Marie Barron Wright, age 100, of Upland, CA, died at her home on October 9, 2016.  She was born June 5, 1916 in Kenosha, WI and lived in Upland for 33 years.

Marie had a distinguished career as a pianist starting in Chicago in the 1930s, traveling with bands throughout the country and landing in Los Angeles in the late 1940s, where she ran the iconic Fireside Piano Bar outside of LAX for over 18 years.  She was a musician with MGM Studios, playing in classics with John Wayne, Elvis Presley, Cyd Charlise, Glen Ford and others.  She worked as a career pianist her entire lifetime.  Her hobbies were world traveling with her husband, Robert, knitting and reading.

She is survived by:  her husband, Robert Wright, of Upland; daughter, Diane Pinta of Bend, OR; grandchildren:  Tiffany and Cameron Clark, of Bend, OR, and Tara and Tiger Richardson of Friendswood, TX; great-grandchildren:  Skyler Kruger, Cecelia Clark, Liliana Clark, Gabriella Youngblood, Tatiana Youngblood, James Richardson, Cameron Richardson and Jolie Richardson.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Lena Leonelli, her father Domenic Leonelli, her first husband, Sanford “Lefty” Barron, and her sister, Lillian May.

Visitation was held on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at St. Anthony’s Parish, Upland.  Graveside service was held on Monday, October 24 at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.