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VOL. 14
NO. 10 DECEMBER 2014
Pat Wright
Seattle’s First Lady of Gospel
P
astor Patrinell “Pat” Wright has been exploring the rich tradition of gospel music her entire life.
She was living with her sister in Renton, attending a small church there. One day the family went into Seattle for church, and she heard music coming from another church across the street. “I remember stumbling over somebody's feet trying to get a seat because the place was pretty packed. And that somebody happened to end up being my husband,” said Pat. “I’m a preacher’s kid,” she revealed. A few years later Pat was teaching “I’ve been in the church all my life and gospel music in the Seattle school sang my first solo at age three in my district and was also a gospel deejay on father’s church.” She still recalls the KYAC radio. applause from her first performance. She taught gospel music at Franklin Director of Seattle’s highly regarded High School as well as being a “floater” Total Experience Gospel Choir, Pat to other Seattle schools. The district Wright has traveled the world with the was looking for ways to keep the award-winning choir she founded in African American students interested 1973. in the choral music programs, “but Her experience with choirs goes the black kids didn’t bother to come,” way back. By 14, she had taught herself says Pat. “They could get this music to play the piano and was conducting every Sunday in church.” But once two choirs in her father’s church in the choir won a jazz festival in Reno, Pat Wright, noted gospel singer and choir director, is also known for giving to others. Carthage, Texas. “Carthage is just “All the black kids were just standing ABC’s World News Tonight recognized her humanitarian work by naming her one of across the line from Louisiana, to give at the door, ‘Are you guys gonna go the “Persons of the Year” in 2007. you an idea where this tiny place is. A traveling and stuff? Man, I'm getting little over 5,000 people,” said Pat. in this choir! Her preacher father was Shoot!’ And it instrumental in getting Pat involved just blew up, 108 with music, but her schoolteacher students,” said mother also exerted a tremendous Pat. “And those influence in her life. Pat graduated kids could sing!” as valedictorian in high school and Then, with went on to attend Prairie View A&M all the attention, College in Hempstead, Texas. the gospel choir Pat came came to Seattle in under October, 1964 to some help out her sister scrutiny. who was going It was through a difficult decided divorce. The bus that ride took about gospel Pat Wright is founder and director of Seattle’s highly acclaimed Total Experience Gospel Choir four days. “Being was no They have two grown children, four the only African longer allowed in a public Another surprise is that Pat grandsons and a granddaughter. American and school. “They gave me my briefly gave up gospel back in the And, adds Pat, “I’ve raised two the only female walking papers,” Pat recalls. late ‘60s. “Actually decided I was on the bus for the But she picked herself up, tired of gospel, so I was going to try generations of children in the choir. I’ve been mother, father and last 2500 miles took the kids who wanted my hand at soul music.” She made Pat sang her first solo at age three to stay in the choir with her, confidante, fed them, clothed them was quite an a 45. “It didn’t get much air play in her father's church and started experience,” she and organized a community here in Seattle.” That was that, she and soothed their sorrows.” It has directing choirs by 14 been a labor of love for her and her exclaimed. When choir. The Total Experience thought. Years later, one Sunday husband. “He was a schoolteacher she finally got to Seattle, after having Gospel Choir was born. “Anybody morning at church a visitor stood and brought home many a mutt, survived just about every abuse on that could join it,” said Pat. “The youngest up and asked, ‘Are you Patrinell too,” she quips. “That’s what we’ve long ride, she wanted to get back on kid that came to me was seven years Staten?” She had flown all the way done. I look back and we’ve helped the bus and go home. “But I’ve always old.” Today, the choir is made up from England to find out if Pat was people raise and educate their had a bulldog tendency,” she admitted. of young and old alike. And it is a still alive. “I danced to your music children. We’ve paid for many a “I decided to stay.” She arrived in multiracial organization. “Let’s come every Friday and Saturday night book, tuition…whatever we could Seattle during the height of the civil together and enjoy all the cultures,” in the discos in London,” said the afford to do we did it, with a lot of rights movement and said that bus ride said Pat. “We represent the racial visitor. After pro bono assistance encouragement to stay in school. taught her the lessons of a lifetime, “the rainbow.” from some attorneys, Pat ended up ‘That’s what you need to succeed lessons I needed to survive…gave me a Surprisingly, the award-winning receiving 30 years of royalties from backbone that won’t quit.” choir does not have auditions. “We’ll that little record. She’s still battling in life,’ we’d say. ‘Don’t drop out!’ ” Their oldest daughter is a professor Her plan was to eventually return to teach you how to sing,” proclaimed Pat. pirating of her music. at Georgia State University in Carthage, but then discovered she could The choir has won numerous awards, Pat and her husband Reverend make $7 a week in Seattle compared to traveled to 38 states, performed on five Benny Wright will celebrate their $3 back home. “I stayed in Seattle.” continued on page 14 continents and in 28 countries. 50th wedding anniversary in 2015.