Herman Wright is an enigma.

Growing up in El Barrio (East Harlem), Wright lost his brother to gang violence. 

“I was robbed and beat up almost on a daily basis.  Either you were part of a gang or a victim.” Wright explained. It was the 1960’s and Wright’s world consisted of race riots and gang warfare. But Wright decided early on, due to sheer determination and courage, that music would be his world. He learned Spanish and Italian songs which resonated in his neighborhood.  However that wasn’t the only music that surrounded Wright.

He also grew up with Yiddish songs. His maternal Grandfather was Jewish and he remembers singing Oif’n Pripichok, A Yiddish children’s song.

There is Music in the Air

Nowadays you can find Wright, every Saturday in front of The Buy-Rite Outlet on Route 59 in Nanuet, saxophone in hand. From as far as A.C. Moore, you can hear the sweet sound that this determined man makes.

“I like to start with Church hymns, and then I switch to Army songs and I usually end with Louis Armstrong and Michael Jackson.”

When Wright was in Benjamin Franklin High School on 116^th Street, there was one special teacher, an accordion player, who took the time to teach him to play the clarinet.

“The bad kids waited outside the church where he gave me lessons so they could steal whatever I had,” “But I would stay in there so long by the time I came out they (my belongings and instrument) were gone.”  About halfway through school, Wright had to drop out to help support his family. He ended up getting a job as an assistant music teacher at a Junior High School. A few years later Wright worked as a cook at Café Fiorello across from Lincoln Center.

“I worked 16 hour days, I didn’t see daylight for months” “But I loved seeing all the musicians who went in and out of Lincoln Center. I met Kalman Opperman, the legendary and intense clarinet teacher.” Opperman was an icon and is remembered as the first teacher of Michael Norsworthy. Opperham passed away in June 2010 at the age of 91.

Wright joined the army as a medic at the age of 28. At that time, he had a wife and two children. It was during the Holidays and he had to wait to get into the Army Band. Right before he enlisted Wright was mugged and lost 26 teeth. In broad daylight, Wright’s saxophone was stolen and he was a bloody mess.

Wright took lessons from the commander of woodwind instruments with the West Point band. He was stationed in Norfolk, VA at first and joined the “Mutt” band. From 1979-1983, Wright went overseas and stood guard duty.

“Out here at the Liquor Store is nothing after being in the cold in the Army.”

From 1983-1996 Wright was sent to Hawaii to join another Army band.  He was also stationed in San Francisco. This clarinet player from East Harlem who grew up with Spanish and Italian music was now playing at Hawaiian weddings---moonlighting on the side. “I was popular and got hired a lot. We also performed in Thailand.” Wright remembers.

Back Home

When he returned from service, Wright went to East Harlem.  At the time, that area was still tough and crime filled. Locals thought Wright had money because he was dressed in a suit looking for a job. He moved to White Plains.

Wright joined the Salvation Army in Westchester County.  They supplied Wright with his first saxophone since the robbery. He played his music and did well with the communities.  At the Galleria in White Plains, Wright played Hanukkah songs. The Jewish patrons were puzzled by this man who worked for this Christian organization, and was performing Oh Hanukah. He played many weddings during that time as well.

Wright is now sponsored by Rod Benders Car Club out of Fort Montgomery, and raises money for his own organization: Children’s Drum line. The Children’s Drum line raises money for underprivileged children who wish to play music. He is also very involved in his Church, The Revival Christian Center, who will be having a Friends and Family Day on Feb. 20 at the Crown Plaza in White Plains.

If you are shopping in Nanuet or are by the liquor store, stop and hear Wright play, you will not be disappointed.  Wright has come a long way. He plays and vocalizes with the same amount of heart and soul that he had as a young boy.