John E. Wright

John Wright was born to Lillian and Louis Wright on February 20, 1922. He grew up in the Laurelhurst neighborhood of Seattle, where his mother raised chickens during the Depression. She would take the chickens on the bus and sell them at the Pike Place Market, returning with enough money to pay for John's singing lessons. John sang in the Seattle Boys Choir at St. James Cathedral, as well as in other choral groups, thus beginning what would be a life long love affair with music. He attended both Odea and Broadway High Schools.

John enlisted in the military while he was in high school and finished his high school education in the Army. He remained in the Army from 1938-194 1, during which time he was also the tenor soloist in The San Juan Story with the Seattle Repertoire Theatre. He enlisted in the Navy from 1942-1945, serving in both the South Pacific and the Aleutian Islands. After WWII, he returned to Washington and joined the Seattle A Cappelia Choir, where he met his future wife, Jane, who was the soprano soloist at the time.

The Seattle Parks Department started a Concert in the Park program in which both John and Jane were very involved. They performed light opera in concert form at several parks, including Volunteer, Seward, Lincoln, and Woodland. They also performed several musicals at the Seattle Aqua Theatre. In addition, they sang on the maiden voyage of the Seattle Christmas Ship, and for more than seven seasons thereafter.

John and Jane were married in 1953, and owned and operated the Wright Delicatessen from 19551962. Their marriage was blessed by the arrival of their first child, daughter Sharon, in October of 1954, on the same day John sang at the dedication of the Laurelhurst Presbyterian Church, where he was a soloist for many years. Their son Steven was born in December of 1957, completing their family.

It was a great honor when John was chosen to perform at the dedication of the Flag Pavilion for the 1962 World's Fair. Shortly after which he left for New York to study opera. In New York, he studied and worked with Tony Armato. His amazing range of full four octaves allowed John to perform in many productions throughout his long and distinguished career as a tenor. In New York City, He performed in Cosi Fan Tutte, Carmen, Messiah and his favorite opera, Manon. On his return to Seattle in 1966, he also performed in Song of Norway, Oklahoma! South Pacific, Die Fledermaus, and Desert Song/Song of Schubert.

Throughout his life, John pursued his love of music. He taught opera at the University of Washington, sang and directed at First Presbyterian Church in Seattle, and directed the play "Old Seattle" as part of Seattle's 200'h anniversary celebration. He also opened his own musical and theatrical studio, which he operated for about five years. He was a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists, the Actors' Guild, and the American Guild of English Hand Bell Ringers. John continued to perform and in the Seattle area teach, sharing his love of music with others, until his deteriorating health made it impossible. He spent the remaining years of his life at the Wesley Homes Health Center. He passed away on July 9 2003.

John Wright's music has been compiled into a CD of hymns and gospel music. Favorite hymns such as Love Ye Lord, Come Ye Blessed, 0 Lord Most Holy, By the Grace of God and He Careth For You are included on this CD. Even after his death, his love of music and God fills the hearts of everyone who listens to his voice echoing forward from the past. Among those who have been fortunate enough to hear him sing, it is commonly believed he was one of the greatest operatic tenors of all time. We wish we could have shared his voice with the world, but are selfishly grateful he remained here in Seattle with us to gift us with his life, his love, and his song.