Connie Smith mourning guitarist Rick Wright’s death

Veteran country star Connie Smith is mourning the loss of her longtime guitarist, Rick Wright, after he was killed in a car accident in Tennessee.
The 57-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene on Sunday (07Feb16) after he was involved in a two-car crash near his home in the city of White House.
Born Richard W. Fagel Wright, the musician had been a member of Smith’s backing band, the Sundowners, for 17 years, joining her on tour and for regular performances at the Grand Ole Opry country music mecca in Nashville.
He also appeared on Smith’s most recent album, 2011’s Long Line of Heartaches.
“He played from the heart,” Smith stated as she paid tribute to her longtime sidekick. “It’s going to be hard to look to my right (during a performance) and not see him there grinning at me.”
“He had a heart so big that he’d do anything for you,” she added.