Dreamweaver", one of the songs I heard many times secretly

while going to sleep in the 1970s.... with an earphone

RIP Mr. Wright....

[The Grand Illuminist]

28. Saw him in 2008

as a member of Ringo's All Starr Band.

[Doc_Technical]

29. Thank You Gary Wright. RIP

[calimary]

30. Damn. Another one gone.

Sheesh. I thought “Love Is Alive” was one of the sexiest songs I’d ever heard.

[LudwigPastorius]

33. I always dug his songs because of...

the way they were orchestrated with synthesizers.

One of the first albums I had as a kid was Wendy Carlos' "Switched On Bach", so I was kind of synth-obsessed.
Later, listening to the rock station, my ears perked up when I heard his tunes.

You can't beat that Moog bass.