Travels With My Auntie Liz Tues 6 March 8-10pm
An admirer and friend of the ‘Songwriters Singer’ John Wright Liz is dedicating this weeks programme to John and his music on the 10 th year of his passing – with a ‘small’ selection of the music he has left behind!
John Wright June 22 1947 to February 7 2008
Brief Biog
Though born in Bournemouth, John moved to Didsbury aged two. The ardent Manchester City supporter was a chorister at the Stenner Road church and regularly attended the youth club, with his brothers Arthur, Bill and Peter.
After leaving school in Moss Side, John worked as a sales representative by day and played in rock bands in the evenings.
In 1970, having never ridden a horse, he joined the army’s Household Cavalry mounted regiment, the Life Guards.
During his army years, John rode as escort at Princess Anne’s wedding. But, by night, he continued with his music where he would sing in West End piano bars.
John later moved to the Scottish border, where he was a shepherd for around twenty years. Where he found
the traditional music at source – shepherding near Newcastleton and started to sing the songs – and as they say the rest is history!
In 1990, John funded his first album, Border Crossings, with the proceeds from the sale of a horse. It was a cassette of unaccompanied traditional songs, which later prompted the release of 13 albums of contemporary folk in which he received critical acclaim for his unique storytelling passion and lead him to be dubbed the ‘songwriter’s singer’
By 1993 the John Wright Band – John / Kenny Spiers / Wattie Robson were really taking off , Wattie left the band and Stewart Hardy joined and in 1999 the released Pages Turning CD with Greentrax And toured extensively throughout Europe with a growing fan base in Holland / Denmark and Germany as well as major festivals throughout the UK and almost every folk club in the land. His untimely death has not stopped the music from continuing and Kenny Spiers was a constant member in the Band with formed into Other Roads – who are still touring extensively.
Recordings
Border Crossing 1990
Ride The Rolling Sky 1993
The Things We Handed Down – 1996
Other Roads – 1997
Pages Turning – 1999 – Greentrax
A Few Short Lines – 2000 – Greentrax
Language of the Heart -2000 – Greentrax
For the following CD email Barbara Wright with your requests for these CD’s
Gypsy Life
Requests
Dangerous Times
Empty Chair
Time to Learn (EP)
& for DVD Tribute Concert – With Kieran Halpin/ Steve Knightley / Allan Taylor/ Maartin Allcock/ Troy donockley / Other Roads/ Robin Laing / The Dutch Choir
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