By Marsie Hall Newbold
Enquirer contributor

Who: Nick Wright, 23, of Green Township, a senior marketing major at the University of Cincinnati and aspiring jingle writer.

What: His "dented and beaten up" 5-year-old Epiphone guitar.

Nick Wright and his well-loved guitar. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

Where: Wherever he goes. "She's a beauty," Mr. Wright says. "I carry her around all the time. She's pretty banged up and has a lot of inaccuracies. I have to constantly retune it, but I love it. It's almost as if that guitar has become an extension of me physically. But it's also emotional. I feel almost naked without that thing in my hand."

Mighty motivation: Mr. Wright had never played guitar until he received this one as a birthday gift from his parents, Nora and Donald Wright, five years ago. He taught himself how to play with help from books and CDs. "It was pretty much an obsession," he says with a chuckle.

Just for the fun of it: His interest in writing jingles began last year when he wrote one as part of a class project. His classmate's enthusiastic reaction gave him the impetus to write 20 more. Not for a grade or money, but for his own pleasure.

But what exactly is a jingle?

Musical ad man: "It's a catchy song," he explains. "One that is about a product, service or advertisement. For example, the "What Would You Do for a Klondike Bar?" song or "Don't worry, call the Car-X man."

Looking for the big break: Mr. Wright believes that his best work - as yet, unheard by the masses - is a jingle he wrote for Kellogg's Crispix cereal:

"Rice on one side,

Corn on the other.

Give `em a try.

I'm sure you'll want another bowl of Crispix.

I'm sure you'll want another bowl of Crispix."

Loyal companions: Even when he becomes rich and famous, like his inspiration, Barry Manilow, Mr. Wright will still be writing with the help of his present guitar. "I will play it until it falls apart," he says, "and even then, I'll try to glue it back together."

Share your prize possessions with Marsie Hall Newbold by mail: c/o The Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202, e-mail: marsolete@aol.com. Please include a daytime phone number.