We were lucky to catch up with Glen “Papa” Wright recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Glen “Papa” thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew I wanted to pursue a creative and artistic path professionally when I was in the second grade at Banneker Elementary School in St. Louis, MO.  That year, the school had a talent show.  I had just started taking snare drum lessons. My instrumental music teacher was Mr. Martin.  I was just beginning to learn how to read quarter notes and quarter rests.  I was not very good at reading music at that time.  However, I could always play a nice rhythm or a beat.  My friend, Lawrence, was a third-grade student that played trumpet.  Lawrence was going to be on the talent show playing a piece called Hymn Tune.  He was more advanced musically than I was because he took private music lessons.  Lawrence asked me to play along with him on the talent show.  Mr. Martin did not want me to play with him since I could barely read music. However, Lawrence insisted that I play with him.

So, my mother bought me a snare drum for six dollars at a pawn shop.  I got drum sticks from Joe’s Music Store.  They were warped and cost me only fifty cents.  I was all set.  Lawrence and I did not rehearse.  However, on the day of the talent show, we performed the piece and came in first place.  For the first time in my life, I felt good about myself.  Performing for an audience and receiving their applause made me feel special.  I was a little guy and not very good at sports.  After that performance, I said to myself, “This is something I can do.”  That was when I decided to pursue music professionally.  I did not have the music, the music had me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Over the years, I have performed music with various groups in various venues.  For twenty-three years I taught percussion for St. Louis Conservatory and Schools for the Arts (CASA).  I also taught the Applied Music students at St. Louis Community College for two years.  During that time, I joined a band called Third Circuit in Spirit.  We played in clubs all around town.  After the leader left St. Louis for New York, I decided to create my own projects.  I played solo vibraphone at fundraisers for organizations like the Arts and Education Council and for private parties.  I formed a duo playing marimba with guitarist Kathy Schottel.  We played background music for special events.

As a creative artist, I have several interests.  My wife, Jackie, and I formed The “Wright” Entertainment for Children in 1996. We provide three programs, “Storytime Puppets,” “Tales Told the ‘Wright’ Way,” and “Children’s Percussion Workshop.”

Not only do I love music, but I also have a love for puppetry.  I am a professional puppeteer.  Jackie is my assistant.  She and I have been performing “Storytime Puppets” in libraries, preschools, and wherever children gather all over Missouri and Illinois.  We self-published a story-coloring book of our “Three Pigs of Piggyville” puppet show, which teaches the importance of learning to read.  We have performed several times at the Puppetry Arts Institute in Independence, MO.  We have also performed at the Great Plains Regional Festival in Minneapolis, MN for our national puppet organization, Puppeteers of America.  I am the president of the Puppet Guild of Greater St. Louis and a member of Puppeteers of America.

Jackie is a professional storyteller.  With “Tales Told the ‘Wright’ Way”, she tells stories as I add color and texture with percussion instruments.  We have been featured at the By Word-of-Mouth Storytelling Festival in Hannibal, MO, the St. Louis Storytelling Festival, the Mid-Missouri Storytelling Festival in Jefferson City, MO, and the Kansas City Storytelling Celebration.  Jackie and I have also performed at an annual conference of the National Storytelling Network on the South-Central Regional Showcase Concert in Kansas City, MO.  I am a board member of Missouri Storytelling, Inc. (MO-TELL), an organization dedicated to spread the joy and art of storytelling throughout Missouri.

The “Children’s Percussion Workshop” is a “hands-on” musical program that introduces young children to the percussion family of instruments.  Children learn to identify a variety of professional instruments used for rhythm, sound effects, and melody.  I became a teaching partner with Young Audiences, then Springboard to Learning, organizations that send creative artists into schools to help students experience world-wide arts and cultures.  My percussion workshop for Springboard to Learning is called “The Wright Rhythms for Small Hands.”  I have been a teaching partner with Springboard to Learning for over thirty years.

I was honored in 2012 by receiving the Luminary Award from Springboard to Learning for my percussion work with young children in St. Louis City and County Schools.  In 2006 I received the Progressive Youth Connection’s World of Children Award for my work with children through Young Audiences of St. Louis.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Playing creative music gives me a chance to use my imagination, create my ideas, be spontaneous, and release a lot of energy all at the same time. My goal as a creative musician is to create the music that speaks to me, record it under my own name, and travel the world performing it.

Currently, on various percussion instruments, I am performing free improv music with the Fred Tompkins’s Quartet. Fred plays bass flute/C flute, Greg Mills is on piano/melodica, and Jim Hegarty is on synthesizer. I have been the percussionist with this group since June of 2022 and have recorded two CDs with them. The CDs are “Rising Modes” and “Tompkins, Mills, Wright Trio.” I also recorded a CD called “Kuvuka” with Greg Mills. I am on drum set and Greg is on piano.

Tory Starbuck, a new wave art rock musician, and I recently recorded a soundtrack for an independent film called, “The Prosecutor.” He and I have also collaborated on a CD that will be coming out soon.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative artist is all the projects you can create and be asked to be part of. For instance, Counterpublic is a civic exhibition that weaves contemporary art into the daily life of St. Louis for 3 months every 3 years in order to reimagine civic infrastructures towards generational change. In 2022 Counterpublic hired artists from all over the country to create exhibitions throughout St. Louis for the three-month period in 2023. Steffani Jemison, an interdisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, New York was hired to create an exhibition about the life of native St. Louisan, Josephine Baker. She searched the internet to find a St. Louis artist to work with her on her project and she chose me and Jackie to help her create her vision.

In January of 2023 Stefani came to St. Louis. Under her direction, we recorded a sound installation at Shock City Studios as part of her exhibition with Counterpublic. Jackie spoke about Josephine Baker’s life as I accompanied her on percussion. The sound installation was heard in gondolas on the Ferris Wheel at St. Louis Union Station from April 15 to July 15, 2023.

Doing that project was rewarding. Being asked to be a part of someone else’s creativity, as well as having the ability to create your own projects, is rewarding. It is also rewarding knowing others enjoy what you have created. I love seeing the looks on the faces and hearing the round of applause of adults and children after I have performed. That is a great feeling. What a wonderful way to live your life.
Contact Info:

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jackieand papawright.com
• Youtube: https:// https://www.youtube.com/@jacquelynwright3687

Image Credits

Shara Storm
Fred Thompkins
Lindsey Wagner
Jackie Wright