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 126-141 of 141 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Edison 8515 10-in. 6/30/1922 That old fashioned mother of mine Robert Gayler ; Joseph A. Phillips Baritone vocal solo, with piano composer  
Edison 8903 10-in. 4/3/1923 In a caravan Charlie Kerr Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 9012 10-in. 6/6/1923 The kingdom within your eyes Lewis James Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 11417 10-in. 1/6/1927 I never see Maggie alone Sherman and Ryan Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Edison 18011 10-in. 11/4/1927 Among my souvenirs Charles Harrison Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 18070 10-in. 11/30/1927 Among my souvenirs Palais D'Or Orchestra ; B. A. Rolfe Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 18181 10-in. 1/20/1928 Among my souvenirs Frederick Kinsley Pipe organ solo composer  
Edison 18247 10-in. 2/18/1928 Among my souvenirs Edisonians Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 18254 10-in. 2/23/1928 Shepherd of the hills Happiness Orchestra ; Billy Jones ; Dave Kaplan Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Edison 18980 10-in. 1/3/1929 My inspiration is you Mike Speciale Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison N-671 10-in. 1/3/1929 My inspiration is you Mike Speciale Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Gramophone 0B4071 10-in. 10/11/1932 A bedtime story New Mayfair Orchestra ; Ray Noble Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Gramophone 0B4074 10-in. 10/11/1932 Rock your cares away New Mayfair Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Gramophone Bb19964 10-in. 9/1/1930 Say a little prayer for me New Mayfair Dance Orchestra ; Ray Noble ; Jack Plant Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Gramophone Bb19981 10-in. 9/8/1930 Say a little prayer for me Morton Downey Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor (Canada) [ViC cat 263520-A] 10-in. approximately spring 1928 Parmi mes souvenirs Fernand Perron Male vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano composer  
(Results 126-141 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

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.