xxp: I was hoping you are doing well, as well as his immediate family. What sweet folks.
― The Reverend, Friday, 20 February 2009 04:14 (fifteen years ago) link
I can't say the right words right now. I've known Rickey for years here in Seattle. All the music talk we've had. rickey was more family to me than my actual family.
― System Jr. (Mackro Mackro), Friday, 20 February 2009 04:15 (fifteen years ago) link
Rest in Peace
― I shall always respect my elders (Z S), Friday, 20 February 2009 04:17 (fifteen years ago) link
this is really very sad. rest in peace.
― goole, Friday, 20 February 2009 04:24 (fifteen years ago) link
our paths never really crossed but this is very sad, shocking. RIP.
― s1ocki, Friday, 20 February 2009 04:38 (fifteen years ago) link
RIP
― -:¦:-•(¯'•omg•'¯)•-:¦:- (dan m), Friday, 20 February 2009 04:39 (fifteen years ago) link
...
― James Mitchell, Friday, 20 February 2009 04:47 (fifteen years ago) link
I think I noticed his name so well/every time because my dad's a big fan of TY. Shit man, this is just sad. Higgs, Rev, and for all those who knew him much better, I feel for you.
― Nathalie (stevienixed), Friday, 20 February 2009 05:35 (fifteen years ago) link
― kingfish, Friday, 20 February 2009 05:37 (fifteen years ago) link
rest in peace ... i always enjoyed rickey's posts (even though i didn't know him very well).
― Ein kluges Äpfelchen (Eisbaer), Friday, 20 February 2009 05:41 (fifteen years ago) link
Rest in peace - condolences to all family/friends - his posts on ilx were always good replies/good reads
― BlackIronPrison, Friday, 20 February 2009 05:56 (fifteen years ago) link
great taste in music, sharp sense of humor, personable posting style, he seemed like a good man. this is a shock. best wishes to his family/
― m coleman, Friday, 20 February 2009 06:00 (fifteen years ago) link
:( very sad. thank you for letting people know, rev.
― Happy, the Juggling Clown (some dude), Friday, 20 February 2009 06:19 (fifteen years ago) link
^ terrible username right now, btw, i apologize
― some dude, Friday, 20 February 2009 06:20 (fifteen years ago) link
damn, i had no contact with him at all but this is still terribly sad. RIP and much love to friends and family
― ORGASM REMIX (donna rouge), Friday, 20 February 2009 06:25 (fifteen years ago) link
RIP, this is so very sad, my condolences to rickey's friends and family.
― estela, Friday, 20 February 2009 06:28 (fifteen years ago) link
Baruch Dayan Emet. :(
― Mordy, Friday, 20 February 2009 06:42 (fifteen years ago) link
He was hands down one of the sweetest people I've ever known. We would get drinks and talk music all the time. I adored him. I can't even describe how much I'm going to miss him.
― Matos W.K., Friday, 20 February 2009 06:49 (fifteen years ago) link
If Rickey Wright would be still alive, most other posters could shut up. RIP.
― Choom Gang Gang Dance (suzy), Friday, 20 February 2009 06:51 (fifteen years ago) link
^^^^^just what I was about to say.
Sad news indeed. :(
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Friday, 20 February 2009 06:56 (fifteen years ago) link
I will probably be posting snippets on this thread for a while. Forgive me. I'd found out about the stroke when I got back to Seattle a week ago tonight; it floored me but we all thought he was going to get better; the opposite happened. It's been a very edgy week for his friends, including a few others (the higgs in particular--his closest friend, an absolutely remarkable woman who's been running interference for a lot of folks in disseminating news, among many other things), not to mention his family.
Rickey really could talk to absolutely anybody about anything, with total empathy and zero sense that anybody was imposing on the other. He was very funny and very lively--not loud, just enthusiastic in a way that other people could get caught up in, very easily. That personality type is rare with music writers (I certainly don't have it) and without. We'd agree to meet up for an hour and it would turn to four. It didn't take anything to get him talking, or for him to listen--I don't know many better listeners than Rickey was. He was such a cool fucking person and the fact that he went as young as he did (mid-40s, I believe) is devastating.
― Matos W.K., Friday, 20 February 2009 06:58 (fifteen years ago) link
What a terrible thing to have to read about. Poor guy. My condolences to his friends & family.
― Pashmina, Friday, 20 February 2009 07:00 (fifteen years ago) link
I don't really have more to say; I didn't know Rickey IRL and hardly interacted with him here, but I enjoyed reading his posts. My thoughts and condolences are with those closer to him.
― Lots of praying with no breakfast! (HI DERE), Friday, 20 February 2009 07:04 (fifteen years ago) link
How awful. I'm so sorry to read this news, especially for someone so young. Rest well.
― Daniel, Esq., Friday, 20 February 2009 07:18 (fifteen years ago) link
^^^^^^^ :( :( :( R.I.P.
― Chris Barrus (Elvis Telecom), Friday, 20 February 2009 07:19 (fifteen years ago) link
If I don't make sense, blame the double d of nyquil.
Rickey was a "sports fan" about music, culture, and anything else that was the topic. I mean that in the way that Matos above described better. He was passionate and engaging about all of this, but you never felt intimidated by his passionate rhetoric. I'd say the same for all my Seattle peeps actually, but Rickey's delivery was unique. So many stories he had yet to tell. He could have lived to be 400, and that still wouldn't have been enough time for him to tell them all.
I also remember him at David Ritz speech at EMP 2008. Rickey was the de facto Marvin Gaye-ologist of our bunch. Even if someone else knew a little more, I didn't know a bigger Gaye fan. So I'm glad he got to see Ritz (writer and close acquaintance of Gaye) before this. He will be missed tremendously, especially at EMP 2009.
I'm still trembling when I see posts of his less than two weeks ago, like talking about "aqua boogie" on the ILM thread about Jet magazine 1979 picks. "why?" I pound on my bed. :(. But I know someday these posts will be whst they are -- testament to his sweetness and greatness.
Many heartfelt hugs to higgs, Morley t, rev, matos, Jen m, Charles my partner who met rickey once, and all of rickey's family and friends.
― System Jr. (Mackro Mackro), Friday, 20 February 2009 07:29 (fifteen years ago) link
Maybe the most telling aspect about him is that when I'd tell friends--friends who knew Rickey also--that he was 45 or 46 (still not entirely sure), all of them were surprised: "He seemed so much younger." He did! He seemed like a teenager in a lot of ways. He had a keen sense of silliness--he wasn't silly, per se, he just appreciated it a lot. (YAAHH TRICK YAAHH!) He knew how to have a good time. I think that comes across in what he wrote, professionally and on ILM alike.
― Matos W.K., Friday, 20 February 2009 07:33 (fifteen years ago) link
I remember we had first bonded on ILM over our mutual love of Stevie Wonder. When we first met in person, we started chatting in the EMP bar, not knowing who each other were. Eventually I stuck out my hand and said something to the effect of "Oh, by the way, my name is Rodney," to which he smiled and replied, "I'm Rickey. We both love Stevie Wonder." What a guy. I went down to the hospital and sang "If It's Magic" to him the other day. It just seemed like the right thing. He wasn't awake, but I'd like to think he heard me.
― The Reverend, Friday, 20 February 2009 07:40 (fifteen years ago) link
Don't think we had much ILX interaction but seemed like a really solid poster and also a dude on the basis of people's testimony above, RIP
― i like Old Fart!!!! and i am crazy (DJ Mencap), Friday, 20 February 2009 07:42 (fifteen years ago) link
"A dude" doesn't even begin to come close. He was that dude.
― The Reverend, Friday, 20 February 2009 07:43 (fifteen years ago) link
Fuck. Mortality's a fact we're all subject to but sudden and premature death is fiercely cruel, especially to those left behind. RIP Rickey, and all the best to those of you who knew him in any capacity.
― we r from twitteronia, we connect (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 20 February 2009 07:45 (fifteen years ago) link
RIP Rickey.
Condolences to everybody who loved you.
― Noodle Vague, Friday, 20 February 2009 07:52 (fifteen years ago) link
:( very sad. thank you for letting people know, rev.― Happy, the Juggling Clown (some dude), Friday, 20 February 2009 06:19 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink^ terrible username right now, btw, i apologize― some dude, Friday, 20 February 2009 06:20 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
― Happy, the Juggling Clown (some dude), Friday, 20 February 2009 06:19 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
― some dude, Friday, 20 February 2009 06:20 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
He'd have smiled at this...
― Mark G, Friday, 20 February 2009 07:53 (fifteen years ago) link
wow, that's terrible. i didn't know him, but i liked his writing, here and elsewhere. very sorry to hear it.
― paper plans (tipsy mothra), Friday, 20 February 2009 07:54 (fifteen years ago) link
a nice obituary, if there is such a thing.
― paper plans (tipsy mothra), Friday, 20 February 2009 08:00 (fifteen years ago) link
haha he wore his encyclopedic knowledge so lightly, though. it's really great to read how beloved he was in Norfolk, too--nice to see how broadly that was known.
― Matos W.K., Friday, 20 February 2009 08:15 (fifteen years ago) link
My God, condolences to all his family and friends. Love to you all. RIP.
― ailsa, Friday, 20 February 2009 08:40 (fifteen years ago) link
RIP. I never really interacted with him much, that I can remember, but condolences to his family everyone here who knew him. I've just searched under his name and he strikes me as the sort of poster I should have paid more attention to.
― Maximo Park Ji-Sung (Matt DC), Friday, 20 February 2009 08:40 (fifteen years ago) link
Damn, this is terrible. Condolences to everyone. Rest in Peace.
― thunda lightning (clotpoll), Friday, 20 February 2009 09:06 (fifteen years ago) link
What a terrible start to the day here. Thoughts are with friends and family. Reverend, your post about singing 'It's Magic' to him has made me well up, sounds like he was a great guy irl.
― Creedence Clearwater Couto (Billy Dods), Friday, 20 February 2009 09:43 (fifteen years ago) link
RIP Rrrickey. One of the good guys by all accounts.
I went down to the hospital and sang "If It's Magic" to him the other day. It just seemed like the right thing. He wasn't awake, but I'd like to think he heard me.
aw Rev that's so great ;_;
― ducking kiosk monkey (onimo), Friday, 20 February 2009 10:03 (fifteen years ago) link
Was always drawn to his posts on ILM, this is terrible news. Rest in Peace.
― Gerard (Le Bateau Ivre), Friday, 20 February 2009 10:04 (fifteen years ago) link
oh man i just saw this. I didn't know him well but I liked his posts too. Condolences to his friends and family. Rest in peace.
― Disco/Very (Roz), Friday, 20 February 2009 10:05 (fifteen years ago) link
Pretty much echoing what Matt DC said above; not someone I really (or ever?) interacted with on ILx - I always noticed the Timi Yuro tag and nodded my head at most of what he posted even if I didn't respond - but RIP and all best to those here and elsewhere who knew him best.
― Bernard Braden Misreads Stephen Leacock (Marcello Carlin), Friday, 20 February 2009 10:32 (fifteen years ago) link
This is awful. RIP.
― zero learnt from nero (Neil S), Friday, 20 February 2009 10:33 (fifteen years ago) link
this is truly horrible news! christ, i was hoping against hope that this would turn out to be yet another tasteless joke thread, but no such luck. i didn't know the guy myself but really wish i had gotten the chance to now; he was my main man on the Whatcha Listening to thread.
condolences to friends and family.
this is the last exchange we had on ilm (man, what i wouldn't give to take the past two weeks back...):
Unknown Session, Duke EllingtonThe Raincoats
Thanks for repping, Hurting and Kenan!
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Monday, February 2, 2009 11:28 AM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
I sort of forgot I had a copy of On the Rise here, then idly looked at a big stack of LPs in the living room, so:"Just Be Good to Me," The SOS Band
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, February 6, 2009 12:02 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Just as I was starting to think "Greatest record ever?" about that nine-minute track, I found this 12-inch:"Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick"/"There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards"
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, February 6, 2009 12:10 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Then (I was discouraged by you!):"Wheel Me Out"/"Hello Operator . . . I Mean Dad . . . I Mean Police . . . I Can't Even Remember Who I Am"
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, February 6, 2009 12:18 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
This makes me wanna take a drive, but the car I "have access to" isn't equipped with a record player:Little Feat"I haven't made sense in so long, I almost quit tryin'."
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, February 6, 2009 12:34 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
I sure don't owe that record anything; I've gotta so much pleasure out of it and I think I paid a buck for it in Philly one time.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, February 6, 2009 12:37 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
*gotten
I also listened to "Red Guitar" by Loudon Wainwright III, a song no one ever talks about, before this.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, February 6, 2009 12:41 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
OK, just Side One of the Little Feat. If that's punk rock of one sort, this is it of another:Of Human Feelings
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, February 6, 2009 12:51 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
lol, ur durnk?
― (a mess0 (Ioannis), Friday, February 6, 2009 12:55 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Yes! How'd you know?
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, February 6, 2009 12:58 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Chuck Berry, Johnny B. Goode: His Complete '50s Chess Recordings (Chuck's da man! bought cheap!)
xp
lucky guess.
― (a mess0 (Ioannis), Friday, February 6, 2009 12:59 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Wow, I've got so much Chuck, but not that box. That's sweet, would fit well in my condition.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, February 6, 2009 1:01 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Heh, Ronald Shannon Jackson ends one track on the Ornette with about a bar of "Funk #49."
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, February 6, 2009 1:04 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Side Two of Another Green World. If I stay awake long enough, then there'll be a Blood & Fire sampler CD called Dubwise & Otherwise 2. Otherwise, 'night.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, February 6, 2009 1:11 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
R.I.P Rickey
― Ioannis, Friday, 20 February 2009 10:41 (fifteen years ago) link
I also assumed this was going to be another one of those joke threads.
very sad news. RIP
― brains, hand-rolled (gnarly sceptre), Friday, 20 February 2009 11:07 (fifteen years ago) link
― Sundar, Friday, 20 February 2009 11:10 (fifteen years ago) link
Such sad news, he will certainly be missed. RIP.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Friday, 20 February 2009 12:13 (fifteen years ago) link
Thia ia awful. RIP
― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 20 February 2009 12:18 (fifteen years ago) link
[i]RIP. that was one of my favorite usernames in the history of ILX.[i]
Same here. Very sad news.
― the one eyed, one horned, flyin' purple people eater (Boxing Kangaroo), Saturday, 21 February 2009 18:13 (fifteen years ago) link
― paper plans (tipsy mothra), Friday, February 20, 2009 3:00 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
― Matos W.K., Friday, February 20, 2009 3:15 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
man I must have just missed working with him. I was at the Virginian-Pilot from 1998-2003 and did some music writing and edited the CD reviews there for a while. didn't know him on the board or in real life but this is sad to hear
smiled when I saw this btwNew (Old) Warehouse Decree: EVERY FRIDAY is CREEDENCE FRIDAY
― dmr, Saturday, 21 February 2009 22:28 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2009/02/21/rickey-wright-rip/
Washington City Paper remembers him.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 22 February 2009 15:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Seattle Times:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/obituaries/2008771370_wrightobit22m.html
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 22 February 2009 15:42 (fifteen years ago) link
Rip. Way too early obv.
― Geir Hongro, Sunday, 22 February 2009 17:39 (fifteen years ago) link
being a "middle-distance" person, a fond aquaintance, i've been pondering for several days how to pay tribute to rickey. rickey's sweetness, his love of and knowledge about music, have been well and rightly documented. my perception of him, based on a handful of meetings at faps and parties, is a little different.
he and i never talked about music! but we danced at parties, and i am compelled to report that that man was a fun and foxy dancer. his enthusiasm communicated itself in his moves, in the smile on his face, in the way he nodded his head to the beat as if to say, "yes! yes, this is it!" the last party we had, rickey fucking made the party for me with his dancing. i would have danced with him any time.
the last time i saw him was at a meet-up where none of my regulars were in attendance, so i felt a little out of my element. but rickey and i started chatting and that's how i spent the rest of my evening. we talked about projects each of us were working on, our mothers, thanksgiving traditions. interesting and interested. well-spoken. sweet, yes indeed. to a person that was one of the first words spoken when our little "middle-distance" group learned of and shared information about rickey's hospitalization.
we parted that night -- i also must tell you that he was a impressive hugger -- saying, "we should hang out some time!" except we didn't, and i am so very sad that we can't.
― lxy, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 05:41 (fifteen years ago) link
wow, i didn't see this.very sad.did not know the man but i would echo the others that said he seemed like a great poster and a nice guy.my thoughts go out to his friends and family.
― The Notorious B.Y.O.B. (M@tt He1ges0n), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 20:57 (fifteen years ago) link
same here, seems like one of the good ones
― tremendoid, Wednesday, 25 February 2009 02:14 (fifteen years ago) link
If I ever get in any kind of music trivia contest I'm going to channel him, both to have access to his incredible body of knowledge and to partake of the class with with which he displayed it.
― moe greene dolphin street (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 25 February 2009 06:08 (fifteen years ago) link
A few things got posted over on ILM
Farewell Rickey Wright (ILM link to ILE R.I.P. thread for ILM poster "If Timi Yuri Would Still be Alive"
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 February 2009 13:57 (fifteen years ago) link
Just posted on Facebook, for those in Seattle or nearby:
---
Just wanted to let you all know that Rickey's Seattle memorial service has been scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2009 at The Sunset in Ballard.
Please mark your calendars for this special celebration. We'll have DJs on hand spinning Rickey-inspired tunes, so plan to join us as we smile and remember our friend.
We'll be in touch with more details as they develop.
The Sunset5433 Ballard AvenueSeattle, Washington 98107(206) 784-4880http://www.sunsettavern.com/
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 27 February 2009 15:42 (fifteen years ago) link
This is shocking. Rickey was a freelance music writer for the Richmond newspaper where I wrote obituaries around 1989 or 1990. We both did concert reviews subbing for the regular critic who didn't much want to stay up all night at Metallica or D.O.A. I often ran into him and his long coat at shows. We reconnected briefly through ILX a couple years back. Great guy. Excellent writer. So knowledgeable. RIP.
― Jake Brown, Friday, 27 February 2009 17:45 (fifteen years ago) link
He kinda had this running joke with me where he'd post my fave Olivia Newton John album cover on threads just to get a reaction from me. I thought it was funny. Very sorry not to have ever met the guy.
― Sleep Tundra (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Saturday, 28 February 2009 00:57 (fifteen years ago) link
Just remembered what my be my favorite of Rickey's store of ideas: "The difference between 1984 and 1986 is that in 1984, Huey Lewis & the News had a hit with 'I Want a New Drug,' and in 1986 their hit was 'Stuck with You.'"
― Matos W.K., Tuesday, 7 April 2009 09:46 (fifteen years ago) link
always so happy to see one of rick's posts :)
― king boy swag (The Reverend), Friday, 27 August 2010 04:58 (thirteen years ago) link
Agreed! Still miss him, still very glad he was here.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 27 August 2010 05:23 (thirteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asw-fjJRogU
― Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 23 December 2015 02:25 (eight years ago) link