The
Sandra Wright Band Band
began in 1990 after four former band mates crossed paths at the
intersection of I 40 and Broadway in Nashville,
TN. Soon a band
was formed and every Tuesday night at the Grapevine Cafe, they
crafted their sound. Sandra Wright, a native of Memphis, TN had met
the guys
in a local band called Bordello, an eight piece R & B showband. Drummer
Lloyd Herrman had left Bordello and was in town between tours with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.
Eventually he would take Sandra and organist Moe Denham to join
Gatemouth's band, touring the US and Canada. Once they saw the
reception Sandra
received on the road, they returned to Nashville, joined with former
Bordello
guitar player and vocalist Pete Marriott, and created what would
become the Sandra Wright Band. After trying a few different bass
players,
Lloyd called in his rhythm section soul mate, John Harris to join
the band.
John was in Norway touring with a band in sub zero temperatures;
he gladly accepted and the band was complete.
While on tour in New Jersey, the band met recording engineer, Jay
Newland, who eventually recorded the band with Hipshake Productions
in New York.
In 1992 the SWB moved to New England to be closer to the production
company and their promotional efforts. The CD "Shake You Down" was
released in 1995 but after some personnel changes and the collapse
of the production
company, only a few copies were ever distributed. Recently we have
begun reissuing this CD. See the SWB Music page for details.
After touring from Albuquerque to Halifax, the SWB cut back their
traveling and concentrated on playing in New England. They have
performed at
high profile venues like the Toronto Soul & Blues Festival, Ben & Jerrys
One World Festival, and the DuMaurier Jazz Festival in Halifax, NS.
The current lineup of SWB featuring the Nerbak Brothers -- Dave on
guitar
and Matthew on drums, as well as keyboardist Michael Sucher, is still
playing
to packed houses and enthusiastic audiences.