Dick Parry, the saxophonist behind some of Pink Floyd’s most recognizable musical moments, reportedly left an estate worth £50,000 when he died at 83 earlier this year.
Parry died on May 22nd, with the value of his estate now reported following probate proceedings. The figure stands in sharp contrast to the enormous commercial value of the recordings on which his distinctive saxophone can be heard.
Parry was never an official member of Pink Floyd, but he played on classics including “Money,” “Us and Them,” “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and “Wearing the Inside Out.”
He also toured with the band during the 1970s, returned for its 1994 world tour and performed at Pink Floyd’s historic Live 8 reunion in 2005.
Parry’s Estate Was Reportedly Valued at £50,000
The Daily Mail reported on August 7th that Parry left an estate valued at £50,000. Parry’s financial position was also fundamentally different from that of Pink Floyd’s core members. He contributed memorable performances to the band’s records as a musician but was never formally part of Pink Floyd.
In 2024, Pink Floyd agreed to sell its recorded-music and name-and-likeness rights to Sony Music for approximately $400 million, according to Variety. The deal involved David Gilmour, Roger Waters and Nick Mason, along with the estates of Richard Wright and Syd Barrett.
Songwriting rights were not included. There is no indication that Parry held an ownership interest that would have entitled him to proceeds from that transaction.
His Saxophone Became Part of Pink Floyd’s Biggest Records
Parry’s most famous work with Pink Floyd began with the sessions for 1973’s The Dark Side of the Moon. His tenor saxophone drives the instrumental break in “Money,” while his playing also became an integral part of “Us and Them.”
He returned for 1975’s Wish You Were Here, contributing the saxophone passage heard in “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” Parry also toured with Pink Floyd during its 1970s peak before largely stepping away from the music industry. Years later, he unexpectedly reentered the band’s orbit.
Parry played saxophone on “Wearing the Inside Out” from 1994’s The Division Bell and joined Pink Floyd for the album’s subsequent world tour. According to PEOPLE, the reunion came after Parry reconnected with Gilmour following years away from professional saxophone playing.
David Gilmour Had Known Parry Since He Was 17
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Parry’s relationship with Gilmour predated Pink Floyd by years. In his official tribute on May 22nd, Gilmour said the two had played in bands together since he was 17. He described Parry’s feel and tone as “unmistakable” and noted that his sound had become familiar to millions through Pink Floyd’s music.
Gilmour accompanied the tribute with a photograph of himself and Parry performing for the ABC Minors at the Victoria Cinema in Cambridge in 1963. Their decades-long friendship eventually helped bring Parry back to music. The Times reported in its obituary that Parry had left the industry and become a farrier, making and fitting horseshoes in Cambridgeshire.
Gilmour later recalled receiving a Christmas card from Parry after the two had gone years without seeing each other. By that point, Parry had previously sold his saxophones and stepped away from professional playing, although he had eventually bought another instrument.
Gilmour invited him to audition as Pink Floyd prepared to tour again. According to Gilmour’s recollection, Parry played only a few phrases before his old friend recognized the distinctive tone immediately.
Parry Returned for Live 8 and Gilmour’s Solo Tours
Parry’s 1994 comeback was not the end of his association with Pink Floyd’s music. He joined Gilmour, Waters, Wright and Mason when Pink Floyd’s classic lineup reunited for Live 8 at London’s Hyde Park in July 2005. It was the first time the four had performed together in more than two decades and ultimately their final performance as that lineup.
Parry subsequently joined Gilmour’s touring band for the On an Island tour, which also featured Wright. His wider career extended beyond Pink Floyd. Parry toured with The Who and accumulated recording credits with artists including Rory Gallagher, J.J. Jackson, Bloodstone and Banco de Gaia.