FOR FORTY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING BLUES MUSICIANSHIP IN KANSAS CITY, THE KANSAS CITY BLUES SOCIETY PRESENTS TO LAWRENCE WRIGHT ITS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WITH GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION, JULY 18, 1998" (inscription on plaque presented to Lawrence Wright)
Lawrence Wright was the recipient of the Kansas City Blues Society's 1998 Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented after the performance of Lawrence Wright & the Outlets at the 1998 Kansas City Blues & Jazz Festival.
Wright has been on the Kansas City music scene for more than 40 years, having moved here from Oklahoma in the late 1950's at the urging of the late Joe Williams.
Wright is a master of the keyboard and counts Jay McShann as one of his inspirations. In the course of his career, Wright has performed with a number of blues greats including Albert Collins and B.B. King.
Wright's current band, the Outlets, was put together in 1996 and includes Mark Eakin on bass and vocals, Don Scheucle on guitar and vocals, Brian Brickeen on drums, with Wright featured on keyboard and vocals. Lawrence Wright and the Outlets celebrated another event at the 1998 Kansas City Blues & Jazz Festival: the release of their new cd entitled "K.C. Style - Hot & Spicy," which features a number of outstanding original tunes, including the title cut, "Hot & Spicy," "I'm in Love Wid'ya Baby," and "Gots Sauce on My Shirt," definitely a sauce- inspired disc.
The cd was recorded at West End Studios in Kansas City and a limited edition of commemerative copies were released for sale at the festival. According to Mark Eakin, the cd is representative of Lawrence Wright & the Outlet's live show, which is indeed a hot and spicy experience. Thank you Lawrence, for 40 years of blues.
Webmaster: Gil T. Wilson
Last Modified 16 August '98