Rusty Wright Blues- Do it again - personal interview

Published: Oct. 7, 2006, 12:49 a.m.

b'Rusty and Laurie gleefully dubbed 2005 their "Dude! Where did you come from?" Tour after receiving gracious compliments from Lynyrd Skynyrd members when the band opened for them in 2004.\\n\\nLongtime fans aren\'t surprised. Rusty Wright\'s got the kind of guitar chops that make people stop and stare, spellbound. Wide eyed, people jostle for a better view of his hands and riotous facial expressions. \\n\\nWright\'s introduction to professional musicianship came at age 13 when he climbed aboard a tour bus and became the guitarist for a successful Southern Gospel recording act led by his mother. His diverse career as an in-demand touring guitarist, front man and composer has taken him to most points in the US and across Europe. \\n\\nA skilled movie and television composer, songwriter, audio engineer and in-demand session guitarist, Wright\'s compositions have also been picked up by ESPN and TNT.\\n\\nFronting the band with Wright is his wife, rhythm guitarist/vocalist Laurie LaCross-Wright, a compelling singer with a vivid and expressive vocal style that stretches with ease from a breathy, crooned endearment into a two-octave slide that becomes a throaty affirmation of her ability to wail. Touching people\'s emotions through a song is a rare ability, but this woman has the knack - often making the most stoic man in the room wipe at his eyes with her Bluesy rendition of Summertime.\\n\\nThe chemistry between Wright and his wife is both obvious and refreshing as they exchange playful banter onstage and share anecdotes about the songs and their lives with the audience. \\n\\nMusically, they soar. Their passion for music and performing is evident as they take turns playing off each other. Laurie laughs with delight when Rusty plays a particularly inventive riff. His guitar work echoes the dynamics and emotion of her voice as she sings. He closes his eyes and loses himself in the music as he plays. She, in turn, looks directly out at the audience, smiling widely from the stage, as if to say "You\'d better believe this is every bit as fun as it looks!"\\n\\nCOMMENTS AND REVIEWS\\nOxford Hot Blues & BBQ Festival, June 2006\\n"The Rusty Wright Blues Band hit the stage running and had the people on their feet with songs from their close-to-being-released CD (Ain\'t No Good Life) to crowd favorites. Guitar wizard Rusty led the band through a series of songs and just to show the kids before them that they had chops too, finished with a red hot version of the Allman Brothers Whipping Post, which brought the entire crowd to it\'s feet for a standing ovation." \\u2013 Tim Richards, Blues Photographer, writer\\n\\n\\u201cThe Rusty Wright Band is one of the finest Blues acts that you will ever see. From their first tune to their last, Rusty and Laurie will keep you captivated with in-your-face, hard-driving blues selections as well as their heart-wrenching mellow numbers. These guys are a definite "must see." \\u2013 Steven J. Allen, Oxford Hot Blues & BBQ Festival Executive Producer & Detroit Blues Society Board Member\\n\\nKALAMAZOO BLUES FESTIVAL, JULY 2005\\n"I saw you play today. Your time is about to start."\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nHere are links you can put on your site for \\nbuying the CD "Ain\'t No\\nGood Life".\\n\\nRusty Wright\'s\\nWebsite\\n\\nCDBABY'