PAST & PRESENT:- Joe Wright, Pete Abbott, Gregor Borland, Ruth Angell, Joe Topping, Terry Coyne, Tony Gibbons, Chris Parkinson, Fraser Spiers, Maartin Allcock, Angus Lyon, Colin Train, Kenny Speirs, Stewart Hardy.
JOHN WRIGHT + FRIENDS: Stevie Lawrence, Wendy Weatherby, Angus Lyon.
To mark John's birthday on 22nd June, his daughter Kate signed up to take part in The Adidas Women's Challenge 5k run. Kate plans to donate all of the money she raises to Diabetes UK.
It is with great sadness that we give you the news of John's passing.
After feeling unwell John was admitted to hospital on Tuesday, but the doctor's were unable to save him and he passed away peacefully 7 February 2008..
John touched the lives of thousands across Europe, he will be remembered by us all through the wonderful legacy he has left us in music.
If you would like to share your message or memories with us, please do so.
Over the last 13 years, John Wright is a name that has become synonymous with the best in the interpretation of contemporary folk song in the UK. During this time, John has carved a career and reputation attracting a fan-base throughout Europe and beyond.
Now established as one of the most accomplished and sophisticated interpreters of contemporary song on the European acoustic-roots music scene, John is justifiably renowned for his ability to pick great songs to sing which he performs with passionate sincerity.
His integrity as an artist is admired by fellow performers and fans alike, as is his willingness to give encouragement ansd opportunity to young players with his touring band line-ups.
John now has 12 CDs to his credit and in 2005 released his first DVD - 'John Wright Life and Live'.
However, it was John's album 'Dangerous Times'- launched in the spring of 2002 - that was to herald a new direction in a life which had already become accustomed to dramatic change.
From a high profile spotlight as a member of the Household Cavalry, to the solitary existence of a hill shepherd, John emerged to take centre-stage as a professional singer in the early '90s. John's introduction to music began as the youngest of four brothers all choristers at their local church in East Didsbury. As the Sixties scene took off in Manchester, so did John's enthusiasm, and he played with several local rock bands before moving to London to join the army. But even the pomp and ceremony of the Life Guards couldn't keep John quiet, and he spent many hours bolstering his army pay as a tuxedo-clad crooner in the piano bars of the West End.
John became interested in folk music whilst still in the army and this increased as he left to make his life as a shepherd, at first in Northumberland on the English Borders and later as he moved over to the Scottish side. For more than 20 years John was immersed in the Border Hills, singing only occasionally at local functions. In 1990 however, he was persuaded to record a cassette of acapella singing -- "Border Crossings" funded from the sale of his shepherding pony "Bandit"! The cassette brought John a few festival invitations and thence to the attention of Paul and Linda Adams at Fellside Records. Fellside gave John the opportunity to record his first album in 1993 "Ride the Rolling Sky". Two of the accompanying musicians on the CD were Kenny Speirs and Wattie Robson , who together with John became the John Wright Band. The 'game', as they say, was ON!
Three Fellside albums were produced before the band moved to Greentrax Records, Scotland, to record two further CDs. John also recorded his solo album --"A Few Short Lines" -- which featured players from his "Friends" tours of Holland. During this time the Band was in demand for concerts, festivals and at folk clubs throughout the UK, Holland, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark. John also gained a fan-base in the USA when he completed a tour of the east coast with singer/song-writer Maurice Dickson.
In 2001 the original band line-up changed and John began touring with a pool of fine musicians from the British acoustic music scene -- working with a five-piece band to single guitar accompaniment.
Also I run The Great Edinburgh Run to help send Finola Forman to college as the government in Scotland unlike the rest of the UK wont help disabled people with complex needs when they want to go into further education, check out her site at
I posted up a link of John's You Tube performance of Down Too Deep on a forum I visit and John just blew them away... he's gaining new fans still. Thinking of you all at this Christmas season and remembering John with love.
still listening n thinking of John ,great guy ,great voice,love "Windy harbour" "dont let a moment pass you by" simple lyrics that say so much, cheersColin
hi all ,barbara it was great as always to see you the other week at darlington . the guys did i wonderful tribute to john ,they did well. its wonderful they carrying on as john wrights band, ill always have wonderful memories . take good care all of you . much love as always shaza x
John, was a great singer with fantastic musicans! We will always miss him! Now it's John wright's band en they did a good job 24 march in Sneek. We will always come to visite the band when they are playing in Friesland! Love Anne-Marie
john will never be forgotten ,he is with us in his wonderful music and voice , barbara and the family are always in my thoughts , he s left us all with so many wondeful memories . stay strong ,always remember the good times , which i know is difficult . take care everyone
John, Wonderful Songs, Wonderful Lyrics, Wonderful voice, Wonderful Man...Happy memories...Pleasure to have dealt with you and Barbara over the years. Karen x
Hello i'm grace [johns step daughter for those of you who dont know] just letting everybody know on behalf of the whole family that it is hard but everyone is doing ok. we thank everybody all so much for their comments, cards, letters and messages on the guestbook on the website. john will be missed by lots of people but at least he left behind his music for everyone to enjoy. john will never be forgotten.
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