Dick Parry is the saxophonist behind some of Pink Floyd’s most famous solos.
He died on May 22, 2026, at age 83.
Born Richard Parry, he grew up in the same Cambridge music scene as Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and David Gilmour.
His childhood friendship with Gilmour brought him into Pink Floyd’s orbit in 1973.
From there, his sax became part of rock history.
He played the solos on “Money,” “Us and Them,” “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and “Wearing the Inside Out.”
He also spent decades as an in-demand session player far outside Pink Floyd.
This is the full story of Dick Parry, from a Cambridge dance band to some of the most recognized saxophone parts in classic rock.
Even after his death, those saxophone parts remain instantly recognizable to millions of listeners.
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📋 Table of Contents [+]
⚡ Key Takeaways
- Dick Parry, born Richard Parry on December 22, 1942, in Kentford, Suffolk, played saxophone on Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon.
- His solos appear on “Money,” “Us and Them,” “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and “Wearing the Inside Out.”
- Parry was a lifelong friend of David Gilmour from Cambridge’s 1960s music scene.
- He toured with Pink Floyd from 1973 to 1977, on the 1994 world tour, and at the 2005 Live 8 reunion.
- Dick Parry died on May 22, 2026, at age 83.
Who Was Dick Parry?
Dick Parry was an English saxophonist best known for his session work with Pink Floyd.
He was born Richard Parry on December 22, 1942.
His hometown was Kentford, a small village in Suffolk, England.
Parry grew up in the Cambridge music scene of the early 1960s.
That scene also produced Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and David Gilmour.
He built a reputation as a reliable, versatile saxophonist long before Pink Floyd came calling.
His career eventually spanned four decades of session work across rock, blues and even electronica.
What Was Dick Parry’s First Band?
Parry began his career in Soul Committee, a Cambridge-based band active in the mid-1960s.
The group played the local dance hall and club circuit around Cambridge.
That scene was tight-knit and small.
Aspiring musicians and art students all crossed paths at the same venues.
Parry’s saxophone work stood out even in those early gigs.
It laid the groundwork for the session career that followed.
How Did Dick Parry Meet David Gilmour?
Parry met David Gilmour through Cambridge’s small, overlapping music scene in the early 1960s.
Both played in separate local bands at the time.
Parry played saxophone in Soul Committee.
Gilmour played guitar in Jokers Wild, a different Cambridge group.
The two musicians became lifelong friends despite never sharing a band lineup themselves.
That friendship outlasted every other connection in Parry’s career.
It eventually opened the door to Pink Floyd.
How Did Dick Parry Join Pink Floyd?
Parry joined Pink Floyd’s studio sessions in 1973 at David Gilmour’s invitation.
By then, Gilmour had been Pink Floyd’s guitarist for several years.
He remembered his old Cambridge friend’s saxophone playing.
Gilmour brought Parry in to record on the album that would become The Dark Side of the Moon.
Parry was not a full-time member of the band.
He worked as a guest session musician, a role he would hold with Pink Floyd for over 30 years.
Dick Parry’s Saxophone on The Dark Side of the Moon
Parry’s saxophone appears on two tracks from The Dark Side of the Moon, released in 1973.
He played the solo on “Money”, one of the album’s most recognizable moments.
He also played saxophone on “Us and Them.”
Both tracks became staples of Pink Floyd’s live sets for decades.
Parry’s saxophone tone gave the album a jazz-inflected texture that set it apart from the band’s earlier records.
What Did Dick Parry Play on Wish You Were Here?
Parry returned for Wish You Were Here, released in 1975.
He played saxophone on “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” the album’s epic centerpiece.
His solo appears specifically in Part V of the multi-part composition.
The track became one of Pink Floyd’s most enduring pieces of music.
Parry’s playing gave the song’s slow build an extra layer of melancholy.
Dick Parry and The Division Bell
Parry’s saxophone also appears on The Division Bell, released in 1994.
He played on “Wearing the Inside Out,” a track sung largely by keyboardist Richard Wright.
The album marked Parry’s return to Pink Floyd after a long gap since the 1970s.
It also reunited him with Gilmour for what became one of the band’s final studio efforts.
Did Dick Parry Tour With Pink Floyd?
Yes, Parry toured with Pink Floyd across multiple eras of the band.
He played every live show between 1973 and 1977.
That stretch included the In the Flesh tour in 1977, where he also added keyboards during “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”
He rejoined the band for the full 1994 world tour behind The Division Bell.
He returned once more in 2005 for the Live 8 reunion in London.
At Live 8, Parry played his original saxophone part on “Money” alongside the reunited classic lineup.
That reunion brought Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright together on stage for the first time in over 20 years.
Dick Parry’s Work Outside Pink Floyd
Parry built an extensive session career outside of Pink Floyd.
He recorded and performed with artists including Rory Gallagher and John Entwistle.
His credits also include Quiver, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, J.J. Jackson and blues artist Lightnin’ Slim.
That range across rock and blues sessions kept him working steadily for decades.
Few saxophonists of his generation moved between so many different styles and lineups.
💡 Did You Know?
Dick Parry toured as part of the Who‘s brass section in 1979 and 1980, between his stints with Pink Floyd.
Did Dick Parry Play With David Gilmour’s Solo Band?
Yes, Parry joined David Gilmour’s solo touring band on multiple occasions.
He appeared on Gilmour’s live dates in 2001 and 2002.
He also joined Gilmour’s 2006 On an Island tour.
On that tour, Parry expanded beyond saxophone to play glass harmonica and keyboards.
His presence on Gilmour’s solo stage extended a musical partnership that had started decades earlier in Cambridge.
💡 Did You Know?
In 1997, Parry played saxophone on “Celestine” by Banco de Gaia, an electronic act far removed from Pink Floyd’s sound.
Dick Parry’s Legacy as a Session Player
Parry’s legacy rests on a handful of saxophone parts that became inseparable from Pink Floyd’s identity.
His playing on “Money” is still one of the most recognized saxophone hooks in rock history.
He never became a full member of Pink Floyd.
His guest role made his contributions rare enough to always stand out.
Younger saxophonists studying classic rock still learn his parts note for note.
In 2009, Parry toured Europe and South Africa with the Violent Femmes, proof his work never stopped even late in his career.
Millions of fans know every word of “Money” without knowing his name.
That kind of anonymity is common for session musicians, even ones as central to a record’s sound as Parry was.
How Did Dick Parry Die?
Dick Parry died on May 22, 2026, at age 83.
No cause of death has been disclosed publicly.
David Gilmour announced the death himself on social media.
Gilmour wrote, “My dear friend Dick Parry died this morning.”
Gilmour also praised Parry’s playing, saying his “feel and tone make his saxophone playing unmistakable.”
Tributes from fans and musicians followed across the classic rock world.
As of 2026, Parry’s recorded saxophone work remains a permanent part of Pink Floyd’s catalog.
People Also Ask
Who is Dick Parry?
Dick Parry was an English saxophonist best known for his session work with Pink Floyd. He played the saxophone solos on “Money,” “Us and Them,” “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and “Wearing the Inside Out.” Born December 22, 1942, in Kentford, Suffolk, he died on May 22, 2026, at age 83.
Did Dick Parry play saxophone on “Money”?
Yes, Dick Parry played the saxophone solo on Pink Floyd’s “Money,” from the 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. He also played saxophone on “Us and Them” from the same record. Both parts remain among his most recognized contributions to the band.
Was Dick Parry an official member of Pink Floyd?
No, Dick Parry was never an official member of Pink Floyd. He worked as a guest session saxophonist, a role that began in 1973 and continued on and off for more than 30 years. His guest status did not stop him from touring with the band across multiple eras.
How did Dick Parry die?
Dick Parry died on May 22, 2026, at age 83. No cause of death has been made public. David Gilmour announced the death on social media, calling Parry “my dear friend.”
How did Dick Parry know David Gilmour?
Dick Parry and David Gilmour were lifelong friends from Cambridge’s early 1960s music scene. Parry played saxophone in a band called Soul Committee while Gilmour played guitar in Jokers Wild. Gilmour later invited Parry to record with Pink Floyd starting in 1973.
What other artists did Dick Parry play with?
Dick Parry recorded and toured with artists including Rory Gallagher, John Entwistle and the Who. He also played saxophone for the electronica act Banco de Gaia and toured with the Violent Femmes in 2009. His career stretched far beyond his best-known work with Pink Floyd.
Watch Dick Parry’s Signature Saxophone Live
Essential Pink Floyd Albums Featuring Dick Parry
The Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd, 1973
Features Parry’s saxophone on “Money” and “Us and Them.”
The best starting point for hearing his work.
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd, 1975
Includes his solo on “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”
One of his most emotional recorded performances.
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The Division Bell
Pink Floyd, 1994
Features his saxophone on “Wearing the Inside Out.”
His return to the band after nearly two decades.
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The Wall
Pink Floyd, 1979
A landmark Pink Floyd record from the same era of Parry’s Floyd years.
Essential listening for any Floyd collection.
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Another respected sideman whose guitar work elevated other artists’ records the way Parry’s sax elevated Pink Floyd’s.
A session musician whose playing became inseparable from other bands’ most famous records, much like Parry’s saxophone did for Pink Floyd.
A background session voice turned essential contributor, following the same path from sideman to signature sound.
A bandleader whose rotating lineups launched careers, much like the Cambridge scene that connected Parry to Pink Floyd.
Dick Parry never joined Pink Floyd as a full member, and it never mattered.
His saxophone became one of the band’s most identifiable sounds anyway.
From a Cambridge dance band to Live 8, his career proved a guest musician can still leave a permanent mark on rock history.
Last updated: August 30, 2026.
Dick Parry’s saxophone work with Pink Floyd remains one of classic rock’s most enduring session credits.