Wright's Music - Biography of Songwriter and Composer Laurence Wright

Laurence Wright.
Born in Manchester on the 15th October 1943, and now living in Leigh Lancashire, Laurence was named after the actor Sir Laurence Olivier. His grandmother had been a semi-professional pianist who had accompanied her singing husband in the music halls, and not surprisingly she began teaching Laurence to play piano at an early age.
He has gigged with numerous other musicians and singers at various times in his life and he entered his first song competition (staged by a local radio station) in the early 1970's. Married life and the need to look after his family then took over but during the early 90's he became involved with a variety group who performed in aid of charities. During this time he provided musical accommpanient for a number of the acts as well as forming a duo singing 'Lanky' songs (traditional Lancashire songs). He also took up the role of Musical Director for a local Amateur Dramatic Society providing the music for two productions.

Over the years lugging amplifiers and keyboards around lost its attraction and Laurence turned his attention to songwriting. This lead him to entering another song competition for the first time in many years. It was a local competition entitled 'A Song for Leigh' and was sponsored by Wigan Metropolitan Local Authority. Laurence won with his composition "Leigh Calypso". In more recent times he received a Unisong Certificate of Achievement for his composition "Too Lazy To Die" a collabration with Ernie Ford, a poet and writer from Bolton, Lancashire. Ernie had written a musical play entitled "The Oath"about the Industrial Revolution, and Laurence also wrote 12 pieces of music for Ernies lyrics. For anyone interested there is a link to "The Oath" on the Music page. Laurence's main musical influences are Anthony Newley, Del Shanon, ELO, Procol Harem, mainstream Jazz Standards and Country music. Songs written by him vary from Rock to Country and Ballads to rap and there are a few environmental songs. Instrumental compositions vary from Symphonic ballads to contemporary urban music. More recently Laurence has become interested in musical arrangements and has created backing tracks in mp3 format for a number of well known and popular songs.