Matthews, Wright & King
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Larry Strickland |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Country music |
Matthews, Wright & King was a country music ensemble from the United States, established in 1991 by Columbia Records producer Larry Strickland. This formation followed the departure of Shenandoah from Columbia, with the intent to sustain a notable country music presence on the label. The trio consisted of Raymond Matthews (born 1956), Woody Wright (born 1957), who had ties to Memphis, and Tony King (born 1957).
Their visibility increased through appearances on CMT and TNN, complemented by touring alongside Reba McEntire for two consecutive seasons. Their most successful single, "The Power of Love," reached number 41 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1992. This song also served as the title track of their debut album issued that same year under Columbia Records. The group dissolved shortly after releasing their sophomore album, Dream Seekers.
Following the group's split, Tony King became part of the backing band for Brooks & Dunn and was briefly engaged to singer Wynonna Judd. Woody Wright pursued a career in gospel music as a songwriter, producer, and solo performer. Meanwhile, Raymond Matthews returned to Alabama where he successfully managed a contracting business.
In 2013, Raymond Matthews collaborated with his daughter Ashley Matthews Mobley to release Come Home, a gospel record featuring compositions by Raymond. The project was recorded at Dugger Mountain Music Hall near Heflin, Alabama.
Personnel
- Raymond Matthews – Lead Vocals
- Woody Wright – Lead Vocals
- Tony King – Lead Vocals
- Eddie Bayers – Drums
- Willie Weeks – Bass Guitar
- Tom Robb – Bass Guitar
- Steve Gibson – Guitar
- Bill Watson – Bass Guitar
- Mark Casstevens – Guitar
Production Team
- Marshall Morgan – Recording Engineer
- Toby Seay – Assistant Engineer
- John Kunz – Assistant Engineer
- Denny Purcell – Mastering Engineer
- Carlos Grier – Editing
- Bill Johnson – Art Direction
- Rollow Welch – Design
- Randee Saint Nicholas – Photography
Personnel
- Eddie Bayers – Drums
- Willie Weeks – Bass Guitar
- Michael Rhodes – Bass Guitar
- Brent Mason – Electric Guitar
- Randy Scruggs – Electric Guitar
- Don Potter – Acoustic Guitar
- Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
- Matt Rollings – Piano, Synthesizer
- Steve Nathan – Organ, Synthesizer
- Ron Reynolds – Percussion
Production Team
- Ron Reynolds – Engineer
- Glenn Meadows – Digital Editing and Mastering
- Bill Johnson – Art Direction
- Rollow Welch – Design
- Jodi Lynn Miller – Design Assistant
- Peter Nash – Photography
Track details and credits have been confirmed through Discogs, AllMusic, and the original album liner notes.
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak Chart Positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | CAN Country | |||
| 1992 | "The Power of Love" | 41 | 45 | Power of Love |
| "Mother's Eyes" | 55 | 76 | ||
| "House Huntin'" | 68 | — | ||
| 1993 | "I Got a Love" | 45 | 75 | Dream Seekers |
| "One of These Days" | 74 | 63 | ||
| "—" indicates singles that did not chart | ||||
Music videos
| Year | Video Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "The Power of Love" | Michael Merriman |
| "Mother's Eyes" | ||
| 1993 | "I Got a Love" | |
| "One of These Days" |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Organization | Award Category | Nominee or Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | TNN/Music City News Country Awards | Vocal Group of the Year | Matthews, Wright & King | Nominated |
| 1994 | TNN/Music City News Country Awards | Vocal Group of the Year | Matthews, Wright & King | Nominated |
External links
- [ Matthews, Wright & King] on Allmusic
- Official site of Woody Wright