Gary Wright Biographical Sketch 1966 - Completing his studies at the Frei University in Berlin in post graduate psychology, Gary Wright actively begins pursuing music. Already fluent in German, he spends the next year touring throughout Germany doing live performances and beginning his career as a songwriter. 1967 - Gary meets Island Records founder Chris Blackwell and moves to London where he forms rock group Spooky Tooth. Island releases "It's All About", the group's first record which immediately wins critical acclaim. The group begins touring the UK and Europe. 1969 - Second album "Spooky Two" is released entering the international record charts and becoming a "classic". The group does several successful US tours playing with such legends as Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones. 1970-74 - Gary leaves Spooky Tooth for a time to produce records for veteran producer Jimmy Miller of Rolling Stone and Traffic fame. Playing keyboards on George Harrison's classic "All Things Must Pass" along with Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Phil Collins and other greats, he begins a musical relationship with Harrison which includes playing on his upcoming records as well as co-writing songs on several of George's albums. George and Gary visit India together in 1972 as Ravi Shankar's guests and Gary cultivates long term relationships with some of India's classical artists including Lakshmi Shankar, Ravi Shankar and L. Subramanium. Recording two critically acclaimed albums for A&M Records, he then reforms Spooky Tooth with Mick Jones (who later went on to form super group Foreigner) and releases three more albums. In June of 1974, he signs a solo deal with Warner Bros. Records. 1975 - Gary writes and produces an all keyboard/synthesizer album "The Dream Weaver", the first ever of it's kind. Touring with a unique all keyboard band, his new record races up the charts. Pioneering new technologies in cut down versions of synthesizers and drum machines, the music instrument business begins manufacturing his ideas which by the late 80's have become a huge business. 1976 - The song "Dream Weaver" goes to #1 in the charts and the next release, "Love Is Alive", goes to #2, selling over 2 million albums and over 2 million singles. "The Dream Weaver" soon becomes a classic. Gary tours the US and Europe with Peter Frampton and Yes, selling out stadium size venues and wins the Don Kirschner award for Best Vocalist of 1976. 1977-81 - Continuing a heavy touring schedule, Gary releases four more albums for Warner Bros., the last being "The Right Place" containing the hit single "Really Want To Know You". 1982-87 - Focusing his energy on scoring films, he collaborates with producer Shep Gordon (manager of Alice Cooper and Blondie) and writes the score for the Allen Rudolf thriller "Endangered Species". He later continues writing film music for Sylvester Stallone in "StayinŐ Alive" and Willie Bogner's German Oscar-winning "Fire and Ice". The "Fire and Ice" soundtrack charts in the top five in Germany containing five of Gary's songs and is a huge hit in 1986 for CBS. Co-writing with Jeff Lynne and George Harrison, he again plays keyboards on George's #1 selling "Cloud Nine" album, along with guests Elton John and Eric Clapton. 1988 - Gary releases "Who I Am" on Cypress Records using an all-star cast of musicians including a South Indian percussion section and performances from Indian classical greats Lakshmi Shankar and L. Subramanium. The album is critically acclaimed in Germany winning audiophile awards for its production. 1989-92 - Beginning a promising songwriting partnership with Bobby Hart, Gary begins writing and recording his next solo effort. In November 1991, Warner Bros. Records asks Gary to re-make "Dream Weaver" for the film "Wayne's World". Early in 1992, "Wayne's World" becomes the #1 film and #1 soundtrack album in Billboard, selling over 2 million copies and scoring high in the international charts. Joe Cocker re-makes "Love Is Alive" on his latest effort and charts internationally. Several well known" rap" artists, including Third Base and Ton Loc, use samples of Gary's music on their records. Ton Loc's album sells over 3 million worldwide. 1993-95 - Gary records and releases his first world music album, "First Signs Of Life" incorporating music and percussion from Brazil and Nigeria Included on the album are guest appearances by George Harrison and Terry Bozzio. 1995-1998 - Dream Weaver appears in Academy Award nominee film "The People vs. Larry Flynt". Female vocal group Third Party records a dance version of Love is Alive, which becomes a Top 40 hit. Carol Burnette's daughter Erin Hamilton records a dance version of Dream Weaver, which enters the dance music charts. Gary completes his new studio album "Human Love" featuring guest appearances from Traveling Wilbury Jeff Lynne and Peter Gabriel violinist L.Shankar among others. Rhino Records schedules the release of "The Best of Gary Wright - The Dream Weaver" for Fall of 98. 1998-2001- Joan Osborne re-records "Love is Alive" on her 2000 release "Righteous Love." Anastacia also re-records "Love is Alive" on her 2000 release "Not that Kind" which tops the charts in Europe and Asia. Gary launches his new record label Larkio Music with "Human Love" in the Fall of 2000 with more releases from both his sons Dorian and Justin (Give) to follow in 2001. Willy Bogner's new IMAX film "Ski to the Max" starring Pink and John Eaves premiers in Berlin in October 2000, featuring Gary's new song "We can Fly" as the title track. The soundtrack album from the film is released on BMG Records in Europe in the Fall of 2000 and includes 3 of Gary's songs. Click for Song Lyrics