Native son coming home to perform

WRIGHT Thirteen years ago, Gaffney resident Kenneth Wright packed his bags and moved to Nashville so he could pursue his dream of becoming the next country music star.

Wright will return to Gaffney this month for two concerts and an appearance at the South Carolina Peach Festival.

Wright will perform in concert Friday, July 17, at 8 p.m. at Daddy Joe's Beach House & BBQ. He is the grand marshal in the peach festival parade on Saturday, July 18, at 9 a.m.

"It's an absolute honor to be in the Peach Festival parade as the grand marshal. I still remember seeing (country music star) Charlie Daniels in the parade years ago," Wright said. "I'm really looking forward to coming back home and getting a chance to play in front of my family and friends."

Following the parade, Wright will perform in concert at 12:30 p.m. during the festival's Family Fun Day with his band The Hostile Witnesses. He will sign autographs and will sell the first copies of his new CD "Good Guy, Bad Guy" during his appearance in Gaffney.

"I feel fortunate. Things are really starting to come together with my music career," Wright said.

Country music superstar Tim McGraw included one of Wright's songs "You Had to Be There" on his new CD, scheduled for release this fall. Country music artist Lee Ann Womack performed another of Wright's songs "Stand There and Sing" on a George Strait tribute CD.

Wright grew up with Daddy Joe's owner Shag Stepp and considers him one of his best friends. Stepp joined Wright at the Las Vegas concert where McGraw performed the Gaffney resident's song "You Had to Be There" for the first time.

"It's nice to play at Daddy Joe's in an informal setting where there are no parameters, and I can just play what I want to play," Wright said. "My music is a blend of blues, country, rock and roll and R&B."

Wright will perform outside on the Daddy Joe's patio in a special version of the restaurant's popular "Patio Session" summer music series. He will be joined at Daddy Joe's by longtime friends and Nashville musicians Shane Douglas and Lenny Grasso.

The Gaffney resident spent the past three years working with top session players from Nashville's Music Row and Muscle Shoals on the new CD. It features original songs from Wright along with tracks penned by Nashville songwriters.

The CD was mixed by David Z, who has worked with artists such as Prince.

"My new CD has been a labor of love. I selected the best 10 songs I could find," Wright said. "I will be bringing copies with me to Gaffney. Daddy Joe's will be the first time the buying public will be able to get copies of the CD."