Gregory Wright

Gregory Brian Wright, Poppy, Papa, Dad, age 60 passed away on April 5th, in his Nashville home surrounded by his loving family.  Greg fought a fierce and courageous battle with cancer for the last 3 years.  His strength and resolve were inspiring.  He never complained after surgeries, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Greg was born in 1961 in Martinsville, Virginia to Charlotte Hall & Homer (Junior) Wright. Greg graduated from Martinsville High School in 1979.  Greg had a profound love for all types of music and found his niche in Country Music.   He moved to Nashville in 1985 to pursue his life long career in Country Music.  He first worked for The Kendall’s, then Mark Collie and the last 30 years has been the tour manager and front of house sound engineer for Sammy Kershaw.

While working for the Kendall’s he lived for a short time in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  After moving back to the Nashville area, Greg raised his family in Carthage, TN.  Greg’s life was one of concert venues, fairgrounds, tour buses and honky-tonks.  He knew everyone by name.  Greg was well known and loved in the music industry.  He was truly passionate about the music business and the people in the industry.   As a tour manager, he was very organized and likened it to, “herding cats.”

His family often picked at him for his “over the top” organization skills and our lack thereof.  Life hacks were a favorite pastime.  One of the things that made Greg so special was his contagious sense of humor.  He could make any one laugh and always had plenty of on the road antics to gush about.   Greg also spent a lot of his time binge watching his favorite movies and TV series, The Godfather, The Sopranos (if you ever called him you heard this theme song) Breaking Bad and Bates Motel have also been on repeat over the last month.

Greg was a very hands-on Dad and adoring Grandfather.  His favorite pastime was running with the grandkids at the park and always ended his visits with the required trip for ice cream.  Greg’s immediate family is truly tight knit. He spent most of his time with them during the week, when he was off the road.   Greg loved food, especially cake & ice cream!

Greg & Jennifer loved to take on projects together.  They renovated a house in New Orleans in 2017 and lived between New Orleans and Nashville for 3 years.  Greg loved the beach and loved taking the entire family to the beach.  He also loved to travel outside of the country. He and Jennifer travelled to several European countries and throughout the Caribbean. They had planned to visit Greece but those plans were foiled by the pandemic.

Greg is preceded in death by his step father, Robert (Joe) Griffith.  He is survived by his mother Charlotte Hall Griffith of Martinsville, VA, his son Blake (Chyna) Wright, Portland TN, daughter Samantha (Justin) Carmack, Lafayette, TN.  His four grandchildren, Giana & Clayton Wright, Kennedy & Aubrey Carmack,  his ex-wife and great friend, Tammy McKinney Wright, his loving partner of 10 years, Jennifer Manna Brinkman.

His sister Robin (Doug) Short, brother Sam (Denise) Wright.  Greg is survived by a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Greg’s favorite charity was St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.  If you are so moved, please make a donation to St. Jude in his name.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

A life celebration will be held at 12pm, Wednesday, April 13th in the chapel of Crestview Funeral Home, with burial in Crestview Memory Gardens. Family will receive friends from3-8pm on Tuesday evening and again from 10-12pm prior to the service on Wednesday.

Crestview Funeral Home, Memory Gardens, and Cremation center are in charge of arrangements. 1623 Highway 109 North, Gallatin, TN 37066. www.crestviewfh.com