Ed Wright
"Diamond Eagle"

Photo by William Johns from the City of Victoria archives. Ed spent a memorable youth in Alert Bay, playing in marching bands and working at his uncle's well known bakery. It was in Alert Bay that Ed grew to appreciate Native Arts and Culture, which greatly influenced his life. In his teens he moved to Oak Bay and worked on honing his skills as a musician. He learned to play guitar, harmonica and valve trombone. After high school Ed enjoyed his work at VGH for 25 years in the Dietary Dept. He also loved horseback riding and playing pool. Ed was a founding member and the front man of Blues X Five, a band that won the Victoria Battle of the Bands and opened for the Doors in the late '60s. From there he went on to play/sing in As Sheriff, Moxie, John de Conqueroo and many others. Ed was a charismatic performer who played harp, sang and was a consummate showman in the mould of his idols, Mick Jagger, James Brown and Paul Butterfield. Later in his career, Ed adopted the stage name, Diamond Eagle, and wrote and performed (sometimes with his wife Sylvia), cutting a number of CDs. Ed was also inducted into the Victoria Music Hall of Fame... more...