Greg Wright

Biography

Gregory Wright: guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin & ukulele. Greg has a performance degree from Combs College of Music. Has studied jazz guitar privately with Pat Martino & arranging with Hank Levy (known for Don Ellis Orchestra & Stan Kenton Band compositions). Currently teaching guitar at three local colleges: Drexel University, Swarthmore College, and Harcum College, where he’s the director of all music courses. Greg also directs Summer Music Programs.com, voted best summer camp by Philadelphia Magazine in 2008. Greg has been performing since he was a young teenager, growing up in Delaware County, at Upper Darby High School, performing with Maynard G. Crabbs, a band that had club notoriety & performed school activities, concerts and also ran a coffee house for other acts to perform. After school, his original band, Excalibur, toured and opened for Tom Waits, and performed arts venues in Philadelphia: The Painted Bride, The International House, Grendals Lair. In the later 70’s Greg decided to become a full time, working commercial musician. Playing with bands out of Philly: The Futures, Evelyn “Champagne” King, then stayed many years with “Philly USA” a band that had a disco dance hit in 1977 and worked local clubs in the Philadelphia & S. Jersey area. Greg started a local society band , SWING SHIFT , that has played in the area since the late 1980’s performing at wedding and shows and many private venues. Some of the more specialized bands that worked from this office: The Logan Brass Quartet, The Big Easy Dixie Band, Spin Shift gave opportunity for various styles of music. Greg has also worked solo, singing and playing banjo in many retirement communities in the tri-state area. Also working for Phila. based commercial band leaders: Ken Ulansey, Eddie Bruce, Joey Roberts, Jim Livindis, Marc Rose, Ben Laden. Currently, besides performing with Drew Nugent & The Midnight Society, Greg may also be seen playing with Paulies Pals (a vintage rock band), Twirlin Martha (an Irish Band), Swing Shift still plays some swing gigs, The Wild Bohemians for Mardi Gras at The World Café or you might find Greg playing solo banjo & singing holiday music at the West Chester Railroad, the Ivyland Railroad & The White Dog Café on New Years Day for the last twenty years.