Curtis Wright
| Curtis Wright | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Curtis Blaine Wright |
| Born | June 6, 1955 |
| Origin | Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1989-present |
| Labels |
MCA/Airborne, Liberty (solo) Giant (in Orrall & Wright) Free Falls, Cumberland Road (in Shenandoah) |
| Associated acts |
Vern Gosdin Robert Ellis Orrall Shenandoah |
Curtis Blaine Wright (born June 6, 1955 in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania) is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1989 with the single "She's Got a Man on her Mind" on a branch of MCA Records, before recording a solo album in 1992 on Liberty Records. By 1994, he and frequent songwriting partner Robert Ellis Orrall had formed a duo known as Orrall & Wright, which also recorded one major-label album. Wright later succeeded Brent Lamb in 2002 as the lead vocalist for the band Shenandoah, until being replaced by Jimmy Yeary in 2007. He has toured as a member of Pure Prairie League as well.[1]
Biography
Initially a member of a band known as the Super Grit Cowboy Band, Wright later performed as a backup vocalist and guitarist for Vern Gosdin.[2] In December 1989, he quit Gosdin's band and wrote Ronnie Milsap's number one single "A Woman in Love".[3] Wright signed with Airborne Records in 1990 and released "She's Got a Man on Her Mind", which charted at number 38 on Hot Country Songs. Due to the label's lack of finances, he did not release an album.[4] Later in the same year, he co-wrote Shenandoah's "Next to You, Next to Me" with Robert Ellis Orrall, and Steve Wariner's top 20 hit "There for Awhile".
In 1992, Wright signed to Liberty Records, where he released his self-titled debut album that year. This album produced two more low-charting singles. It also included the song "What's It to You", which Wright also co-wrote with Orrall. Although Wright's version was never released as a single, Clay Walker later recorded this song on his 1993 debut album, and his version was a number one hit that year. He also co-wrote Shenandoah's 1992 single "Rock My Baby".[5] By 1994, Wright joined Orrall to form Orrall & Wright, a duo which charted two singles and recorded one album for Giant Records before disbanding.[2] Wright later wrote Daryle Singletary's 1996 single "Too Much Fun".
After the departure of their former lead singer Brent Lamb (who, in turn, replaced Marty Raybon) in the late 1990s, Shenandoah chose Wright as their third lead singer.[6] Wright left Shenandoah in 2007 to join Pure Prairie League, and Jimmy Yeary succeeded him.
Discography
Albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Curtis Wright |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | CAN Country | |||
| 1990 | "She's Got a Man on Her Mind" | 38 | — | Single only |
| 1992 | "Hometown Radio" | 59 | 66 | Curtis Wright |
| 1993 | "If I Could Stop Lovin' You" | 53 | 79 | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
References
- ↑ Smith, Stephen (2007-05-24). "Raise the Roof 5: Pure Prairie League Ready for Show". The Pilot. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mansfield, Brian. "Curtis Wright Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
- ↑ Roland, Tom (1991). The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits. Billboard Books. p. 572. ISBN 0-8230-7553-2.
- ↑ Lewis, Jim (21 February 1990). "Record label can't release artist's song". The Bryan Times (UPI). Retrieved 3 April 2013.
- ↑ "Shenandoah". Patterson & Associates. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
- ↑ Bennett, Mark (2007-05-24). "Shenandoah to perform at Fairbanks Park festival". Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
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