Composer and publisher of popular songs
Born 15 February 1888; Died 19 May 1964
The Blue Plaque is located opposite the site of his first music shop, The Jolly Miller Public House, Conduit Street.
Lawrence Wright was born on 15 February 1888 at 23 Upper Conduit Street, Leicester, where his father had a shop selling sheet music and instruments. By the time he was 10 years old, he had already learned to play several musical instruments and helped on his father's music stall on Leicester Market. He set up his own music stall on the market when he was 16.
In 1906 he rented a shop at 29 Lower Conduit Street, and the Wright Music Company was established;his first published hit was 'Don't Go Down The Mine, Daddy' by William Geddes and Robert Donnelly (1910). Success followed and, by 1912, Wright had established his music publishing business in Denmark Street, London. He eventually opened branches in Blackpool, Llandudno, Douglas, Isle of Man, and many other seaside towns.
Not content to sell other people's music, Lawrence Wright began to write songs of his own, the first one being 'Down by the Stream'. He was to write more than 600 songs during his career, mostly under his pen name of Horatio Nicholls. His most famous tune by far, and the only one that is played regularly today, is 'Among My Souvenirs': this has been recorded by many artists, including Hoagie Carmichael, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Connie Francis. But as a music publisher, his name is associated with many popular tunes.
Wright also established The Melody Maker magazine in 1926 and, for 32 years, put on the annual production 'On With the Show' at Blackpool. He was presented with an Ivor Novello Award in 1962 for 'outstanding service to British popular and light music'.
Lawrence Wright died in 1964 and is buried at the church of St. Stephen-on-the-Cliffs, Blackpool.
Acknowledgement
The images of Lawrence Wright and 'Mulligatawny' from the collection of Barry Norris (www.fredgodfreysongs.ca)
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