RIP John Lincoln Wright

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 4 Dec 2011 11:31 am

Just learned from Larry Flint that John passed away this morning. He was the founder of the Beacon Street Union and then went on to start John Lincoln Wright and the Sour Mash Boys, of which I was an original member as well as it being my first band. I have many memories from those days and he will be truly missed. Rest well, old friend...

Chris Caruso · Post by **Chris Caruso** » 4 Dec 2011 5:00 pm

He was an icon up here in Massachusetts. RIP John

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 5 Dec 2011 1:08 pm

He made a surprise appearance at a multi-band bill I was playing one night in Cambridge (sat in with Stan Martin's band I think). Old a grizzled but quite a powerful personality.

SCOTT TYLER · Post by **SCOTT TYLER** » 5 Dec 2011 2:45 pm

I played a last minute New Years Eve gig w/John in 1997 and really dug his singing. He was classic country all the way and what was really nice was the fact that he had no ego at all. He loved to sing country and did it well. What a loss ......

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 5 Dec 2011 4:00 pm

This is sad news. I played with John a couple of times on the Mass. Country Music Asso. Awards show when I was in the staff band. John was an icon in the New England music scene for many years. He brought "real country" to a lot of young folks, playing colleges and country rock venues back in the day.

John Macy, I saw you play pedal steel with JLW here in Western Massachusetts back in the early/mid 1970s and I really enjoyed your playing. I remember talking "steel" with you during the break... Seems like ages ago. Rest in peace John Lincoln Wright.

Dave O'Brien · Post by **Dave O'Brien** » 5 Dec 2011 8:23 pm

do any of you remember George Heath who played with the Sour Mash Boys? And where he might be now (old friend & collaborator).

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 5 Dec 2011 10:19 pm

I believe he is in Florida....send me a pm and I will let you know....

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 5 Dec 2011 10:22 pm

Doug...it was ages ago, and I remember that chat....

Tommy Detamore · Post by **Tommy Detamore** » 9 Dec 2011 5:52 am

So sorry to hear this JM. I lived in Portland, Maine for a bit in the mid 70's and JLW was the hottest band in the land. Everywhere you looked there were posters and flyers announcing gigs. Truly a legend in the NE....

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 10 Dec 2011 7:21 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_qRHePd_kY

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 17 Dec 2011 6:52 pm

Wow...John Lincoln Wright was probably the reason I started enjoying country music and shortly after started learning pedal steel.
I used to work in Harvard Square and went to see him often at a basement bar called Jonathan Swifts.
I still have that vinyl album Live at Jonathan Swifts.
I always respected his dedication to the roots of coutnry music and how well he sang...and of course, how well the band played.
Sorry to hear that news. He was an inspiration.

manny escobar · Post by **manny escobar** » 18 Dec 2011 6:36 am

Hi Tony, I miss you. About five years ago John Lincoln Wright played the Common Fence Community House here in Portsmouth, RI. He looked like he was starting to burn out, but he could still overwhelm the audience. His repertoire included originals that should have become Nashville hits. Hi Doug, the MCMAA Show? I`m guessing it was around the late nineties when you played Sleepwalk, and also suprised me with the job you did backing up the singer doing "Ain`t No Thinkin` Thing". Back to John, He was usually the "super star" at the MCMAA Shows.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 18 Dec 2011 8:37 am

Sorry to hear this sad news..Our work schedules made it hard to run into each other but thanks to Jake Sadowsky at Indian ranch I got to meet and spend some time with JLW..A great guy and I loved his showmanship and his singing..He showed up one night at Lynns Lounge in Chicopee with a couple a band members and sat in all night..That was a blast..

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 19 Dec 2011 8:50 pm

Here's a picture with John when we were opening for Waylon around '75...good times...

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 20 Dec 2011 3:10 pm

Nice picture John!

manny escobar · Post by **manny escobar** » 24 Dec 2011 4:59 am

John Macy, Can you name the two musicians on the left of JLW and the three on the right of Waylon. I am trying to guess but they look so young. It`s hard to tell.

Don Sulesky · Post by **Don Sulesky** » 24 Dec 2011 5:47 am

So Sorry to hear of his passing.He was an Icon in the music scene.
Brings back a lot of fine memories when I lived and had my own band in the Boston area.
Don

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 24 Dec 2011 8:04 am

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 24 Dec 2011 8:41 am

On the left, Ed Hughes (drums), Ray Jacques (bass)...on the right of Waylon top is myself (left) and John McDonald (guitar) on the outside, and Bill Henderson (fiddle)...that was the original incarnation of the band...that was a five night run at the Performance Center in Harvard Square...I got to spend a lot of time with Ralph Mooney that week...it was pretty awesome....

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 25 Dec 2011 7:27 pm

Ed Hughes!?! OMG!! I didn't know he was up there at that time!

He spent years here in TX and then moved to New Mexico. Used to work for Stevie Ray Vaughan doing tech stuff. He's still a Facebook friend of mine and we talk occasionally.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 8 Jan 2012 10:24 am

Ed left for Texas shortly after I moved to Colorado to play with Murphey...Jeff Peterson also left the area right after me for Texas also....

David Morgan · Post by **David Morgan** » 16 Jan 2012 7:43 pm

Sorry to hear this news. Brings back many memories. I've still got a recording of John LW sitting in with our old Wheatstraw band...must have been at King's near Harvard Square.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 4 Feb 2012 5:45 am

John Macy wrote:Here's a picture with John when we were opening for Waylon around '75...good times...

I remember this band, hot, hot hot. One of the very best on the scene

RIP John you were a legend in the region
and deserved to be a legend everywhere.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 9 Apr 2012 3:47 pm

I remember smokin' nights at Kings, another world ago now...

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 24 Apr 2012 8:50 pm

The First Annual Memorial Concert for John is on Sunday, May 6th at Sally O'Brien's in Cambridge (the bar where nearly everyone knows their own name). I'll be headed up for the weekend to play and visit some old friends and make some new ones...looking forward to it, no matter how bittersweet...

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RIP John Lincoln Wright

RIP John Lincoln Wright

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