Garry Lee Wright, known for his engaging radio show hosting, stand-up comedy, and writing, passed away on August 14 due to heart failure at the age of 74. His daughter, Amanda, confirmed his death, which occurred at her residence in St. Charles. Wright, who lived in Uptown and previously on the Northwest Side, had been dealing with congestive heart failure and cardiac disease while under palliative care.
Wright was a familiar figure in the Chicago area, particularly for his work on WGN-AM and as a morning host at WXRT-FM before Terri Hemmert. Wright’s career, however, extended beyond radio. He performed stand-up comedy, wrote a newspaper column, played guitar, wrote a memoir titled Happiness for Beginners, and hosted a podcast during the pandemic.
“Incredibly, we had never met before the first night we went on the air together, and somehow it worked beautifully. We had a great time on the air together,” stated Nick Digilio, Wright’s long-time co-host.
Born in 1951 in Wilmington, Delaware, Wright moved frequently during his early years, living in places like Alaska, Seattle, and Phoenix before settling in Chesterton, Indiana. After graduating from Chesterton High School in 1969, he attended Wisconsin State University at Whitewater briefly before moving to California to pursue a career in music.
His early jobs included working as a cook, taxi driver, and factory worker before transitioning to radio in the advertising and media sectors. In 1975, he moved to Chicago for a position in WXRT’s sales department. Wright left WXRT in 1976, taking on roles as an on-air personality in North Carolina and Florida before returning to WXRT in 1978 as a weekend personality and later morning drive host.
“Garry was incredibly quick of wit, able to find in a flash the right song or the right one-liner to match a final, funny newscast story,” mentioned Charlie Meyerson, former WXRT morning news anchor. “He was also kind and compassionate.”
In 1981, he moved to New York City, where he contributed as a guest host for Barry Gray on WMCA radio and performed stand-up comedy. Wright’s roles expanded, hosting morning shows at WEHM radio, part-owned by Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley, and WBAZ radio in Southold, New York. He also hosted at WOC in Davenport, Iowa, until 1997.
In 1998, Wright returned to Chicago, joining WGN as a part-time fill-in host before partnering with Nick Digilio for an overnight show. Wright also hosted a Sunday night show on WGN. With Digilio, Wright created memorable radio experiences, leaving a lasting impact.
“I treasure the time we worked together, the amazing guests we interviewed, the huge laughs we shared,” Digilio expressed online.
While at WGN, Wright continued to perform and write a syndicated newspaper column. Meyerson recalled his column after the 9/11 attacks, emphasizing resilience and courage. Wright left WGN in 2006, later publishing his memoir in 2012, and developing projects like the Bleat Network and Pandemic Pirate Radio.
Wright faced health challenges, including a stroke in 2022, but maintained his curiosity and creativity until the end. Outside of work, he enjoyed cooking, music, and sports, sharing his time with loved ones. He was married to Laurel “Laurie” Neu until her passing in 2015; he had three other marriages that ended in divorce. Wright leaves behind his daughters Amanda and Kelsey Parrish, son Jason, sister Bobbi Minchew, and three grandchildren. A celebration of life service will take place on September 26 at Kelsey’s home in Bartlett.