Heath Wright, lead singer for country group “Ricochet” along with his personal band “The Hangmen” will be headlining the Main Stage at Owasso’s Gathering on Main event, August 4 from 6-9pm.
‘There’s a thousand little towns you ain’t never heard about out in the Heartland’ is the opening line to one of Heath Wright’s favorite songs. And why not? Because right in the middle of small-town, heartland America sits Vian, OK. If you have ever imagined what life was like in the country, with horses, cows, barbed-wire fences and blackberry bushes; and the owner of the general store knows everyone by name (and whether you were in church or jail last Sunday morning) well, this is the place. Heath Wright has always called Vian, OK ‘home’ (even during the 15-year period that he lived in Nashville, TN) where he still has life-long friends and lives at the same ranch on which he grew up, the Rockin’ W. It was on this ranch that Heath (as he describes it) had his first real audience to sing to–a herd of Hereford cows that he and his dad raised for beef and Heath’s college fund. According to Heath, “I was painfully shy as a child and couldn’t stand the thought of singing to an audience of real people just yet.”
In 1996 the members of country super group Ricochet watched their debut single, “What Do I Know”, rise to the Top 5 earning the band the honor of the highest charting debut single of the year. The follow up single release, “Daddy’s Money”, became an immediate across the board hit, rising to #1 on the Radio & Records Country Singles Chart, the Gavin Country Singles Chart and the Billboard Country Singles Chart (where it stayed #1 for two consecutive weeks). The band’s distinctive musical style and intricate harmonies earned them the recognition as one of the most popular vocal groups in country music, a mantle they still wear today
Now, nearly twenty years later, “The Hardest Working Band In Country Music” is still going strong. The band continues to create great country music, sung with the distinctive harmonies that are their hallmark. They log thousands of miles on the road each year thrilling audiences of all ages across the United States and abroad.
n October of 2011, Heath received an offer he simply couldn’t refuse, to sing lead vocals for one of his favorite all-time bands, Restless Heart. Knowing their music word for word and note for note must have looked good for the resume. As Heath says, “when they asked me to fill in for Larry, I said ‘Hell yes, I’ve only been practicing for this gig for 25 years now!’” Heath has found it not only an honor, but a privilege to fill in as lead vocalist for Restless Heart, as he has become the “lead vocalist on call” whenever Larry Stewart has a prior commitment. Still, with billboard chart toppers, CMA and ACM nominations, and his travels around the world; Heath says his biggest and best accomplishment is his son, Dustin Heath.
Heath Wright has helped attain the following honors as the founding member and co-bandleader of Ricochet:
Awards
- Top New Vocal Group Academy of Country Music
Group of the Year Radio & Records Reader’s Poll
Top New Country Artist Billboard Magazine
Most Valuable Performer Radio & Records
Favorite New Group or Duo Country Weekly Golden Pick Award
Top Vocal Group Nominee Academy of Country Music
Vocal Group Of The Year Finalist Country Music Association
Favorite Duo or Group Nominee 3rd Annual Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
Top Selling Artist CMA Music Fest
Discography
Singles
“What Do I Know” Top 5
“Daddy’s Money” #1 in R&R, Billboard, Gavin & Country
Network
“Love Is Stronger Than Pride” Top 10
“Ease My Troubled Mind” Top 20
“He Left A Lot To Be Desired” Top 20
“The Star Spangled Banner”–1st Country Music Artist to Chart the National Anthem on Billboard.
“Blink Of An Eye” Top 40
“Connected At The Heart” Top 40
“Can’t Stop Thinkin’ ‘Bout That” Top 40
“Seven Bridges Road” Top 40
“Do I Love You Enough” Top 40
“She’s Gone” Top 40
“Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow”
“That’s Love” #1 Power Source, April 2005
“I Had To Be Me”
“Feel Like Fallen’”
“My Christmas List”
The Owasso Gathering on Main is held the first Thursday of each month, April through October. The outdoor street fair which lines Owasso’s Main Street fromn 76th Street North, north to the Owasso Police Station boasts two entertainments stages, twenty plus food trucks with large food court seating area, large kids zone, 100+ street vendors and more. For more information follow Owasso Gathering on Main of Facebook.
