Victor Wainwright

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Victor Wainwright

| image = Victor Wainwright Image 1.jpg

| caption =

| image_size =

| birth_name = Victor Lawton Wainwright, Jr.

| alias = Piana from Savannah{{cite web|url=http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1392057764&paper=topstories|title=Blues Pianist Victor Wainwright – Minnesota State University, Mankato|website=Mnsu.edu|access-date=October 1, 2014}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|2|4|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Savannah, Georgia, United States

| death_date =

| death_place =

| instrument = Piano, hammond b3 organ, vocals{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/beale-street-to-the-bayou-mw0001956267/credits|title=Beale Street to the Bayou – Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots – Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=October 1, 2014}}

| genre = Blues, Americana, boogie-woogie{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/piana-from-savannah-mw0000311384|title=Pianna from Savannah|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=October 1, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://bluesdoodles.com/recorded-music-review/wanna-boogie-get-aboard-this-train-opines-victor-wainwright/|title=Wanna boogie get aboard this train opines Victor Wainwright|first=Tom|last=Dixon|website=Bluesdoodles.com|date=May 1, 2018|access-date=August 3, 2019}}

| occupation = Musician, songwriter, record producer

| years_active = 2000s–present

| label = WildRoots Records, Blind Pig Records, Ruf Records

| associated_acts =

| website = {{URL|victorwainwright.com/|Official website}}

}}

Victor Lawton Wainwright, Jr. (born February 4, 1981) is an American blues and boogie-woogie{{cite web|url=http://blues.about.com/od/bluesawards/a/2014-Blues-Music-Awards.htm|title=2014 Blues Music Awards|author=Reverend Keith A. Gordon|website=Blues.about.com|access-date=October 1, 2014|archive-date=December 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222020203/http://blues.about.com/od/bluesawards/a/2014-Blues-Music-Awards.htm|url-status=dead}} singer, songwriter, and pianist. Wainwright's musical style was described by the American Blues Scene magazine in 2013 as "honky-tonk and boogie, with a dose of rolling thunder. Wainwright's playing is simply beautiful madness."{{cite web|url=http://victorwainwright.com/victorwainwright/|title=American Blues Scene 2013 Magazine Quote|website=Victorwainwright.com|access-date=October 1, 2014}}

Living Blues magazine noted that "Wainwright serves as an electrifying guide to a good time – spinning tales, telling his listeners how to beat the blues, and meticulously conjuring raw soul and energy out of his acoustic piano."{{cite web|url=http://victorwainwright.com/victorwainwright/|title=Victor Wainwright|website=Victorwainwright.com|access-date=October 1, 2014}}

Wainwright currently tours both nationally and internationally, performing with two bands: Victor Wainwright and the Train, and Southern Hospitality.{{cite web |title=Southern Hospitality |url=http://www.southernhospitalityband.com/ |access-date=October 1, 2014 |website=Southernhospitalityband.com}} Wainwright formerly toured as Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/victorwainwrightfanpage/info|title=Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots|via=Facebook|access-date=January 24, 2016}}

Early life and career

Wainwright was born in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Both his father and grandfather were blues musicians, and became Wainwright's early mentors. At the age of 10 at a family gathering, Wainwright played "Für Elise".{{cite web|url=http://victorwainwright.blogspot.co.uk/|title=Victor Wainwright's Blues|author=Victor Wainwright|website=Victorwainwright.blogspot.co.uk|access-date=October 1, 2014}} Wainwright's own ensemble backed Eric Culberson at the Savannah Blues Bar, during the former's high school years.

Wainwright later attended college in Daytona Beach, Florida, and undertook an Air Traffic Management and Psychology degree at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, before relocating to Memphis, Tennessee.{{cite web|url=http://daytonabluesfestival.com/new-victor-wainwright-album-debuts-on-billboard-top-ten/|title=New Victor Wainwright Album Debuts on Billboard Top Ten|website=Daytonabluesfestival.com|access-date=October 1, 2014}} He then worked as an air traffic controller at Memphis International Airport.{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/featured-interview-victor-wainwright/|title=Blues Blast Magazine – Featured Interview – Victor Wainwright|website=Bluesblastmagazine.com|date=March 2014 |access-date=October 1, 2014}}

In 2004, Wainwright met Florida native Stephen Dees in Ormond Beach, Florida. The latter was part of Novo Combo in the early 1980s. The meeting led to Dees co-writing and producing Wainwright's debut album, Piana from Savannah (2005).{{cite web|url=http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/victorwainwrightandthewi|title=Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots – Lit Up – CD Baby Music Store|website=Cdbaby.com|access-date=October 1, 2014}} In 2008, Wainwright played alongside the Reverend Billy C. Wirtz on Wirtz's live album Pianist Envy – Group Therapy.{{cite web|url=https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/bradfordvillebluesclub/conversations/messages/509|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140930211719/https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/bradfordvillebluesclub/conversations/messages/509|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2014|title=Yahoo! Groups|website=Groups.yahoo.com|access-date=October 1, 2014}}

Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots

After the release of Piana from Savannah, Wainwright and Dees joined forces under the name of Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots. Wainwright and Dees shared vocal duties, with the former on keyboards and the latter on bass and guitar with Greg Gumpel as lead guitarist from 2002 through 2009. They were backed by Billy Dean (drums, backup vocal), Nick Black (guitar, backup vocal), Patricia Ann Dees, and Ray Guiser (tenor sax), and Charlie deChant (baritone sax).{{cite web|url=http://www.vwwroots.com/ |title=Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots |website=Vwwroots.com |access-date=2015-07-22}} In September 2009, they released Beale Street to the Bayou on WildRoots Records. The album was praised by critics and placed on the Root Music Report "Top 50 Blues," the Blues Internet Charts, the Tennessee Roots Charts, and Europe's Collectif des Radio Blues Charts.

In October 2010, Wainwright appeared at Dark Season Blues in Norway.{{cite web|url=http://www.svalbardblues.com/dsb/dark-season-blues-2010/|title=Dark Season Blues 2010|website=Svalbardblues.com|access-date=October 1, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesnews.no/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=932%3Amagiske-dark-season-blues-&catid=2%3Asiste-nytt|title=Bluesnews – Bluesnews|website=Bluesnews.no|access-date=October 1, 2014|archive-date=April 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423110426/http://www.bluesnews.no/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=932%3Amagiske-dark-season-blues-&catid=2%3Asiste-nytt|url-status=dead}} In 2011, he performed at the South Florida Boogie Woogie Piano Festival. In June that year, Lit Up! was released, again credited to Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots.{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonsonthebeach.com/victor-wainwright-and-the-wildroots/|title=Boston's on the Beach – Victor Wainwright and the Wildroots|website=Bostonsonthebeach.com|access-date=October 1, 2014}} The album reached the number one spot on Sirius/XM's B.B. King's Bluesville channel's "Pick To Click," number 2 on the Collectif des Radio Blues Charts, and number 13 on the Living Blues Radio Chart.

Wainwright also performed at Springing the Blues in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, plus at Memphis in May in 2012. The same year he was nominated for the first time for a Blues Music Award. In October 2014, he appeared at the Daytona Blues Festival.

In July 2015, Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots released Boom Town on Blind Pig Records.{{citation |url=http://www.albanyherald.com/news/2015/jun/11/pianist-victor-wainwright-stretches-out-on-boom/ |title=Pianist Victor Wainwright stretches out on Boom Town |newspaper=Albany Herald |date=June 10, 2015 |access-date=2015-07-22}}

Southern Hospitality

Following an impromptu jam session in July 2011 in Florida, Wainwright teamed up with Damon Fowler, J.P. Soars, Chuck Riley, and Chris Peet to form the band that would eventually become Southern Hospitality. Their first gig was supporting Buddy Guy in August the same year at the Heritage Music Blues Fest in Wheeling, West Virginia.{{cite web|url=http://riverfrontbluesfestde.com/southern-hospitality-2/|title=Southern Hospitality featuring the Damon Fowler Band & Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots – Riverfront Blues Festival|website=Riverfrontbluesfestde.com|access-date=October 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006085446/http://riverfrontbluesfestde.com/southern-hospitality-2/|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} Their debut album, Easy Livin' , (2013) was produced by Tab Benoit, and released by Blind Pig Records. It peaked at number 9 on the US Billboard Top Blues Album chart. In 2014, Wainwright won the 'Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year' award at the Blues Music Awards for the second consecutive year.{{cite web|url=http://www.bluespros.com/news/2014/5/14/congratulations-to-2014-blues-music-award-winner-victor-wainwright|title=Congratulations to 2014 Blues Music Award Winner Victor Wainwright|website=Bluespros.com|access-date=October 1, 2014}}

Wainwright currently lives in Savannah, Georgia, having relocated from Memphis in 2022. {{Cite web |last=Hinton |first=Ty |title=Grammy-nominated blues musician Victor Wainwright back in concert at St. Augustine Beach |url=https://www.staugustine.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/08/05/victor-wainwright-coming-st-augustine-beach-florida-piana-from-savannah/10200861002/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=St. Augustine Record |language=en-US}}

Victor Wainwright and The Train

File:01 Rawa Blues Festival, Katowice, Poland - Victor Wainwright and the Train.jpg]]

File:02 Rawa Blues Festival free photo, Katowice, Poland - Victor Wainwright and the Train.jpg]]

Wainwright teamed up with friend, engineer, and producer Dave Gross in 2017 to form "The Train,"{{cite web|url=https://www.americanbluesscene.com/victor-wainwright-pushing-the-envelope-with-the-train/|title=Victor Wainwright: Pushing the Envelope with the Train|last=Nash|first=J. D.|date=May 11, 2018|website=Americanbluesscene.com}} to begin work on what would become the 2018 Grammy nominated self-titled album, Victor Wainwright and The Train. For touring and recording, Wainwright kept longtime bandmates Billy Dean on drums and Terrence Grayson on bass. For guitar, Wainwright added Pat Harrington. He also added the horn players Doug Woolverton and Mark Earley from Roomful of Blues. Wainwright wrote all 12 original songs.{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/victor-wainwright-and-the-train-album-review/|title=Victor Wainwright and the Train {{!}} Album Review|last=Mitchell|first=John|website=Bluesblastmagazine.com|date=May 5, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-01}}{{cite web|url=https://justlistentothis.co.uk/reviews/victor-wainwright-train-victor-wainwright-train/|title=Victor Wainwright & The Train - Victor Wainwright & The Train|date=March 27, 2018|website=Justlistentothis.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-01}}

The album, Victor Wainwright and The Train, was recorded at the Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.{{cite web|url=https://www.ardentstudios.com/news/2017/1/20/in-the-studio-victor-wainwright|title=In the studio... Victor Wainwright|website=Ardentstudios.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-01}} The album, co-produced by Wainwright and Gross, was released on March 9, 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.silvermichaels.net/2/post/2017/01/behind-the-scenes-in-the-studio-with-victor-wainwright.html|title=Behind the Scenes: In the Studio With Victor Wainwright|website=Silvermichaels.net|access-date=August 1, 2019}} It went on to garner a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.americanbluesscene.com/clear-tracks-victor-wainwright-train/|title=Clear the Tracks – It's 'Victor Wainwright & The Train'|last=Nash|first=J. D.|date=March 13, 2018|website=Americanbluesscene.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-01}}

Wainwright currently tours with The Train, consisting of the same recording artists as on the album.

Honors

2020: Blues Music Award Winner for Instrumentalist - Piano (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/news/awards/9370373/blues-music-awards-2020-winners?__twitter_impression=true |title=Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram Takes Home 5 Blues Music Awards in Virtual Ceremony |magazine=Billboard |date=March 5, 2020 |access-date=2020-05-04}}
2018: Grammy Award Nominee (Best Contemporary Blues Album){{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/victor-wainwright-and-train|title=Victor Wainwright and the Train|date=May 12, 2018|website=Grammy.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-31}}
2018: No. 1 Most played contemporary blues album of the year{{cite web|url=https://www.rootsmusicreport.com/charts/view/album/sub_genre/contemporary-blues/yearly/2018|title=Roots Music Report: Top Contemporary Blues Album Chart|website=Roots Music Report|language=en|access-date=2019-07-31}}
2018: No. 2 Most played blues album of the year{{cite web|url=https://www.rootsmusicreport.com/charts/view/album/genre/blues/yearly/2018|title=Roots Music Report: Top Blues Album Chart|website=Roots Music Report|language=en|access-date=2019-07-31}}
2018: No. 1 Billboard Blues Albums Chart{{cite web|url=https://beverly.wickedlocal.com/news/20190401/grammy-nominee-victor-wainwright-amp-train-coming-to-beverly|title=Grammy nominee Victor Wainwright & The Train coming to Beverly|website=Beverly Citizen|language=en|access-date=2019-07-31}}{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/RufRecords/posts/10156180070510673|title=Ruf Records|via=Facebook|language=en|access-date=2019-07-31}}
2018: Blues Music Award Winner for the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year
2017: Blues Music Award Winner for the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year
2016: Blues Music Award Winner for the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year
2016: Band of the Year{{cite web|url=https://blues.org/congratulations-to-our-2016-blues-music-awards-winners/|title=Congratulations to our 2016 Blues Music Awards Winners!|last=McKay|first=Robin|date=September 14, 2016|website=Blues Foundation|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-02}}
2016: Blues Blast Award Winner for Contemporary Album of the Year{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/2016-blues-blast-music-awards/|title=2016 Blues Blast Music Awards |website=Bluesblastmagazine.com|date=June 27, 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-31}}

File:Piana from Savannah Performing.jpg

File:The Musician and His Mentors.jpg|Victor and Mentors (Father & Grandfather)

Discography

Year \|\| Title \|\| Record label \|\| Billed as
class="wikitable sortable"
2005	Piana from Savannah	style="text-align:center;"\|WildRoots	Victor Wainwright
2009	Beale Street to the Bayou	style="text-align:center;"\|WildRoots	Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots
2011	Lit Up!	style="text-align:center;"\|WildRoots	Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots
2013	Easy Livin'	style="text-align:center;"\|Blind Pig	Southern Hospitality
2015	Boom Town	style="text-align:center;"\|Blind Pig	Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots
2018	Victor Wainwright and the Train	style="text-align:center;"\|Ruf	Victor Wainwright and the Train
2020	Memphis Loud	style="text-align:center;"\|Ruf	Victor Wainwright and the Train