Curtis Wright - Biography

Biography

Initially a member of a band known as the Super Grit Cowboy Band, 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.