Curtis Wright
Encyclopedia
Curtis Blaine Wright 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.
, Wright later performed as a backup vocalist for Vern Gosdin
before venturing out on his own. In late 1989-early 1990, he entered the country music charts with his first single, "She's Got a Man on Her Mind". The same year, Shenadoah
reached Number One on the same charts with "Next to You, Next to Me", which Wright co-wrote with his frequent songwriting partner, Robert Ellis Orrall
. Wright also co-wrote Steve Wariner
's 1990 single "There for Awhile" and Ronnie Milsap
's Number One hit "A Woman in Love
".
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
".
By 1994, Wright joined Orrall to form Orrall & Wright
, a duo which charted two singles and recorded one album for Giant Records before disbanding. 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. Wright left Shenandoah in 2007 to join Pure Prairie League
, and Jimmy Yeary succeeded him.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk 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
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
, before recording a solo album in 1992 on Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
. By 1994, he and frequent songwriting partner Robert Ellis Orrall
Robert Ellis Orrall
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...
had formed a duo known as Orrall & Wright
Orrall & Wright
-Track listing:#"She Loves Me Like She Means It" – 2:44#"The Last Time I Loved Like That" – 3:50#"I'm Outta Here" -Track listing:#"She Loves Me Like She Means It" (Angelo Petraglia, Robert Ellis Orrall, Billy Spencer) – 2:44#"The Last Time I Loved Like That" (Orrall, Curtis Wright) – 3:50#"I'm...
, which also recorded one major-label album. Wright later succeeded Brent Lamb in 2002 as the lead vocalist for the band Shenandoah
Shenandoah (band)
Shenandoah is an American country music group founded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in 1984 by Marty Raybon , Ralph Ezell , Stan Thorn , Jim Seales , and Mike McGuire...
, until being replaced by Jimmy Yeary in 2007. He has toured as a member of Pure Prairie League
Pure Prairie League
Pure Prairie League, sometimes abbreviated PPL, is an American country-rock band whose roots began between 1964 and 1969 in Waverly, Ohio with Craig Fuller, George Powell, Tom McGrail, Jim Caughlan and John David Call. In 1970 McGrail named the band after a 19th century temperance union mentioned...
as well.
Biography
Initially a member of a band known as the Super Grit Cowboy BandSuper Grit Cowboy Band
Super Grit Cowboy Band is an American country music band formed in North Carolina. It was founded by Clyde Mattocks, Danny Vinson, Mike Kinzie, Bill Ellis and Curtis Wright...
, Wright later performed as a backup vocalist for Vern Gosdin
Vern Gosdin
Vern Gosdin was an American country music singer. He idolized The Louvin Brothers and The Blue Sky Boys as a young man and sang in a gospel quartet called The Gosdin Brothers. An inheritor of the soulful honky tonk style of Lefty Frizzell and Merle Haggard, Gosdin was nicknamed "The Voice" by his...
before venturing out on his own. In late 1989-early 1990, he entered the country music charts with his first single, "She's Got a Man on Her Mind". The same year, Shenadoah
Shenandoah (band)
Shenandoah is an American country music group founded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in 1984 by Marty Raybon , Ralph Ezell , Stan Thorn , Jim Seales , and Mike McGuire...
reached Number One on the same charts with "Next to You, Next to Me", which Wright co-wrote with his frequent songwriting partner, Robert Ellis Orrall
Robert Ellis Orrall
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...
. Wright also co-wrote Steve Wariner
Steve Wariner
Steven Noel "Steve" Wariner is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. He has released eighteen studio albums, including six on MCA Records, and three each on RCA Records, Arista Records and Capitol Records...
's 1990 single "There for Awhile" and Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Lee Milsap is an American country music singer and pianist. He was one of country’s most popular and influential performers of the 1970s and 1980s...
's Number One hit "A Woman in Love
A Woman in Love (Ronnie Milsap song)
"A Woman in Love", recorded by country music singer Ronnie Milsap in 1989, was his last song to reach number one on the U.S. country singles chart. It tells of man who is confused with the way women in love behave...
".
In 1992, Wright signed to Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
, 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
What's It to You
"What's It To You" is the debut single of American country music singer Clay Walker that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Released as the lead-off single from his self-titled debut album, it was also Walker's first Number One single...
", which Wright also co-wrote with Orrall. Although Wright's version was never released as a single, Clay Walker
Clay Walker
Ernest Clayton "Clay" Walker Jr. is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single "What's It to You," which reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, as did its follow-up, 1994's "Live Until I Die." Both singles were included on...
later recorded this song on his 1993 debut album
Clay Walker (album)
-Critical reception:Geoffrey Hines of The Washington Post wrote, "The impressive debut album by Clint Black mastermind James Stroud, reveals a young man still casting about for his own style but nonetheless bringing a handsome, personal tenor and a sure rhythmic instinct to every song he tries...
, and his version was a Number One hit that year. He also co-wrote Shenandoah's 1992 single "Rock My Baby
Rock My Baby
"Rock My Baby" is the title of a song 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 #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in July 1992 and peaked at #5 in Canada.-Chart...
".
By 1994, Wright joined Orrall to form Orrall & Wright
Orrall & Wright
-Track listing:#"She Loves Me Like She Means It" – 2:44#"The Last Time I Loved Like That" – 3:50#"I'm Outta Here" -Track listing:#"She Loves Me Like She Means It" (Angelo Petraglia, Robert Ellis Orrall, Billy Spencer) – 2:44#"The Last Time I Loved Like That" (Orrall, Curtis Wright) – 3:50#"I'm...
, a duo which charted two singles and recorded one album for Giant Records before disbanding. After the departure of their former lead singer Brent Lamb (who, in turn, replaced Marty Raybon
Marty Raybon
Marty Raybon Marty Raybon Marty Raybon (born December 8, 1959 is an Award Winning American country music artist. He is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of the band Shenandoah, a role which he held from 1985 to 1996. He recorded his first solo album, Marty Raybon, in 1995 on Sparrow...
) in the late 1990s, Shenandoah chose Wright as their third lead singer. Wright left Shenandoah in 2007 to join Pure Prairie League
Pure Prairie League
Pure Prairie League, sometimes abbreviated PPL, is an American country-rock band whose roots began between 1964 and 1969 in Waverly, Ohio with Craig Fuller, George Powell, Tom McGrail, Jim Caughlan and John David Call. In 1970 McGrail named the band after a 19th century temperance union mentioned...
, and Jimmy Yeary succeeded him.
Albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Curtis Wright |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
|||
| 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 | ||||