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“At a certain point in their career, Pink Floyd began working on a piece originally titled “The Mortality Sequence,” a composition dedicated to the theme of death. However, the song took on a life of its own and, somewhat ironically, was later frequently used on various adult television channels due to its evocative and sensual nature.

The band wanted to include vocals in the track, but they did not have any lyrics. This song would eventually become known as “The Great Gig In The Sky. ” Initially, they considered inviting Cathy Berberian, a renowned avant-garde vocalist, but were unable to arrange her participation.

It was producer Alan Parsons who suggested hiring a session singer, and he brought in Clare Torry, a relatively unknown vocalist at the time. What happened next was extraordinary: after hearing the chords, Torry was asked to improvise freely. During her recording session, she delivered an emotionally powerful vocal performance, improvising with such intensity that she felt almost exposed and vulnerable. Yet, her improvisation became a defining feature of the track, creating something truly miraculous.

In many respects, Clare Torry became a co-author of the piece, as her improvised vocals essentially composed the song’s melody. Initially, she was paid a standard session fee of 30 pounds and was not credited as a songwriter. However, Torry later asserted her creative contribution to the piece, and in 2005, an agreement was reached with Pink Floyd to officially recognize her as a co-composer of “The Great Gig In The Sky,” alongside Richard Wright. Torry’s contribution is now widely acknowledged as a vital part of one of Pink Floyd’s most iconic songs”.