Richard Wright, a founder member of Pink Floyd, died yesterday at the age of 65 after battling cancer, his spokesman said.

Wright played the keyboard with the legendary band and wrote music for classic albums Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here.

His spokesman said: "The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness, that Richard died [yesterday] after a short struggle with cancer.

"The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."

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Wright's spokesman did not say from what form of cancer the star had been suffering.

David Gilmour, Pink Floyd’s guitarist, used his online blog yesterday to pay tribute to Wright, telling fans: “I really don’t know what to say other than that he was such a lovely, gentle, genuine man and will be missed terribly by so many who loved him. And that’s a lot of people. Did he not get the loudest, longest round of applause at the end of every show in 2006?”

He added later: “No one can replace Richard. He was my musical partner and my friend. I have never played with anyone quite like him.

“In my view all the greatest PF moments are the ones where he is in full flow. After all, without Us and Them and The Great Gig in the Sky, both of which he wrote, what would The Dark Side of the Moon have been? Without his quiet touch the album Wish You Were Here would not quite have worked. I loved him and will miss him enormously.”

A flood of tributes from fans, who were unaware of his illness, also appeared on the web. “He is by far one of the most underrated musicians in rock and his keyboard work will never be forgotten,” wrote Howard Bayliss.

The self-taught keyboardist and pianist met fellow band members Roger Waters and Nick Mason while at architecture school.

He was a founder member of The Pink Floyd Sound in 1965, and the group's previous incarnations, such as Sigma 6.

In the early days of Pink Floyd, Wright, along with Syd Barrett, was seen as the group's dominant musical force.

The London-born musician and son of a biochemist wrote and sang several songs of his own.

The Great Gig In The Sky, and Us And Them, both from 1973's seminal Dark Side Of The Moon album, were his most well-known compositions.

He also made essential contributions to Atom Heart Mother, Echoes and Shine On You Crazy Diamond, the tribute to former band member Barrett.

Wright recorded his first solo project, Wet Dream, in 1978.

After his relationship with Waters became increasingly difficult, he left Floyd following sessions for the album The Wall.

Wright was retained as a salaried session musician during live concerts in 1980 and 1981.

In 1983, Pink Floyd released the only album in which Wright does not appear - The Final Cut.

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