Pink Floyd saxophonist Dick Parry, who died in May at the age of 83, left an estate valued at approximately £50,000. Probate records indicate that Parry, of Kentford, Suffolk, died intestate, meaning his assets will be divided among his relatives according to law.
Parry played saxophone on several of Pink Floyd's most famous albums, including "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Wish You Were Here," and was a regular collaborator who was considered more than a session musician. His estate's net value, after liabilities, was recorded as £50,741 from his £53,341 gross estate in the UK.
This figure stands in stark contrast to the estimated fortunes of Pink Floyd's core members. According to the Sunday Times Rich List, guitarist David Gilmour's net worth is £115 million, while Roger Waters, who departed the band in 1985, is reported to be worth £160 million. Parry's estate is less than 0.03% of Gilmour's estimated wealth.
Parry was born in 1942 and spent his youth in Cambridge. He befriended Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour when they were both in Cambridge-based bands in the mid-1960s. Gilmour recruited Parry to provide saxophone for "Dark Side of the Moon" in 1973, an album that has sold over 50 million copies worldwide. He also contributed to "Wish You Were Here" and "The Division Bell," and was part of Pink Floyd's touring band in 1973, 1977, and 1994.
His distinctive saxophone solos were a memorable feature of the band's 1970s work, notably on the track "Money" from "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" from "Wish You Were Here." Parry also briefly toured with The Who. He stepped away from the music industry during Pink Floyd's peak recording period for "The Wall" and became a farrier in Cambridgeshire.
Parry re-joined Pink Floyd for their 1994 album "The Division Bell" and later toured with Gilmour and the Violent Femmes. He also appeared with the band when they reunited for Live 8 in 2005.
David Gilmour announced Parry's death on social media, sharing a photograph of them together from 1963 and paying tribute to his "unmistakable" saxophone playing, which he noted was a signature of enormous beauty known to millions and a significant part of songs like "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," "Us and Them," and "Money."
In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Parry collaborated with other artists, including Rory Gallagher, John Entwistle, and Mick Grabham of Procol Harum.