RIP ILX poster Rickey Wright (aka "If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up")

This is terrible news. RIP, Rickey. My sincere condolences to those who knew him.

[i]RIP. that was one of my favorite usernames in the history of ILX.[i]

Same here. Very sad news.

a nice obituary, if there is such a thing.

― paper plans (tipsy mothra), Friday, February 20, 2009 3:00 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

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, 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 btw
New (Old) Warehouse Decree: EVERY FRIDAY is CREEDENCE FRIDAY

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2009/02/21/rickey-wright-rip/

Washington City Paper remembers him.

Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/obituaries/2008771370_wrightobit22m.html

Rip. Way too early obv.

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.

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.

same here, seems like one of the good ones

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.

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"

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 Sunset
5433 Ballard Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98107
(206) 784-4880
http://www.sunsettavern.com/

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.

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.

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.'"

always so happy to see one of rick's posts :)

Agreed! Still miss him, still very glad he was here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asw-fjJRogU