Grampa's Words

John Lincoln Wright

John Lincoln Wright was drawn to singing and performing for family and friends since he was a young child, but he began his serious music career when he left the Boston College Honors Program to front the Beacon Street Union, a rock & roll band in the '60's. The band released three albums and opened for Janis Joplin in Harvard Square and Jimi Hendrix in NYC. When the band disbanded due to poor management, Lincoln (as he was known) returned home to Maine to rethink his direction. He emerged as a country music singer/songwriter, reflecting his long time admiration for such singers as Haggard, Hank Williams, and Bob Wills. In 1972 Lincoln formed the country John Lincoln Wright and the Sour Mash Review (the Sour Mash Review, when two women joined the group). Life in the Northeast was the inspiration for his songs. Although he remained a New Englander, Lincoln traveled far and wide from New Mexico to Nashville, Canada to Singapore. Lincoln was respected by many country stars and opened for several of them, i.e. Willie Nelson, Haggard, Emmy Lou, Jerry Jeff, Billy Joe and Townes Van Zandt. Over the years there were many changes within the band but each member was a strong professional musician; Lincoln prided himself in recruiting the 'Best'. Lincoln not only had a wonderful way with lyrics and a baritone voice that made you feel you were hearing somone authentic and real. He was a star in the Northeast, filling any club that he chose to play in from the '70's to the '90's. He won so many Massachussetts Country Awards that he was retired from the competition in order to give other musicians a chance. John Lincoln Wright recorded four CD's and one album on vinyl (long out of print), plus some singles and EP's. "Taking Old Route One" will soon be re-issued as a CD for the first time and will be available at CD Baby. "That Old Mill" is also available there. And stay tuned for other re-issues!

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