Don Wright (composer)
Encyclopedia
Donald John Alexander Wright (September 6, 1908 - June 27, 2006) was a Canadian
composer, musician and educator.
He was born in Strathroy, Ontario
, where his father owned a piano
manufacturing company. He began studying cello
and trumpet
in childhood, and later formed the Wright Brothers Orchestra with his brothers Clark, Ernest and William. While attending the University of Western Ontario
, Wright was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He subsequently worked as a music teacher in London
, and then became station manager of local radio station CFPL
, where he created the Don Wright Chorus, whose recordings of popular and light classical music received widespread airplay on the Dominion Network
in Canada and the Mutual Broadcasting System
and NBC Radio in the United States
.
He was married to Lillian Meighen Wright
, the daughter of former Canadian Prime Minister Arthur Meighen
. Their daughter Priscilla sang on a rendition of Warwick Webster's "Man in a Raincoat", arranged by Don, which was an international hit in 1955 and resulted in Priscilla performing the song on The Ed Sullivan Show
.
Wright moved to Toronto
in 1957, where he composed scores for films and TV and published a number of choral and popular songbooks for use in school music programs. He subsequently endowed a number of university music scholarships in the 1960s. Following his wife Lillian's death in 1993, he also endowed a maternity department at Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital in her honour.
Wright was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada
in 2001. After a generous donation, the University of Western Ontario
renamed its music faculty the Don Wright Faculty of Music
in his honour in 2002.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
composer, musician and educator.
He was born in Strathroy, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, where his father owned a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
manufacturing company. He began studying cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
in childhood, and later formed the Wright Brothers Orchestra with his brothers Clark, Ernest and William. While attending the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, Wright was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He subsequently worked as a music teacher in London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, and then became station manager of local radio station CFPL
CFPL (AM)
CFPL, or AM980, is a radio station owned by Corus Entertainment and based in London, Ontario, Canada that transmits at 10,000 watts at 980 kHz on the AM dial. The station primarily airs news, talk and sports programming.-History:...
, where he created the Don Wright Chorus, whose recordings of popular and light classical music received widespread airplay on the Dominion Network
Dominion Network
The Dominion Network was the second English-language radio network of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from January 1, 1944 to 1962.It consisted of the CBC-owned CJBC radio station in Toronto and a series of 34 privately owned affiliates from coast-to-coast...
in Canada and the Mutual Broadcasting System
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
and NBC Radio in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He was married to Lillian Meighen Wright
Lillian Meighen Wright
Lillian Meighen was a Canadian philanthropist and the daughter of Canadian Prime Minister Arthur Meighen and Isabel Meighen. She was married to Don Wright, a music teacher and composer whom she met while attending a concert at which Don was performing...
, the daughter of former Canadian Prime Minister Arthur Meighen
Arthur Meighen
Arthur Meighen, PC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served two terms as the ninth Prime Minister of Canada: from July 10, 1920 to December 29, 1921; and from June 29 to September 25, 1926. He was the first Prime Minister born after Confederation, and the only one to represent a riding...
. Their daughter Priscilla sang on a rendition of Warwick Webster's "Man in a Raincoat", arranged by Don, which was an international hit in 1955 and resulted in Priscilla performing the song on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
.
Wright moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1957, where he composed scores for films and TV and published a number of choral and popular songbooks for use in school music programs. He subsequently endowed a number of university music scholarships in the 1960s. Following his wife Lillian's death in 1993, he also endowed a maternity department at Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital in her honour.
Wright was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 2001. After a generous donation, the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
renamed its music faculty the Don Wright Faculty of Music
Don Wright Faculty of Music
The Don Wright Faculty of Music is the music school of The University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada. 550 undergraduate students and 125 graduate students were enrolled in 2009-2010. More than 100 nationally and internationally renowned musicians and scholars teach at the Faculty,...
in his honour in 2002.