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Dr. Brian F. Wright

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology

Email: Brian.Wright@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, Case Western Reserve University, 2018
    Major: Musicology
    Dissertation: How the Electric Bass Became the Norm: An Alternative History of American Popular Music, 1951-1964
  • MA, University of Nevada, Reno, 2013
    Major: Music
    Specialization: Musicology
    Dissertation: The View From the Bottom: Cultural Explorations of the Electric Bass
  • BA, University of California, Los Angeles, 2011
    Major: Music History

Professional Memberships

  • Society for American Music. (2012 - Present).
  • American Musicological Society. (2011 - Present).
  • International Association for the Study of Popular Music-US Branch. (2011 - Present).
  • North American British Music Studies Association. (2023 - 2024).

Development Activities

  • Workshop, Grant-Writing Workshop, UNT Division of Research and Innovation. United States of America. (December 13, 2023 - December 13, 2023).
  • Workshop, Promotion and Tenure Workshop, UNT Office of Faculty Success. United States of America. (November 7, 2023 - November 7, 2023).
  • Tutorial, Equity First: The Path to Inclusion and Belonging Hiring and Supporting Neurodiversity in the Workplace Inclusive Instructional Design, UNT 2022-2023 Anti-Bias and Cultural Awareness Program. United States of America. (2022).
  • Workshop, Junior Faculty Symposium, AMS Popular Music Study Group. United States of America. (June 2022).
  • Workshop, Promotion and Tenure Workshop, UNT Office of Faculty Success. United States of America. (February 9, 2022 - February 9, 2022).
  • Tutorial, Communicating About Culturally Sensitive Issues, UNT 2021 Anti-Bias and Cultural Awareness Program. United States of America. (2021).
  • Tutorial, Developing Cross-Cultural Intelligence, UNT 2021 Anti-Bias and Cultural Awareness Program. United States of America. (2021).
  • Workshop, NEH Digital Programs Workshop, UNT College of Information. United States of America. (April 27, 2021 - April 27, 2021).
  • Workshop, Promotion and Tenure Workshop, UNT Office of Faculty Success. United States of America. (April 19, 2021 - April 19, 2021).
  • Workshop, Faculty Development Leave Workshop, UNT Office of Faculty Success. United States of America. (April 13, 2021 - April 13, 2021).
  • Workshop, Grantsmanship for the Arts and Humanities Workshop, UNT Office of Research and Innovation. United States of America. (April 5, 2021 - April 8, 2021).
  • Tutorial, Diversity and Inclusion Training, UNT Office of Diversity and Inclusion. United States of America. (2019 - 2020).
  • Workshop, Junior Faculty Symposium, AMS Popular Music Study Group. United States of America. (July 2020).
  • Self-Study Program, Faculty First Flight, 2019-2020, UNT Center for Learning Experimentation, Application, and Research (CLEAR). United States of America. (August 26, 2019 - May 30, 2020).
  • Workshop, Grant-Writing Workshop, UNT Division of Research and Innovation. United States of America. (February 27, 2020 - February 27, 2020).
  • Workshop, Diversity and Inclusion Training - Graduate Student Forum, UNT Office of Diversity and Inclusion. United States of America. (October 21, 2019 - October 21, 2019).
  • Workshop, Managing Difficult Classrooms, UNT Office for Faculty Success. United States of America. (September 30, 2019 - September 30, 2019).
  • Workshop, Tenure and Promotion Workshop, UNT Office for Faculty Success. United States of America. (September 23, 2019 - September 23, 2019).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • MUCS 3000 - Seminar in Critical Studies in Music and Society, 1 course.
  • MUGC 5950 - Master's Thesis, 2 courses.
  • MUGC 6950 - Doctoral Dissertation, 6 courses.
  • MUMH 2060 - History of Rock, 2 courses.
  • MUMH 4900 - Special Problems, 1 course.
  • MUMH 4920 - Senior Thesis in Music History, 1 course.
  • MUMH 5010 - Introduction to Research in Music, 12 courses.
  • MUMH 5440 - Music in the United States, 3 courses.
  • MUMH 5450 - Topics in Popular Music, 1 course.
  • MUMH 6000 - Seminar in Musicology, 4 courses.
  • MUMH 6770 - Music of the Twentieth Century, 1 course.
  • MUMH 6900 - Special Problems, 1 course.
  • MUTH 5375 - Analytical Techniques for Popular Music, 1 course.

Directed Student Learning

  • Major Professor, Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology. (2023).
  • Supervised Research, Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology. (2023).
  • Major Professor, Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology. (2021).
  • Major Professor, Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology. (2020).
  • Major Professor, Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology. (2019).
  • Related Field Professor, Instrumental Studies. (2023 - 2023).
  • Doctoral Advisory Committee Member, "A LEGACY OF MCCOY TYNER, MOTIVIC CELLS AND INTERVALLIC IMPROVISATION: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PENTATONIC AND OCTATONIC IMPROVISATION OF CHICK COREA AND KENNY KIRKLAND," Jazz Studies. (2022 - 2023).
  • Supervised Research, Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology. (2022).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "(Those Were the) Good Times: The Disco Experience in Four Parts," History. (December 2021).
  • Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, Composition Studies. (2021).
  • Major Professor, Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology. (2019 - 2021).
  • DMA Dissertation Recital - Committee Member, Instrumental Studies. (2020).
  • Related Field Professor, Instrumental Studies. (2020).
  • Supervised Research, Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology. (August 2020 - October 2020).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book

  • Wright, B.F. (2024). The Bastard Instrument: A Cultural History of the Electric Bass. Ann Arbor, Michigan, University of Michigan Press.

    • Book Chapter

  • Wright, B.F. (2024). The Bass Guitar in Popular Music. The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. Cambridge University Press.
  • Wright, B.F. (2023). Elvis Presley in Las Vegas: The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll in the City of Second Chances. Viva Las Vegas: Music and Myth in America’s City of Second Chances.
  • Wright, B.F. (2014). "Transvaluing Adam Clayton: Why the Bass Matters in U2's Music". U2 Above, Across, and Beyond: Interdisciplinary Assessments. 17-30. Lanham, Maryland, Lexington Press.

    • Book Review

  • Wright, B. (2024). Review of Rocking in the Free World: Popular Music and the Politics of Freedom in Postwar America. Notes, Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association.
  • Wright, B. (2021). Review of Kick It: A Social History of the Drum Kit. Notes, Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association. 77 (3) 421-424.
  • Wright, B.F. (2019). “Review of The Banjo: America’s African Instrument by Laurent Dubois”. Asian Journal of Latin American Studies. 58 (No. 1) 118. https://journals.ku.edu/amerstud/issue/view/1269
  • Wright, B.F. (2017). “Review of Knowing Jazz by Ken Prouty and School for Cool by Eitan Y. Wilf”. Journal of the Society for American Music. 11 (2) 227-232.
  • Wright, B.F. (2016). “Review of Networks of Sound, Style, and Subversion: The Punk and Post-Punk Worlds of Manchester, London, Liverpool, and Sheffield, 1975-1980, by Nick Crossley”. Other. 72 (4) 746-748.
  • Wright, B.F. (2014). “Review of Bad Vibrations: The History of the Idea of Music as a Cause of Disease, by James Kennaway”. Other. 71 (2) 305-307.
  • Wright, B.F. (2013). “Review of Ecomusicology: Rock, Folk, and the Environment, by Mark Pedelty”. Environmental Values. 22 (3) 432-434.
  • Wright, B.F. (2012). “Review of Grunge: Music and Memory, by Catherine Strong”. Other.

    • Critical Review

  • Wright, B.F. (2016). “Review of Jaco: The Film (directed by Paul Marchand and Stephen Kijak) and Jaco: Original Soundtrack”. 9 (3) 319-324.
  • Wright, B.F. (2014). “Review of Under African Skies (directed by Joe Berlinger)”. Other. 1 (1) 109-13.

    • Encyclopedia Article

  • Wright, B.F., Sheets, A., Bacon, T. (2020). "Electric Bass Guitar". Grove Music Online. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
  • Wright, B.F., Martin, A.R., Mihalka, M. (2020). "Folkways Records". Music Around the World: A Global Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA, ABC-Clio.
  • Wright, B.F., Martin, A.R., Mihalka, M. (2020). "Nordic Jazz". Music Around the World: A Global Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA, ABC-Clio.

    • Journal Article

  • Wright, B.F. (2023). Introduction: What Kenny G Can Teach Us About Jazz. Other.
  • Wright, B. (2023). Forum: “Revisiting Kenny G”. Other.
  • Wright, B., Coddington, A., Mall, A. (2021). Looking Towards the Future: Popular Music Studies and Music Scholarship. Other. 18 (1) 3-70. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/twentieth-century-music/issue/E985ABBC201D432986E7EB44664FB4E6
  • Wright, B., Coddington, A., Mall, A. (2021). Looking Towards the Future: Popular Music Studies and Music Scholarship: Introduction. Other. 18 (1) 3-11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1478572220000237
  • Wright, B., Coddington, A., Mall, A. (2020). Conference Report: ‘The Future of Pop: Big Questions Facing Popular Music Studies in the 21st Century,’ AMS Pre-Conference Symposium. Other. 32 (3)
  • Wright, B. (2020). Jaco Pastorius, the Electric Bass, and the Struggle for Jazz Credibility. Other. University of California Press.
  • Wright, B.F. (2019). "Reconstructing the History of Motown Session Musicians: The Carol Kaye / James Jamerson Controversy". Journal of the Society for American Music. 13 (1) 78-109. New York, New York, Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1752196318000536
  • Wright, B.F. (2015). "'A Bastard Instrument': The Fender Precision Bass, Monk Montgomery, and Jazz in the 1950s". Other. 8 (3) 281-303. Taylor & Francis. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17494060.2015.1085888

    • Magazine/Trade Publication

  • Wright, B.F. (2016). “Eugene Grew, Long-Lost Motown Session Master”. 84-87.

    • Webpage

  • Wright, B.F. (2014). “Interview with Peter Roller, author of Milwaukee Garage Bands: Generations of Grassroots Rock”. Other. IASPM-US Interview Series.

Presentations Given

    Invited Talk

  • Wright, B.F. (Author & Presenter), “‘Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved': James Brown’s Bass Players and the Development of Funk", Univeristy of Nevada, Reno, United States of America. (2024).
  • Wright, B.F. (Author & Presenter), "Elvis Presley in Las Vegas: The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll in the City of Second Chances", Univeristy of Nevada, Las Vegas Arnold Shaw Popular Music Center Lecture Series, United States of America. (2023).
  • Wright, B.F. (Author & Presenter), “Some Kind of Trouble: Women and Country Music", Arlington Museum of Art, United States of America. (2023).
  • Wright, B.F. (Author & Presenter), “Play Guitar with the Ventures!: How Amateurs Reshaped Rock ‘n’ Roll”, American Musicological Society/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, United States of America. (2023).
  • Wright, B. (Presenter), “The Electric Bass in Rock ’n’ Roll: Practicality, Teenpics, and Live Music-Making, 1956–58”, University of Georgia Musicology and Ethnomusicology Student Association, United States of America. (2020).

    • Panel Presentation

  • Wolski, K.A. (Coordinator/Organizer), Wright, B.F. (Moderator), Evans, K. (Panelist), Huff, D.L. (Panelist), Feustle, M.J. (Panelist), Mott, E. (Panelist), Muzquiz, R. (Panelist), Nichelson, F. (Panelist), Walker, C. (Panelist), Withers, C. (Panelist), Lemons, J. (Panelist), First Chair Chats, First Chair Chats: Local Music, University of North Texas, Music Library, Denton, TX, United States of America. (2020 - 2020).
  • Wright, B. (Co-Chair), Feustle, M. (Panelist), UNT First Chair Chats, Local Music, UNT Music Library, Zoom, United States of America. (2020 - 2020).

    • Paper

  • Wright, B.F. (Author & Presenter), Southwest Popular/American Culture Association, Before Bootsy: James Brown’s Early Electric Bassists and the Development of Funk, United States of America. (2024).
  • Wright, B.F. (Author & Presenter), North American British Music Studies Association Symposium, “The Electric Bass’s Early History in Britain”, United States of America. (2023).
  • Wright, B.F. (Author & Presenter), IASPM-US/IASPM-International Joint Conference, Before Bootsy: James Brown’s Early Electric Bassists and the Development of Funk, United States of America. (2023).
  • Wright, B.F. (Author & Presenter), American Musicological Society, The Electric Bass in the Chicago Electric Blues and Beyond, United States of America. (2022).
  • Wright, B.F. (Author & Presenter), American Musicological Society, Defining the Sound of the Electric Bass: Experiments in the Recording Studio, 1958-1963, United States of America. (2021).
  • Wright, B. (Author), Society for American Music Conference, Leo Fender and the Early Years of the Fender Precision Bass, United States of America. (2021 - 2021).
  • Wright, B. (Author), American Musicological Society, “Play Guitar with the Ventures!: How Amateurs Reshaped Rock ‘n’ Roll”, United States of America. (2019 - 2019).

Media Contributions

    Internet

  • "Roundtable: The Possibility Machine: Music and Myth in Las Vegas (University of Illinois Press), with editor Jake Johnson and contributors Joanna Dee Das, Michael Kinney, and Brian F. Wright," Popular Music Books In Process Series. (October 17, 2023).
  • "10 Things You Didn’t Know about Carol Kaye," Guitar World. (March 24, 2023).
  • "Music Professor Receives Fellowship to Research at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame," University of North Texas. (August 2021).
  • "Musical Instruments: A Conversation with Matt Brennan, Brian F. Wright, and Sue Foley," Popular Music Books In Process Series. (June 29, 2021).
  • "Interview with Music Journalism Insider," Music Journalism Insider. (May 24, 2021).

    • Magazine

  • "James Jamerson or Carol Kaye: Who Played What? The New Evidence That Reveals All," Bass Player. (September 2021).

    • Newspaper

  • "Van Halen's legacy remembered by Denton musicians, music professors," Denton Record-Chronicle. (October 14, 2020).

    • Other

  • "Episode #117: Brian F. Wright," Groove: The No Treble Podcast. (September 5, 2024).
  • "The Possibility Machine: Music and Myth in Las Vegas, with Jake Johnson and Joanna Dee Das," New Books Network. (July 7, 2024).

    • TV

  • "Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall launch Big Loud Texas to elevate musicians in the Lone Star state," CBS News Texas. (April 17, 2024).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Geoffroy-Schwinden, R.D., Wright, B.F., Virani, V., Snyder, B., Sella, T., Dietlinger, B., "Team Mentoring Grant," University of North Texas, $5000 Funded. (2024 - 2025).
  • Wright, B.F., "Small Grants Award," University of North Texas, $1000 Funded. ( - 2024).
  • Wright, B., "Charles Hamm Fellowship," sponsored by Society for American Music, National, $2000 Funded. (2021 - 2021).
  • Wright, B., "Junior Faculty Summer Research Grant," University of North Texas, $5000 Funded. (2020 - 2020).

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, Graduate Performance Degree Committee. (2024 - Present).
  • Committee Member, BA-CSMS Committee. (2023 - Present).
  • Member, MHTE IDEA Working Group. (2021 - Present).
  • Committee Member, NEH Summer Stipend Internal Review Committee. (2024 - 2025).
  • Committee Member, Critical Studies in Music and Society Committee. (2023 - 2024).
  • Committee Member, Music History Lecturer Search Committee. (2023 - 2024).
  • Member, Ad Hoc Planning Committee for Commercial Music BA. (2022 - 2023).
  • Member, University Library Committee. (2021 - 2023).
  • Member, Graduate Academic Degree Committee. (August 2022 - May 2023).
  • Chairperson, Graduate Academic Degree Committee. (August 2021 - 2022).
  • Member, MHTE Lecture Committee. (2021 - 2022).
  • Member, Graduate Academic Degree Committee. (August 2019 - May 2021).
  • Committee Member, Jazz History Faculty Search Committee. (2020 - 2020).
  • Committee Member, Ricco Ethics Award Committee. (2020 - 2020).

Professional Service

  • Committee Chair, Society for American Music Charles Hamm Fellowship Committee. (2022 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Conference Paper, American Musicological Society Conference. (2023).
  • Session Chair, American Musicological Society-Southwest Chapter Fall Conference, “Popular Music". (2023).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Americas: A Hemispheric Music Journal. (2023).
  • Committee Chair, IASPM-US David Sanjek Graduate Student Paper Prize Committee. (2023).
  • Session Chair, Joint IASPM-US/IASPM-International Conference, "Instruments and Technologies". (2023).
  • Session Chair, Joint IASPM-US/IASPM-International conference panel, "Instruments and Technologies". (June 27, 2023).
  • Committee Member, IASPM-US Publications Committee. (2019 - 2022).
  • Session Chair, American Musicological Society conference panel, "Jazz and the Archive". (2021).
  • Session Chair, IASPM-US conference panel, "Records, Labels, Marketing". (2021).
  • Editor, Associate Editor, Journal of Popular Music Studies. (2019 - 2021).
  • Officer, Secretary, AMS Popular Music Study Group. (2017 - 2021).
  • Reviewer, Book, West Virginia University Press. (2020).
  • Committee Member, IASPM-US Conference Program Committee. (2019 - 2020).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Harmonia: The Journal of the Graduate Association of Musicologists und Theorists. (July 2020).
  • Program Organizer, "Big Questions Facing Popular Music Studies in the 21st Century" Conference. (2019 - 2019).
  • Reviewer, Book, Cambridge University Press. (2019).
  • Reviewer, Book, University of Georgia Press. (2019 - 2019).
  • Board of Advisors, Music ID. (2018 - 2019).