Curtis Wright

Last updated

Curtis Wright
Birth nameCurtis Blaine Wright
Born (1955-06-06) June 6, 1955 (age 68)
Origin Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres Country
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1974–present
Labels MCA/Airborne, Liberty, Voxhall Records
Formerly of Super Grit Cowboy Band, Orrall & Wright, Shenandoah, Pure Prairie League

Curtis Blaine Wright (born June 6, 1955) is an American country music artist. He first played in the 1970s and 80s as a member of the Super Grit Cowboy Band before becoming a solo artist in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Wright charted three singles on Billboard Hot Country Songs between 1990 and 1993. He has also recorded as a member of Orrall & Wright, Shenandoah, and Pure Prairie League. In addition to these, Wright holds several credits as a songwriter, including the number one singles "A Woman in Love" by Ronnie Milsap, "Next to You, Next to Me" by Shenandoah, and "What's It to You" by Clay Walker.

Contents

Biography

Curtis Blaine Wright was born June 6, 1955, in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. [1]

Initially a member of a band known as the Country Generation, succeeded by 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 1989 and released "She's Got a Man on Her Mind", which charted at number 38 on Hot Country Songs. (A version of the same song by Conway Twitty charted one year later.) Wright was also slated to release an album titled Slick Hick in March 1990, which would have been produced by himself and Jeff Carlton. [4] However, the album went unreleased due to financial issues with the label. [5]

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". [6] Also in 1992, Wright co-wrote a song with fellow country singer Dennis Robbins and musician Warren Haynes which would become the title track of Robbins first Giant Records album called "Man With A Plan", for which Wright also provided backing vocals. By 1994, Wright joined Orrall to form Orrall & Wright, a duo which charted two singles, recorded one album for Giant Records and received a Duo of the Year nomination from the Country Music Association 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. [7] Wright left Shenandoah in 2007 to join Reba McEntire's band and Jimmy Yeary succeeded him. He also toured as a member of Pure Prairie League in the beginning of the 21st century. [8]

Discography

Albums

TitleAlbum details
Slick Hick
  • Release date: Unreleased
  • Label: Airborne Records
Curtis Wright [9]
Curtis Wright [10]
  • Release date: April 22, 2016
  • Label: Voxhall Records

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart
positions		Album
US Country CAN Country
1989"She's Got a Man on Her Mind" [1] 38—Slick Hick(unreleased)
1990"You Saved Me" [11] ——
1992"Hometown Radio" [12] 5966Curtis Wright(1992)
1993"If I Could Stop Lovin' You" [13] 5379
2016"Going Through Carolina"——Curtis Wright(2016)
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

YearVideoDirector
1993"If I Could Stop Lovin' You"Michael Merriman

Chart Singles written by Curtis Wright

The following is a list of Curtis Wright compositions that were chart hits.

YearSingle TitleRecording ArtistChart Positions
Billboard CountryBillboard Hot 100RPM Country
1982She Is the Woman Super Grit Cowboy Band 48
1987You Saved Me Patty Loveless 43
1989Who Needs YouThe Sanders73
A Woman in Love
co-written with Doug Millett		 Ronnie Milsap 11
Who's Lovin' My Baby John Anderson 66
1990 Next to You, Next to Me
co-written with Robert Ellis Orrall 		Shenandoah 11
There for Awhile
co-written with Anna Lisa Graham		 Steve Wariner 1716
1991She's Got a Man on Her Mind
co-written with Billy Spencer		 Conway Twitty 2243
1992 Rock My Baby
co-written with Billy Spencer and Phil Whitley		Shenandoah24
1993 What's It to You
co-written with Robert Ellis Orrall		 Clay Walker 1731
1994If I Ever Love Again
co-written with Billy Spencer		 Daron Norwood 4852
If You Could Say What I'm Thinking
co-written with Robert Ellis Orrall		 Orrall & Wright 7068
1995My Girl Friday
co-written with Carl Jackson 		Daron Norwood58
Too Much Fun
co-written with T. J. Knight 		Daryle Singletary 410
1998Takin' the Country Back
co-written with Marty Stuart 		John Anderson4169
When You Get to Be You
co-written with Dennis Robbins and Michael Dan Ehmig		 Lisa Brokop 6457
2003You Can't Take It With You When You Go
co-written with T. J. Knight		 Rhonda Vincent 58
2004Go Home
co-written with Jim Collins 		Steve Holy 49
2005Get Outta My Way
co-written with Robert Ellis Orrall		 Carolina Rain 28

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Milsap</span> American recording artist; country music singer and pianist

Ronnie Lee Milsap is an American country music singer and pianist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenandoah (band)</span> American country music group

Shenandoah is an American country music band founded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in 1984 by Marty Raybon, Ralph Ezell, Stan Thorn, Jim Seales, and Mike McGuire. Thorn and Ezell left the band in the mid-1990s, with Rocky Thacker taking over on bass guitar; Keyboardist Stan Munsey joined the line up in 1995, until his departure in 2018. The band split up in 1997 after Raybon left. Seales and McGuire reformed the band in 2000 with lead singer Brent Lamb, who was in turn replaced by Curtis Wright and then by Jimmy Yeary. Ezell rejoined in the early 2000s, and after his 2007 death, he was replaced by Mike Folsom. Raybon returned to the band in 2014. That same year, Jamie Michael replaced the retiring Jim Seales on lead guitar.

Carolina Rain was an American country music group composed of Jeremy Baxter, Rhean Boyer, and Marvin Evatt. Founded in 2003, the band was signed in 2004 as the first act on Equity Music Group, an independent record label owned by country music artist Clint Black. Carolina Rain has released one studio album and has charted five singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Two more singles were released in 2008 before Equity closed. In April 2019, Marvin Evatt released his debut EP titled Songs from the Boat

Robert Ellis Orrall is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Signed to RCA Records in 1980, Orrall debuted that year with the album "Fixation". His first Top 40 single was "I Couldn't Say No", a duet with Carlene Carter. By 1990, Orrall had found success as a songwriter, having penned Number One singles for Shenandoah and Clay Walker. He returned to RCA in 1991 and charted the singles "Boom! It Was Over" (#19) and "A Little Bit of Her Love" (#31), from his first country music album, Flying Colors. Orrall then joined frequent songwriting partner Curtis Wright in the CMA-nominated duo Orrall & Wright, recording one more album and charting two singles. They split up in 1994, however, and Orrall returned to his solo career, writing singles for Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, and Lindsay Lohan, as well as producing records for Swift, Be Your Own Pet, and Love and Theft. He also performs and records as an indie rock musician in the band Monkey Bowl.

Orrall & Wright was an American country music duo composed of Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright. Both members had recorded solo albums and had charted singles of their own prior to Orrall & Wright's inception. As Orrall & Wright, they charted two more singles and recorded a self-titled album on the Giant label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What's It to You</span> 1993 single by Clay Walker

"What's It To You" is a debut song written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright, and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was released In July 1993 as his debut single, and was served as the lead-off single from his self-titled debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Was Almost Like a Song</span> 1977 single by Ronnie Milsap

"It Was Almost Like a Song" is a song written by Hal David and Archie Jordan, and recorded by American country music singer Ronnie Milsap. It was released in May 1977 as the first single and title track from the album It Was Almost Like a Song. It became one of the greatest hits of his recording career upon its release in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(There's) No Gettin' Over Me</span> 1981 single by Ronnie Milsap

"(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" is a song written by Walt Aldridge and Tom Brasfield, and recorded by American country music singer Ronnie Milsap. It was released in June 1981 as the first single from the album There's No Gettin' Over Me. Known by many fans by its less grammatically correct title "There Ain't No Gettin' Over Me" — the song's official title appears nowhere in the lyrics — the song became one of Milsap's biggest country hits and his only top 10 pop hit during his recording career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World</span> 1981 single by Ronnie Milsap

"I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World" is a song written by Charles Quillen, Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan, and recorded by American country music singer Ronnie Milsap. It was released in October 1981 as the second single from the album There's No Gettin' Over Me. The song became one of his biggest hits in his recording career and came during the peak of his crossover success.

"Pure Love" is the song which also marked the first country chart-topping single by its writer, Eddie Rabbitt, a country music singer.

Dennis Anthony Robbins is an American musician who first made himself known as a guitarist in the band Rockets. After his departure from The Rockets, he began a career in country music, recording three major-label albums and several singles of his own, in addition to writing hit singles for Highway 101, Shenandoah and Garth Brooks.

The discography of American country music singer Ronnie Milsap consists of 30 albums and 79 singles. Since releasing his first album in 1971, Milsap has had 36 number-one hits on the Billboard country chart and sold over 35 million albums. In addition, 26 of his US number-one hits reached number-one on the RPM Top Country Tracks chart in Canada; three songs that did not reach number-one in the US were number one in Canada; and two of his US number-one country hits also topped the US adult contemporary chart. As of 2000, he has recorded 7 gold albums, 1 platinum album, and 1 double-platinum album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Any Day Now (Burt Bacharach song)</span> 1962 song by Bacharach and Bob Hilliard

"Any Day Now" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard in 1962. It has been recorded by numerous artists over the years, including notable versions by Chuck Jackson in 1962, Alan Price in 1965, Elvis Presley in 1969, Scott Walker in 1973 and Ronnie Milsap in 1982. In the lyrics, the singer predicts the imminent demise of a romantic relationship and describes the sadness this will leave.

"A Woman in Love" is a song written by Curtis Wright and Doug Millett, and recorded by American country music singer Ronnie Milsap. It was released in September 1989 as the third single from the album Stranger Things Have Happened. It was his last song to reach number one on the U.S. country singles chart.

"Next to You, Next to Me" is a song written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright, and recorded by American country music group Shenandoah. It was released in June 1990 as the lead-off single from their album Extra Mile. It was a Number One hit in both the United States and Canada. It is also the band's longest-lasting number 1, at three weeks. As of 2006, no other single from Columbia had spent three weeks atop the country charts.

"Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart" is a song written by Bill LaBounty and Rick Chudacoff, and recorded by American country music band Shenandoah with a guest vocal from bluegrass singer Alison Krauss. It was released in November 1994 as the first single from Shenandoah's album In the Vicinity of the Heart, its only release for Liberty Records. The song was a Top Ten country hit in 1995, winning a Grammy Award and a Country Music Association award for both acts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Today My World Slipped Away</span>

"Today My World Slipped Away" is a song co-written and first recorded by American country music artist Vern Gosdin. Gosdin's version was released in October 1982 as the fifth single and title track from his album Today My World Slipped Away. Gosdin's version reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. George Strait released a cover of the song in September 1997 as the third single from his album Carrying Your Love with Me. Strait's version reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in November 1997. Gosdin wrote the song with Mark Wright.

"Chiseled in Stone" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Vern Gosdin. It was released in August 1988 as the third single and title track from the album Chiseled in Stone. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Gosdin wrote the song with Max D. Barnes.

Super Grit Cowboy Band is an American country music band formed in North Carolina. It was founded by Clyde Mattocks, Libby Mattocks, Bill Lyerly, Danny Vinson, Dave Cavanaugh and Alfred Ward. Active since 1974, the band recorded first with Sound Hut Studios. Beginning with their 1981 album, the band has recorded on its own Hoodswamp label.

"Rock My Baby" is a song written by Curtis Wright, Billy Spencer and Phil Whitley, and recorded by American country music group Shenandoah. It was released in March 1992 as the first single from their album Long Time Comin'. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in July, 1992, and peaked at number four in Canada.

References

  1. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2017). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2017. Record Research, Inc. p. 407. ISBN   978-0-89820-229-8.
  2. 1 2 Mansfield, Brian. "Curtis Wright Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  3. ↑ Roland, Tom (1991). The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits . Billboard Books. p.  572. ISBN   0-8230-7553-2.
  4. ↑ "New Artist Fact File" (PDF). Radio & Records : 56. December 1, 1989.
  5. ↑ Lewis, Jim (February 21, 1990). "Record label can't release artist's song". The Bryan Times. UPI. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Shenandoah". Patterson & Associates. Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  7. ↑ Bennett, Mark (May 2, 2007). "Shenandoah to perform at Fairbanks Park festival". Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  8. ↑ Smith, Stephen (May 2, 2007). "Raise the Roof 5: Pure Prairie League Ready for Show". The Pilot. Archived from the original on August 17, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Album Reviews". Billboard . August 15, 1992. p. 57.
  10. ↑ This is not a reissue of the 1992 album
  11. ↑ Richliano, Jim (November 18, 1989). "New on the charts" (PDF). Billboard. p. 48. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . July 18, 1992. p. 72.
  13. ↑ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . December 19, 1992. p. 71.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.