UB Celebrates: The Life and Music of Betty Wright

UrbanBridgez.com May 10, 2020

1 1 minute read

Listen to this article

R&B has loss a true legend, Betty Wright passed away at age 66. She passed away today May 10, 2020 at her Miami home from cancer.

Betty Wright was a 14 time Grammy nominee as a writer, artist and producer, including a Grammy win for Best R&B Song for “Where is The Love.” She’s was an R&B trial-blazer for 50 years!

Born and raised in Miami, Wright was a child-singing prodigy whose talent secured her a record deal at just twelve years old. She released her first hit, “Girls Can’t Do What Guys Do” at the age of 14.

Then the release of “Clean Up Woman” sent Betty to #2 on the R&B charts and earned her a RIAA Gold record.

She was the first female artist to achieve gold sales via her own label, Ms B Records.

As Betty entered into adulthood, she proved that her musical talent reached beyond her voice, eventually co-writing the ballad “Tonight is the Night” and the emotionally charged cult classic “No Pain No Gain.” The songs she sang reflected real aspects of her life, such as label troubles, the lack of mainstream exposure, and a family tragedy.

Betty also collaborated with everyone from Stevie Wonder to Alice Cooper and toured with Bob Marley. Wright co-wrote the disco track “Where Is the Love” with Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch from KC & the Sunshine Band and won a Grammy for Best R&B Song.

For five decades, Betty Wright has brought the “real” to R&B, with a powerful voice and sassy delivery that produced over ten top 20 hits.

She did vocal production for the likes of Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez and Joss Stone and served as a vocal coach on MTV’s Making The Band with P. Diddy .

Betty Wright released “The Movie – with the Roots” in 2011 and ” the single “Surrender” received a Grammy nod for Best Traditional R&B performance. Living…Love…Lies” with DJ Khaled and Rick Ross followed in 2014.

UB Sends Our Condolences to Her Family, Friends and Fans.

Betty was recently featured on Unsung, we’ve re-posted some clips below.
As well as music and visuals.