Lawrence Wright

Lawrence Wright (15 February 1888 – 19 May 1964) was a British popular music composer and publisher. He was born in Leicester and opened a music shop in the city in 1906. A short time later his first song, "Down By The Stream", was published, and by 1912 he had established the Lawrence Wright Music Co in Denmark Street, London. Wright went on to write (or co-write) over 600 songs under his own name and as Horatio Nicholls, including the World War I propaganda song "Are We Downhearted? No!", and would receive an Ivor Novello Award in 1962 for Outstanding Contribution to British Popular Music. He was one of the very rare composers of popular music in this period to make a substantial amount of money - it had not been unusual to see composers who had written dozens of hits die in poverty.

In 1927, Wright appeared in a short film made in the DeForest Phonofilm with excerpts of his revue Sensations of 1927.

His 1927 collaboration with Edgar Leslie, "Among My Souvenirs", has been covered by artists including Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland, and Connie Francis. Wright founded Melody Maker magazine in 1926. He moved to Blackpool in the early 1920s and became a show promoter. Running "On With The Show" on the North Pier for a record-breaking 32 years (1924 - 1956). He lived in a mock castle house, later called the Castle Casino, on Blackpool's North Promenade. After he began using a wheelchair, he moved to a bungalow in Carlin Gate. After being sold, much memorabilia was discovered at the address including posters, bills, letters, sheet music and musical scores.

In 1930 he composed Amy, Wonderful Amy, a song about Amy Johnson.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 15, 1888 (Leicester), Died May 19, 1964 (Blackpool)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1908 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, lyricist

Notes: Lawrence Wright wrote under many pseudonyms including Everett Lynton, Gene Williams, Betsy O'Hagan, and Horatio Nicholls.

See Also: Wright, Lawrence; Nicholls, Horati

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 141 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh W81903 10-in. 11/30/1927 Among my souvenirs Seger Ellis ; Justin Ring Salon Orchestra Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh W81945 10-in. 12/19/1927 Among my souvenirs Seger Ellis Piano solo composer  
OKeh W401434 10-in. 12/6/1928 My inspiration is you Seger Ellis Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh W402229 10-in. 1/11/1929 My inspiration is you Gus Arnheim ; Cocoanut Grove Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W404886 10-in. 3/18/1931 Say a little prayer for me Fred Rich Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick 5194-5195 10-in. approximately Mar. 1921 Wyoming Charles Hart ; Elliott Shaw Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 10680-10682 10-in. 5/18/1923 The kingdom within your eyes Theo Karle Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 10738-10740 10-in. 5/24/1923 The kingdom within your eyes Theo Karle Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 11845-11847 10-in. 11/9/1923 The kingdom within your eyes Theo Karle Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E27243 10-in. 4/2/1928 Entre mis recuerdos Orquesta Marimba de Luis Medrano Marimba band composer  
Brunswick E28890 10-in. 12/12/1928 My inspiration is you Chester Gaylord ; William Wirges Male vocal solo, with steel guitar and piano composer  
Brunswick E29003 10-in. 12/20/1928 My inspiration is you Arnold Johnson ; Paramount Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick E36216 10-in. 3/4/1931 Say a little prayer for me Will Osborne and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E6831-E6832 10-in. 1/11/1928 Among my souvenirs Richard Green Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E21495-E21497 10-in. 2/14/1927 I never see Maggie alone Macy and Smalle Male vocal duet, with piano composer  
Brunswick E24718-E24721 10-in. 10/13/1927 Among my souvenirs Nick Lucas Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer  
Brunswick E25211-E25213 10-in. 11/14/1927 Among my souvenirs Regent Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (E25213) composer  
Brunswick E25429-E25430 10-in. 12/5/1927 Among my souvenirs Lee Sims Piano solo composer  
Brunswick E25640-E25642 10-in. 12/15/1927 Among my souvenirs Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E26406-E26407 10-in. 2/7/1928 Entre mis recuerdos Pilar Arcos Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E26960-E26962 10-in. 3/13/1928 Shepherd of the hills Jessica Dragonette Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E30384-E30385 10-in. 7/25/1929 Mistakes Regent Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick C3875 10-in. July 1929 Mistakes Freddie Rose Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick C3966 10-in. 7/30/1929 Mistakes Freddie Rose Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick C4374 10-in. 9/18/1929 Wyoming lullaby Kalaluhi Honolulu Quartet Instrumental quartet, with vocal quartet composer  
(Results 76-100 of 141 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wright, Lawrence," accessed June 1, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100861.

Wright, Lawrence. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved June 1, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100861.

"Wright, Lawrence." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 1 June 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100861

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