Gary doesn't usually get credit for being one of the earliest pop artists to take a keyboards-only approach. The back cover of
The Dream Weaver (actually, his third solo album) states, "This is an album of keyboard music. With the exception of drums and vocals (and Ronnie Montrose's guitar on 'Power of Love') all the music here was performed on keyboard instruments." I've never heard any later artist, like say, the Human League acknowledge that Gary even did this -- let alone that he might have influenced them.
Yeah, "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive" were omnipresent on radio through the Seventies, and still get a lot of airplay today, on various formats. (I like the way "Dream Weaver" was used in
Wayne's World, almost as much as I like the "Bohemian Rhapsody" scene.)
Rest in peace, Gary, and thanks. I'm sure the musical backing for the celestial choir is a little bit richer now.
