Betty Wright
Bessie Regina Norris (December 21, 1953 – May 10, 2020),[1][2] better known by her stage name Betty Wright,[3] was an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter and background vocalist. Beginning her professional career in the late 1960s as a teenager, Wright rose to fame in the 1970s with hits such as "Clean Up Woman" and "Tonight Is the Night". Wright was also prominent in her use of whistle register.
For the American writer of children's fiction, see Betty Ren Wright.Biography[edit]
Early life and career[edit]
Born in Miami, Florida, as Bessie Regina Norris on December 21, 1953, Wright was the youngest of seven children of Rosa Akins Braddy-Wright and her second husband, McArthur Norris. Wright began her professional career at the age of two when her siblings formed the Echoes of Joy, a gospel group.[4] Wright contributed to vocals on the group's first album, released in 1956. Wright and her siblings performed together until 1965, when she was 11 years old.[5]
Following the group's break-up, Wright, who was already using the name Betty Wright, decided to switch musical styles from gospel to rhythm and blues, singing in local talent shows until she was spotted by a Miami record label owner, who signed her to her first label (Deep City Records) in 1966, when she was 12. She released the singles "Thank You Baby" and "Paralyzed", which found Wright local fame in Miami.[6] In 1967, the teen was responsible for discovering other local talents such as George and Gwen McCrae, helping them sign with the Alston Records label TK Records, part of Henry Stone's recording and distribution company. Her first album, My First Time Around, was released when she was age 14. Her first hit single was "Girls Can't Do What the Guys Do".[4] In 1970, while still in high school, she released "Pure Love" at the age of 16.[7]
Personal life and death[edit]
Wright was married three times and had five children. In 1976, Wright married Jerome McCray and together they had a daughter.[33] Wright and McCray divorced in 1981. Wright was married to Patrick Parker from 1982 until 1983 and together they had two children. Wright was married to Jamaican musician Noel Williams, better known as King Sporty, from 1985 until his death in 2015.[34] Together Wright and Williams had two children.[35] Her son Patrick Parker Jr. was killed on Christmas Day in 2005 in a shooting incident.[36]
Wright died from cancer, on May 10, 2020, at her home in Miami, aged 66.[37] The news of her death was first announced by her niece.[38] Just two days earlier, fellow singer Chaka Khan had made a plea on Twitter saying "Calling all my #PrayWarriors. My beloved sister, Betty Wright @MsBettyWright, is now in need of all your prayers."[39][40][16]