George Wright

Reflections by Ron Mussleman
Excerpted from Theatre Organ, July/August 1998

My first exposure to the work of George Wright was as a ten-year-old boy in the 1960s when most theatre organ music was no more than average intermission-style fare. The George Wright sound, with its abundance of contrasts, vivid combinations, and spectacular arrangements, immediately made me an avid lifetime fan.


Jack Bailey's Queen for a Day
November 1957
George Wright almost single-handedly revived the theatre pipe organ with an imaginative approach that totally eclipsed everything else in the realm of popular pipe organ music. George was, by far, the most influential artist of the genre. To this day, the unmistakable stamp of his overall approach to playing can be heard in the work of almost every theatre organist of the past forty years. One can only imagine what would have become of the theatre organ, or what level of quality the playing would have reached without George Wright.

It was a privilege to have known him personally. This acquaintance was struck in 1979 after I had expressed my appreciation when he was named "Theatre Organist of the Year" by the ATOS. This was in the form of a letter to the editor of the Theatre Organ. In response, George took the time to call me at home, and the resulting conversation lasted more than a half-hour.

In some ways, he was a father figure of sorts, and he occasionally gave both advice and encouragement. Few people are aware of how generous he could be to individuals, once he knew that someone was on the level and had no hidden motives. I have heard numerous instances of his acts of kindness and charitable deeds. My own family was the astonished recipient on more than one occasion. He was very quiet about this sort of reaching out and he never made a show of it.

One project we discussed over a period of several years was his biography. An outline had been prepared, but sadly, it was never written. However, one thing he left behind is a vast body of recordings -- over fifty albums from a brilliant career that spanned more than half a century. They stand as shining examples of what can be done on an instrument that is not easy to play. The best of these recordings are pure musical gold.

The achievements of George Wright will never be forgotten by the theatre organ community.