Bobby Wright born 30 March 1942

John Robert "Bobby" Wright (born March 30, 1942) is an American country music singer. He is the son of country singers Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright, and brother of Ruby Wright and Carol Sue Wright, also country singers. 

He was born in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. Most of his boyhood years were spent in Louisiana, since his parents were regular performers on the country music television program Louisiana Hayride. At age eight, Wright appeared with his parents on the show, and became part of their recordings three years later. The family went back to Nashville in 1958, because his parents became headliners at the Grand Ole Opry. 

Although Wright was an able guitarist and vocalist, he had little interest in a music career. He became interested in acting when he learned that Peter Tewksbury, a television and film director, had a role for a young Southern boy who could play the guitar. Wright made the trip to Hollywood to test for Tewksbury. While he did not get the role he went to California for, his screen test was seen by the producer of McHale's Navy, who cast him in the new television comedy as Willy Moss, the PT-73 radio operator, a role he played through the entire series. 

                              

                                 

While McHale's Navy was still in production, Wright decided to give music a try, beginning by working with his mother on one of her 1965 albums. Unhappy with the Hollywood scene after McHale's Navy ended, he moved back to Nashville to start a music career. 

Bobby Wright recorded for Decca, ABC and United Artists Records between 1967 and 1979, charting 21 singles on the Hot Country Songs charts. In 1967, he gained his first US country chart hit with ‘Lay Some Happiness On Me’. In 1971, he had a Top 15 country hit with ‘Here I Go Again’. He recorded country cover versions of some pop hits and in 1974, he had Top 30 country success with his ABC recording of Terry Jacks’ pop number 1, ‘Seasons In The Sun’. He later recorded for United Artists, registering his last solo success, ‘I’m Turning You Loose’, on that label in 1979. 

He appeared in the UK with his parents at the 1974 Wembley Festival and received praise for his performance with the family at the 1988 Peterborough Festival. A talented all-round entertainer, he continues to be an important part of the family show and has not made any further attempts to pursue a solo career. He was married to the former Brenda Kay Davis; the couple has two daughters, Theresa LeAnn and Kamela Lynn. 

As of 2024, Wright is the last surviving cast member from the McHale's Navy television series. 

(Edited from Wikipedia & AllMusic)