Richard Wright, a founding member of the legendary rock band Pink Floyd, died Monday at age 65.

Floyd's spokesman Doug Wright, who is not related to the artist, said Wright died after a battle with cancer at his home in the UK, but he did not give more details about his death.

"The family of Richard Wright announce with great sadness that Richard died today after a short struggle with cancer," the spokesman told media. "The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."

"He was gentle, unassuming and private but his soulful voice and playing were vital, magical components of our most recognized Pink Floyd sound," the band's songwriter, vocalist and guitarist David Gilmour wrote on his Web site, adding, "I have never played with anyone quite like him."

Richard Wright, who played the keyboard, who wrote Pink Floyd hits "The Great Gig in the Sky" and "The Dark Side of the Moon," met bandmates Roger Waters and Nick Mason in college and joined their group, Sigma 6, which eventually became Pink Floyd in 1965, along with the late Syd Barrett. The band went on to sell over 200 million albums worldwide.

Wright, quit the band in 1980 following their tour supporting the double album "The Wall" because of increasing tensions within the group.

(L to R)British rock stars, Dave Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Richard Wright of Pink Floyd, perform at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park in London July 2, 2005.[Xinhua/Reuters]

In 1987 he rejoined for the album "A Momentary Lapse of Reason，" but without Waters. The band recorded one more studio album, "The Division Bell," before ceasing touring.

In 2005, Waters, Gilmour, Wright and drummer Nick Mason performed live together for the first time in 24 years at the Live 8 benefit concert in London.

Wright released two solo albums, "Wet Dreams" in 1978 and "Broken China" in 1996, but neither made Billboard's Top 200 albums chart.

(Xinhua/Agencies September 16, 2008)