David Gilmour

This article is about the English rock musician. For his 1978 album, see David Gilmour (album). For the American jazz guitarist, see David Gilmore.
For other people named David Gilmour, see David Gilmour (disambiguation).

David Gilmour
CBE
Gilmour at the Royal Albert Hall in 2024
Born
David Jon Gilmour

(1946-03-06) 6 March 1946 (age 78)
Cambridge, England
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active1963–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1975; div. 1990)​
​
(m. 1994)​
Children8
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
DiscographyDavid Gilmour discography
Labels
Member ofPink Floyd
Formerly of
Websitedavidgilmour.com

David Jon Gilmour CBE (/ˈɡɪlmɔːr/ GHIL-mor; born 6 March 1946) is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter who is a member of the rock band Pink Floyd. He joined in 1967, shortly before the departure of the founder member Syd Barrett.[1] By the early 1980s, Pink Floyd had become one of the highest-selling and most acclaimed acts in music history.[2] Following the departure of Roger Waters in 1985, Pink Floyd continued under Gilmour's leadership and released the studio albums A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987), The Division Bell (1994) and The Endless River (2014).

Gilmour has released five solo studio albums: David Gilmour (1978), About Face (1984), On an Island (2006), Rattle That Lock (2015) and Luck and Strange (2024). He has achieved three number-one solo albums on the UK Albums Chart, and six with Pink Floyd.[3] He produced two albums by the Dream Academy, and is credited for bringing the singer-songwriter Kate Bush to public attention, paying for her early recordings and helping her find a record contract.

As a member of Pink Floyd, Gilmour was inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2003, Gilmour was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). He received the award for Outstanding Contribution at the 2008 Q Awards.[4] In 2023, Rolling Stone named him the 28th-greatest guitarist.

Gilmour has taken part in projects related to issues including animal rights, environmentalism, homelessness, poverty, and human rights. He has married twice and is the father of eight children. His wife, the novelist Polly Samson, has contributed lyrics to many of his songs.

  1. ^ Povey 2008, p. 47.
  2. ^ For 250 million records sold see: "Pink Floyd Reunion Tops Fans' Wish List in Music Choice Survey". Bloomberg Television. 26 September 2007. Archived from the original on 12 August 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2012.; For 74.5 million RIAA certified units sold see: "Top Selling Artists". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  3. ^ Brannigan, Paul (13 September 2024). "'I'd like to thank everyone who's bought my new album and helped make it number 1.' David Gilmour celebrates his third solo UK number one album with Luck and Strange". Classic Rock. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Gilmour dedicates his award to late colleague". Q Awards. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2011.