Lush landscape, beautiful beaches and pristine settings—that’s what Naples is known for. What can be surprising is who might be lunching on the other side of the restaurant, or dropping by Wynn’s Market for a last-minute ingredient. Many of these notables chose Naples because of its quiet beauty and the ability to fly under the radar. We introduce 10 interesting, and possibly surprising, neighbors.
Music Man
Mark Wright | Music Producer/Songwriter
When music producer/songwriter Mark Wright comes to Naples, sometimes it’s with country stars in tow. “We work on songs, golf and go out to dinner,” he says. “It’s high-quality fun.” Wright is president of Show Dog-Universal Music, his company with business partner and country star Toby Keith, who is a sometimes-visitor to Naples. Wright began visiting Naples in the 1990s before buying a home. He recently finished producing records for Keith and Trace Adkins, and is working on albums for Joe Nichols and Gary Allen. JT Hodges, an up-and-coming musical artist, wrote some of his debut record while visiting Naples. “We come to Naples to have fun, but we’ve written good songs we’ve recorded,” says Wright. The music business changed a lot since he attended the Belmont University music business program in the late 1970s, and became one of the youngest executives at a major label at age 25. Country music fans still want CDs, and Wright knows what else they want. He produced Clint Black’s debut album Killin’ Time in 1989, which spawned five number-one hits, and Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance,” which was among more than 40 number-one singles he has either written, published or produced. Wright’s songwriting successes include the Oak Ridge Boys’ “Lucky Moon” and “Today My World Slipped Away,” covered by both George Strait and Vern Gosdin, as well as music for the TV series Miami Vice. His own voice has been heard singing jingles for McDonald’s, Harley-Davidson, Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Goodyear Tires. Does Wright mind being the behind-the-scenes guy? “Not really,” he says. “I know what it takes to be a star. I’ve always wanted to be a creator.”
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