Hugh Wright of Country Band Boy Howdy Dies

Hugh Wright, the drummer and co-founder of the country group Boy Howdy, has passed away. He was 63. Music Row reports that Wright died of natural causes at his home in Great Falls, Mont., on Sept. 25.

The Des Moines native studied percussion at the University of Iowa, where he served as the drum major in the marching band before graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1975. After graduation he made the move to Los Angeles, playing in the studio with national acts including legendary blues man John Lee Hooker, earning the distinction of being named the California Music Association's Drummer of the Year in 1992.

In 1990 Wright together with Jeffrey Steele (lead vocals, bass guitar) and brothers Cary (guitar, mandolin, vocals) and Larry Park (guitar, fiddle, vocals) founded Boy Howdy. Between 1992 and 1995, the band recorded two albums (1992's Welcome to Howdywood and 1995's Born That Way) and an extended play (1994's She'd Give Anything), all on the Curb Records label.

In that same time span, Boy Howdy charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts, including the Top Ten hits "She'd Give Anything" and "They Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore." After Boy Howdy disbanded in 1996, frontman Jeffrey Steele embarked on a solo career, recording several solo albums, in addition to writing more than sixty hit singles for other country acts. 

When Boy Howdy broke up, Wright moved to Great Falls. He continued to play in regional bands until his death.

A memorial service for Wright is being planned in Montana.

 

 

 

 

Tags : hugh wright jeffrey steele boy howdy boy howdy news hugh wright death hugh wright dies boy howdy death