Sixties rock fan Dr Gary Wright cuts a debut album in his sixties
Tucked in between Killyleagh and Crossgar within rocking distance of Derryboye is a dedicated pop and rock fan who has pursued a life-long passion for music from the Sixties into his sixties… and it’s in his bones.
Rheumatologist Dr Gary Wright has been a doctor for the past 40 years and continues to work alongside being a rare-breed farmer in his spare time.
His daughter Catherine said her dad Gary just loves music. He taught himself the guitar as a teenager and is a big rockn’roll fan of all ‘the greats’! His idols include the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan and others.
“Dad was in a band when he was younger, playing at Young Farmers events and at university. As a dad, he has made music a big part of our family life. He plays cover songs on the guitar and has sung for us and close friends over the years for a bit of fun,” Catherine said.
“During lockdown, dad had more time to play music and started writing his own songs. What started as a fun way to pass the time soon turned into something much bigger.
“So for his 60th birthday two years ago, my sisters and I wanted to get him something special that he would always remember.
“We surprised him with an afternoon session at a recording studio in Belfast. Little did we know that this gift would spark a journey leading to a full-fledged album!”
Catherine added: “Even though he was completely terrified for the first session (as an amateur going into a professional studio!), he ended up loving it and had such a great afternoon.
“He also completely got ‘the bug’ and was inspired to write more songs, as well as adding bass, drums, keys, and harmonies to his acoustic guitar and vocals!
“The final result is a full 12-track debut album, called ‘Where Is The Sun?’.
“It’s a collection of songs that he wrote and performed himself. It’s also been a family project, with my Mum, Clare, providing harmonies and my sisters and I joining in for some backing vocals.
“We even managed to feature one of our prize-winning rare-breed pigs (Daphne, the Middle White) on the album cover – a perfect blend of Dad’s two passions!
“We’re incredibly proud of what he has accomplished, and we’re grateful to the team at Start Together Studio in Belfast for helping bring his vision to life. It’s been amazing to see how the local music community has embraced and supported this project.
“The album is officially launched and is available on all major streaming platforms.
“We hope his example inspires others in our community to chase their dreams, no matter their age.”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Welu7TIU8yoW20RYPVUrV?si=sediOQWLS8qra9r-bee62w.
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/where-is-the-sun/1758555203.
YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kQzdeWzhot6-dcB7Bqoerd0q3YRY1tejM&feature=shared
